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Here’s the story: in the past 18 months, my life has undergone somewhat of a profound transformation.
I've unexpectedly embarked on a journey that many would describe as quintessentially "me" – intense, information-hungry, and, well, hyper-focused.
The catalyst for this metamorphosis?
My informal and subsequent formal diagnosis of ADHD.
It’s thrown open the doors to a world I never knew existed and a neurodivergent identity that has not only reshaped my self-perception but has led me down a path of self-discovery, acceptance and surprisingly empowerment.
As any self respecting ADHDer would do, so I've come to learn, upon suspicion of my diagnosis I embarked on a hyper focused quest for knowledge and self-understanding.
I've voraciously consumed everything I could find about ADHD, neurodiversity, neuroinclusion and now I’m on the newfound road to neuroscience.
My brain, perpetually thirsty for new insights, #LifeLongLearner, has eagerly soaked up the information like a sponge. It's like I found a secret tunnel to a treasure trove of self-discovery, and I've been digging for gold ever since!
But my thirst wasn't solely for self-enlightenment; it was driven by a deep desire to make a positive impact on the world around me!
Growing up, I faced challenges that, at the time, I couldn't fully comprehend. The relentless sense of restlessness, the difficulty in staying focused, the constant terrain of thoughts and ideas and that incessant feeling of being a beat out of sync with the world around me – these were all part of my daily existence.
Imagine trying to dance to a tune only you could hear, while the world moved to a different rhythm.
It's only now that I recognise these challenges were woven into the fabric of my neurodivergent identity.
Sometimes though, knowledge can be a double-edged sword… particularly when it comes to the reflections and revelations of a later-life diagnosis in neurodiversity.
On one side, it’s a relic, a validator as it were, bringing unique perspectives and strengths that can be harnessed to create innovative solutions.
On the other side, it highlights so much! Particularly the fact that the lack of the right understanding and support can and does manifest as distinct challenges that affect daily life.
It definitely brings up the shoulda, woulda, coulders!
For instance if I had received a diagnosis in my early years would the door to my military career have been shut? 😳
Another big one I've been mulling over a lot lately: For the past several years, I've dedicated my career to education and training finding myself in influential positions where I played a pivotal role in designing, endorsing, and implementing various systems.
These roles were more than just jobs to me; I approached them with a wholehearted commitment, often bordering on being an #OverAchiever and #Perfectionist at times.
However, in the light of my newfound understanding of my neurodivergent identity, I've come to a realisation - some of the systems I helped shape might have inadvertently presented challenges to others.
These systems were, in a way, constructed around my unique thinking patterns and processes.
Consequently, this could have created challenges for others, it could have affected not only neurotypical individuals but also those with differing neurodivergent profiles.
The key word here is "unintentionally."
It's absolutely crucial for me to stress that if my actions inadvertently caused challenges for others, that was never my motivation.
Throughout my career, I've been passionate about leading, devolving and supporting people, my background after all is the military followed by education!
My guiding principle, tag line even, has always been that at the core, every individual desires to be valued.
I firmly believe that when you value your teams, they have the potential to achieve anything they set their minds to.
However, the prevailing issue was a lack of basic and fundamental knowledge, a blind spot, if you will.
No nefarious plan or secret agenda here. It was more like I was blindfolded in a pinata party, swinging wildly and not realising the I smashing poor Aunt Mary in the corner and not the piñata!
(Disclaimer: There were no Aunt Mary’s injured at a piñata party… I don’t have an Aunt Mary and I’ve never had a piñata party… but I would like one lol with everyone being situated at a safe distance when I’m swinging of course! 😂)
Anyway, back to the point, It's true that we can only operate based on what we know at any given moment.
Now, armed with a deeper understanding, I've recognised and addressed these gaps.
My current mission: Educate and empower leaders, teams, and organisations with the same knowledge and awareness.
The fact of the matter is, in the vast landscape of neurodiversity, much like in life itself, we're all embarked on an ongoing journey of learning and growth.
As interesting as all of the above #confessioncorner may be, that’s not the only twist in this blogs tale.
While I was out there with my ADHD cape, championing for understanding and acceptance, I stumbled upon a paradox. Like finding a unicorn that eats sh*t or a left-handed right-winger in a game of Quidditch.
I have, unfortunately, witnessed a growing trend within the neurodiversity community – those who should be our allies in this quest for inclusion – a trend of vilifying neurotypical individuals.
Yeah, you read that right!
Oh the irony!
I know that every good story needs a villain, but this isn’t a story this is real life!
The very essence of neurodiversity and the principles of neuroinclusion revolve around advocating for understanding, acceptance, and celebrating the uniqueness of each individual, regardless of their neurodivergent status.
Even ChatGPT knows this:
Q. What does neurodiversity mean?
A. Neurodiversity is a concept that recognises and celebrates the natural variation in neurological traits and differences among individuals. It emphasizes that there is no single "normal" or typical neurological profile and that conditions like autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and others are part of the natural spectrum of human diversity. Neurodiversity promotes the idea that these differences should be respected, accommodated, and valued in society, rather than stigmatised or pathologised.
Vilifying neurotypicals or any specific group is a practice that goes against the core values of neuroinclusion and directly contradicts the basic Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion standards that we should all uphold.
The incredible hypocrisy of it all truly strikes a chord with me, and it's genuinely disheartening.
It's like trying to make a dim room brighter by squinting harder instead of just turning on the lights.
Or trying to plant a thriving garden while constantly uprooting the very seeds you've sown.
It's not only counterintuitive but also counterproductive.
What truly baffled me was that these comments were being made by individuals who, at first glance, seemed or proclaimed to be highly educated and enlightened.
They were vocal advocates for inclusion, acceptance, and understanding, yet, paradoxically, they were readily engaging in explicit biases and resorting to scapegoating, much like a chef insisting on using spoiled ingredients in a gourmet dish and then blaming the diners for not appreciating the meal - It’s a head scratcher to say the least!
In my humble and educated perspective, the true and only path to authentic neuroinclusion is paved with empathy, education, and open dialogue.
If our aspiration is to establish genuinely inclusive practices that encompass the entire neurodiversity spectrum, as it should, then we must extend this consideration to neurotypicals as well.
Neuroinclusion, fundamentally, revolves around embracing each and every individual.
To enable this movement we must all be dedicated to shaping a world where robust educational initiatives and heightened awareness work in tandem to nurture a culture of genuine inclusivity.
Like I said and demonstrated earlier, we only understand what we know in each passing moment, therefore evidenced based education is our greatest asset!
It's got to be about nurturing a profound sense of belonging for all, because, at the of the day… it’s night… and nope 👎🏻 , some of us don’t actually turn into pumpkins or gremlins when wet! We all simply remain as human beings, each bearing our own distinct quirks and qualities.
Fact is, the journey of understanding and inclusion is a two-way street. It's about, as the genius Sir Isaac Newton suggests, building bridges, not walls.
As I continue on my path of self-discovery, education, and advocacy, my aim is to share the knowledge and insights I've gained to create a world where neurodiversity is not just acknowledged, BUT celebrated!
Where everyone, neurodivergent or neurotypical, gets a ticket to the fairground!
Where we ALL feel valued, supported and respected for who we actually are, not what some age old societal fallacy decided and made up by some guy that died yonks ago said they should be!
This couldn't be more prevalent, when I learned that today 30th September 2023 in 1926, Henry Ford announces the 8 hour, 5-day work week... AND WE ARE STILL DOING IT! Infact it's only the last couple of years that we have been dipping our toes in to the water considering change!
COME ON!!
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