Neurodiversity Belgium

When you think about Inattentive ADHD what springs to mind? Is it that these ADHDers are not hyperactive? or that their hyperactivity is hidden, but still running in the background like a computer with 4 windows open, each having between 30 and 50 tabs.... join us to learn more on September 8th. Our speaker Cynthia Hammer, MSW brings her social work training and thirty-plus years of learning about ADHD to this revealing presentation.  She is the founder of the Inattentive ADHD Coalition (www.iadhd.org). Their mission is that children with inattentive ADHD are diagnosed by age 8 and adults with Inattentive ADHD are readily and correctly diagnosed when they seek help. Cynthia is the author of "Living with Inattentive ADHD: Climbing the Circular Staircase", a memoir and self-help book that is a best-seller on Amazon and is now available as an audiobook. One reviewer says “Cynthia has done a beautiful job describing her lived experience, her struggles and challenges, and how she created a life that works for her and her family, building confidence, peace, and contentment, and a life she feels proud of." Book now and join us on Sunday 8 September https://lnkd.in/efiKZ8aY .

Don’t understand what ADHD is really like? Watch this This is Loyle Carner, a musician with ADHD Ben Coyle Larner is a huge advocate for Dyslexia + ADHD His stage name being Loyle Carner, as he used to spell his real name wrong too often due to dyslexia. You’d expect writing songs and being dyslexic to not be the best pair 🍐 BUT Ben has explained how ADHD & Dyslexia have been the magic behind his success 🪄 🥘 He’s also recently set up a Pop-Up cooking school called ‘Chilli Con Carner’ for young people with ADHD as he’s found cooking to be the perfect outlet to harness his excess energy Do you have dyslexia or ADHD? Has it helped you in your carrer? Let me know in the comments below 👇 #dyslexia #ADHD #loylecarner #music #linkedin #linkedinvideo #reel

On Friday, I visited my son. For many reading this post, visiting their children is a very natural thing to do but there is something deeply unnatural about visiting your child's grave. September is World Suicide Prevention Month and World Suicide Prevention Day is on the 10th. From tomorrow, I begin delivering a series of talks around the UK and online that will keep me busy for the next few weeks and into World Mental Health Month (October). The theme for #WSPD2024-26 is "Changing the Narrative on Suicide" with the call to action "Start the Conversation". I will be having lots of such conversations during the coming weeks. I would like to invite you to one of those conversations. On Monday, 23rd September from 1pm-2pm GMT, The Jordan Legacy CIC is hosting a live, free to attend, webinar titled: 'One Voice, One Hope'. 'One Voice, One Hope will share a vision we have to create a national collaborative, community network for suicide prevention amongst all those who believe we can significantly reduce 6000+ deaths in the UK by preventing all preventable suicides. Suicide numbers for 2022-23 have increased by 7% overall. Perhaps it's time to look at all the amazing work being done by so many to prevent these deaths and ask the question - can we collectively, rather than individually, create the change that is needed so that no other families have to visit the graves of their children, parents, grandparents, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, friends, colleagues? More than 130 people have already registered to attend the 'One Voice, One Hope' webinar. If you would like to join us you can book here: https://lnkd.in/eQMfbFWw #suicideprevention #zerosuicidesociety

At the Centre for Autism Wellbeing Hub, we are pleased to start the new academic year with two brilliant online talks in the coming months, open to everyone and completely free of charge. Each session runs from 7:00 to 8:30 pm, with lots of opportunities to discuss, debate, and connect with other attendees. Upcoming Talks: 19th September - Brian Irvine, UCL Mentoring as Reframing – Specialist Autism Mentoring at University 👉 Info and registration: https://lnkd.in/ea_GS8b7 10th October - Dr Amy Pearson, Durham University Understanding Autistic Masking as a Response to Stigma 👉 Info and registration: https://lnkd.in/eekhTMfr Looking forward to seeing you there!

