Neurodiversity Celebration Week (15-21st of March 2021) is a national week celebrating the strengths, achievements, and perspectives of neurodiverse individuals.
There is a definite need for caring, patient, initiative foster carers with who have those additional skills to support children with learning differences in a neurotypical world – could this be you?
Children and young people with neurological differences make up a proportionate amount of those in need of foster care and as such, we wanted to participate in the raising awareness and celebration of these young minds.
Well, what is Neurodiversity?
Autism Toolbox (www.autismtoolbox.co.uk, 2021) advise that:
“Neurodiversity is a relatively new term, thought to have been coined in the 1990s by Judy Singer (an autism activist). It was originally used by the autistic community, who were keen to move away from the medical model and dispel the belief that autism is something to be treated and cured rather than an important and valuable part of human diversity.”
The term neurodiversity usually refers to range of specific learning differences including:
- Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) e.g., Autism, Asperger Syndrome
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (DCD) a.k.a. Dyspraxia
- Developmental Language Disorder (DLD)
- Epilepsy
- Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
- Intellectual Disability
- Tourette’s and Tic disorders
- Specific Learning Disorder/Differences e.g., Dyslexia, Dyscalculia.
Mary Colley, founder of DANDA (Developmental Adult Neuro-Diversity Association), and having Dyspraxia herself created the model below to better show:
Resources
https://www.neurodiversity-celebration-week.com/ – resources for carers and educators re Neurodiversity Celebration Week
https://www.additudemag.com/neurodivergent-diagnosis-wired-differently-parenthood/ – Additude website for ADHD and associated neurological conditions
https://neuroclastic.com/2020/04/27/advice-for-raising-neurodivergent-children/#:~:text=%20Advice%20for%20Raising%20NeuroDivergent%20Children%20%201,struggles%20with%20that%20come%20easily%20to…%20More%20 – Advice for raising neurodivergent children – pick your battles – from a neurodivergent mum with a neurodivergent daughter
https://www.achieveability.org.uk/files/1460064713/neurodiversity-with-reference-to-dyspraxia-mary-colly.pdf – User Led Charity with link to work by Mary Colley
Sources
http://www.autismtoolbox.co.uk/what-does-neurodiversity-mean
https://atrophiedmind.files.wordpress.com/2017/04/neurodiversitymakeup.jpg?w=584
by Lynsey Dobbs – Senior Recruitment Officer, UK Fostering