Neurodiversity Celebration Week: Celebrating Different Minds
March 13, 2023Themed Celebrating Different Minds, Neurodiversity Celebration Week (13-19 March 2023), will feature 24 free virtual events across the next seven days this week to raise much-needed global awareness around neurodiversity.
In fact, a new report to coincide with Neurodiversity Celebration Week has found that employers are not supporting neurodiverse workers enough, and excluding a very valuable talent pool that could help to bridge the digital skills gap. The 2023 EqualTech report, carried out by Sparta Global, found that neurodivergent workers are not being supported and empowered at work. It revealed that just 21% of businesses tailor their recruitment practices to neurodivergent candidates. This means that 79% of organisations have taken no steps to accommodate those with neurodiverse characteristics, despite the fact that the majority of employers claim they will be making neurodiversity a priority in 2023.
Crucially, 59% felt that there isn’t enough support available in their organisations, and fear that disclosing their neurodiversity may have negative repercussions on their future within their companies. In fact, 83% of neurodivergent workers reported feeling worried, nervous, and fearful about having conversations with their employer regarding their neurodiversity. And 68% do not think that their employers are doing enough to remove barriers to entry.
Neurodiversity Celebration Week Background
Neurodiversity Week is a worldwide initiative founded by Siena Castellon in 2018. It challenges stereotypes and misconceptions about neurological differences and aims to transform how neurodivergent individuals are perceived and supported by providing schools, universities, organisations and individuals with the opportunity to recognise the many talents and advantages of being neurodivergent.
Neurodiversity Celebration Week taking place all week aims to provide much needed awareness and education on how to better support neurodivergent talent. Over 70 speakers are engaging in educational and inspiring conversation around neurodiversity, through sharing their lived experience and professional expertise. To date, Neurodiversity Celebration Week has seen over 2,600 schools, 200 universities, 1.4m students, 1,200 organisations and 150 charities from around the world pledge their support for the campaign.
This year is set to be another record-breaking week, and the team behind the campaign are looking forward to celebrating different minds and continuing to raise global awareness of neurodiversity. The event schedule and free resources for 2023 are now available on the NCW website, and includes guides, presentations, videos, a brand new social media pack, and suggestions on how you can celebrate neurodiversity throughout the week.
Celebrating Different Minds
“The Campaign tagline for Neurodiversity Celebration Week is ‘Celebrating Different Minds’,” stated Neurodiversity Celebration Week’s Campaign Director Aidan Healy. “We chose that because for us, neurodiversity is more than labels like Dyslexia, Autism or ADHD. The campaign is more than ‘raising awareness’ or simply highlighting a challenge to be recognised by society.”
To celebrate neurodiversity, the campaign organisers also want to highlight what’s positive about it. “It is about thinking about things in a different way than the majority, than the cultural norm. It is about having unique strengths, talents and perspectives that come from thinking differently. And every society or organisation would be better if it was more inclusive of diverse thinkers,” added Healy. “We want everyone to feel they can take part and Neurodiversity Celebration Week and that it captures the different voices we have in our community”.
Neurodiversity Celebration Week welcomes everyone to get involved and help support a worldwide culture of neuro-inclusivity. All the events and resources are free to attend and access. To find out more and get involved please visit the website here.
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