When you receive a book you vaguely remember ordering, wonder why on earth you ordered it, start flicking through the pages, and realise - THIS IS EXACTLY THE BOOK I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR!!! 😂

Socials are littered with 'first day back at school' pictures, and whilst the pictures are adorable (they really are!) it can be heartbreaking for those of us whos children won't be attending school... It might be they struggle to attend school due to unmet needs or ill-health, it could be that you were not allocated a placement in time, it could be that you're stuck in the muddy waters of appeal and tribunal - we see you. We are with you. Many of us here have the same difficulties and whilst we look on with admiration at the pictures that show how accessible education is for so many, it really highlights the stark reality that the education system is not fit for purpose for our children... It's not inclusive, and it's failing so many. So this one's for you... The parent who would love nothing more than the seamless return to school in shiny Clarks shoes and pretty gingham dresses! Alas, it's not meant to be... But help is on hand. Remember we are here. Here are some ways you can seek help from us that will make an impact... 💛 SCHOOL AVOIDANCE AWARENESS WEEK 💛 ******** 23rd-27th SEPTEMBER 2024 ******** 1️⃣ Read more, sign up for webinars and get involved: https://lnkd.in/e6jc_Zf4 2️⃣ Watch our vast collection of school attendance difficulties webinars and courses here: https://lnkd.in/g7Nqsx5Y 3️⃣ Read our article on School Attendance Difficulties, a great starting point and contains a 3 step approach to helping your child: https://lnkd.in/epbRSdPT... 4️⃣ Request a call from our advice team by completing the contact form here: https://lnkd.in/dtDJ-7q... 📕 Dept for Education’s guidance is also very helpful: https://lnkd.in/eG6FDBvr... We are looking forward to supporting you #SchoolAvoidance #schoolavoidanceweek #schoolavoidanceawarenessweek #schoolavoidanceawarenessweek2024 #ebsa #schoolrefusal #schooltrauma #schoolattendance #sunshinesupport

Giving neurodivergent children and young people a voice   I have previously signposted the School Kit for Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and Joint Hypermobility syndrome (JHS) (https://lnkd.in/eTr4SqaH). I wish that this had been available when I was at school and when my children were.   Children and young people often lack agency. Childhood and adolescence are confusing transitions, with unpredictable hormones and change. For those who are neurodivergent, these are often doubly difficult. For those who are young, neurodivergent and of the global majority, agency is further reduced by prejudice and racism. If a young person is also exploring their sexual orientation, or questioning their gender, then marginalization increases.   What struck me about the journal paper below, is not just the range of co-occurring physical and mental health conditions and ensuing difficulties that neurodivergent children and young people face, but the added grief of misdiagnosis and not being believed by medical professionals.   I’m sure that many of us who are neurodivergent or from a marginalized group have encountered gaslighting by GPs and clinicians at some point. This is difficult to navigate as an adult who is in pain, never mind a child or young person who has reduced agency. Despite the rights of children being enshrined in law, unless a young person has someone to advocate for them, who also listens to them and believes them, then they are often powerless. Imagine also being non-speaking, when GPs, as gatekeepers, still rely upon and expect spoken communication about symptoms (p.10).   As an adult with the privilege of education, it took me years to convince my GPs and finally get a diagnosis of EDS. I was told that I was stressed and anxious, that I was overthinking things, and that my pain was not as bad as I was suggesting. The paper points out that children and young people often have their symptoms incorrectly attributed to just growing. As a child, whenever I mentioned joint or gastrointestinal pain I was told, ‘It’s just growing pains. It will go away’. Unsurprisingly, not being believed can cause lifelong trauma (p.8). A mixture of this and my alexithymia and interoception, means that learning to trust my physical feelings is still an ongoing process.   Pain impacts all areas of life for children and young people:   -      School and learning -      Attendance and attainment -      Socializing -      Self-esteem -      Levels of fatigue -      Ability to interact with the world   The paper suggests that all neurodivergent children and young people are routinely screened for EDS and JHS due to the high levels of co-occurrence. As ever, further research and policy are required, but I also agree wholeheartedly with the thrust of the paper:   ‘It is clear voices of neurodivergent people must be central within this research to reflect priorities and lived experiences of these communities for the greatest impact’ (p.14).

The chances are, you're not just #dyslexic...