Accessible Learning Foundation (ALF)

October is ADHD Awareness month. The 2024 theme is "Awareness is key!" We couldn’t agree more- awareness is key-at Accessible Learning Foundation (ALF) early identification of neurodivergent conditions is what we are huge promoters of and help to provide in primary schools. Earlier this Autumn, we launched a pilot scheme in a local primary school in collaboration with Do-IT Solutions . The do-IT profiler identifies all neurodivergent traits. With awareness of how each child learns, every child can be properly supported and will then be able to reach their potential. ADHD Awareness Month list many helpful tips for supporting ADHD: 💡 Make a list: prioritise tasks 💡 Reward yourself 💡 Do one thing at a time 💡 Reduce screen time 💡 Take regular movement breaks 💡 Set reminders 💡 Minimise distractions 💡 Schedule downtime Let us know 👇 which tips you find most helpful.

This #ALFriday, we’re excited to shine a light on Auris Tech’s fantastic white paper, "Reading Aloud Using Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) to Improve Children's Reading." Technology is part of all our lives and its crucial we use this to better support neurodivergent people. The white paper shows how ASR technology can make reading more fun and engaging, especially for neurodivergent children who benefit from real-time feedback while reading aloud. 📖✨ Thanks to the National Read Aloud Challenge 2024 led by Fonetti, over 15,000 kids took part in more than 250,000 reading sessions! The results were clear—gamified learning and instant feedback boosted both their confidence and reading skills. 🎮📚 With the UK’s EdTech industry booming and generating billions, we have a huge opportunity to use tools like ASR to help close the literacy gap. Not only does it build reading confidence, but it also lets kids practice independently, which is game-changing for neurodivergent learners and those who find traditional methods tough. 🌟 At ALF, we’re passionate about supporting neurodivergent individuals, Therefore, we’re excited to hear about the innovative tech that’s making a difference for neurodivergent individuals! Let us know in the comments what tools or technologies have been helpful for you or someone you know. To read the fantastic White Paper, click the link 👇 https://lnkd.in/eh9Etvjr #ALFriday #Fonetti #WhitePaper #Neurodivergence #Technology #ASR #Neurodiversity #Inclusion #Reading #Education

🚨 Volunteer Opportunity 🚨 The Accessible Learning Foundation is looking for a dedicated volunteer to help run our social media accounts! If you can spare an hour or more each week and are passionate about making a difference in the neurodivergent community, we’d love to hear from you! This is a great chance to get involved in an exciting cause and build your skills in social media and communications. Interested? Send us a message or email us at info@accessiblelearningfoundation.org

Sabrina Menasria’s talk at our conference was simply incredible! 💡 She shared some eye-opening stats, like how 1 in 5 people are neurodivergent, but 35% are unemployed, and for those on the autism spectrum, that number jumps to 80%. That’s a huge pool of untapped talent! By creating neuroinclusive workplaces, businesses can see productivity boosts between 20 - 40%. 💼📈 Sabrina highlighted how neurodivergence isn’t a deficit—it’s a different way of thinking. In fact, studies show that 64% of employers rank analytical thinking as a top skill for the future, and 48% value creativity—both areas where neurodivergent people excel! 🌟 Sabrina also provided some practical tips on how to create neuroinclusive spaces: • Offer flexible schedules and assistive tools like mind-mapping software and noise-cancelling headphones 🎧 • Adjust the work environment to reduce sensory overload with quiet spaces and better lighting 💡 • Train managers to support neurodivergent employees with clear communication and job coaching 🤝 The greatest thing to remember is that ‘neurodivergence is a superpower’, and it’s time more businesses embrace it. #ALFconference #Neurodiversity #Inclusion #FutureOfWork #AccessibleLearningFoundation

A huge thank you to all who braved the rain yesterday and attended our inaugural conference on the important topic of “Neurodivergence at Work”. We loved having you and hearing so many useful insights. There are many thank yous we would like to say; 🙏to Texthelp for their kind sponsorship, 🙏 to all of the speakers who gave up their time and spoke brilliantly Sabrina Menasria Dan Harris FRSA Ben Corbridge Mohammad Koheeallee Toni Horn Theo Smith Marc Crawley Dr Martin Bloomfield, 🙏to Techspace for the use of their brilliant venue, the Loading Bay, and 🙏 to our founder, trustees and members Matt Hancock Sarah Dixon Dr. Michelle Harley Dr Martin Bloomfield Edward Lidington Fiona Trinder and Julian Hosking for their time and support in putting the event together. We are really looking forward to progressing our work in this field and helping businesses become neuroinclusive.

What a fantastic day at the Neurodivergence at Work conference, hosted by the Accessible Learning Foundation (ALF) in London! We were proud to sponsor and attend an event filled with inspiring discussions about creating more neuroinclusive workplaces. A huge thank you to Sabrina Menasria from SINGULARITY Talent for her insightful talk on the importance of neurodiversity, and to Mohammad Koheeallee from Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, Dan Harris FRSA from Neurodiversity in Business (NiB) - the Neurodiversity Charity, Ben Corbridge from Barclays Wealth Management and Matt Hancock for leading an engaging panel on innovative inclusion strategies. Some key statistics from the event... Did you know? 🌍 1 in 5 people are neurodivergent, making up 20% of the population. Many of us work with or know someone who is neurodivergent. ♾️ Half of neurodivergent individuals have more than one condition, such as ADHD, dyslexia, autism, dyspraxia or more. 🚨 Around 35% of neurodivergent people are unemployed, and this number is even higher for specific groups, with 80% of autistic individuals currently out of work. Businesses have a unique opportunity to tap into the remarkable benefits of neuroinclusion. In fact, studies show that organizations can become 20-40% more productive when they include neurodivergent employees, who bring unique strengths such as exceptional problem-solving, analytical thinking, out-of-the-box ideas, hyperfocus and determination, to name a few. The conversation also highlighted that building a neuroinclusive workplace doesn’t have to be difficult or costly - best practices include implementing simple solutions that allow each individual to work to their strengths. At Texthelp, we believe that inclusive technology is key to unlocking the full potential of every employee. Thank you to all the speakers and attendees for sharing these insights and your dedication to driving positive change. Together, we can create a more inclusive future where everyone can thrive! 💡 #Neurodiversity #Inclusion #Neuroinclusion #FutureOfWork

Is Your School Failing 1 in 5 Students? The Shocking Truth About Neurodiversity in Education Today, I had the privilege of attending the inaugural Accessible Learning Foundation (ALF) conference, led by Matt Hancock The event was eye-opening, focusing on a critical yet often overlooked aspect of education and employment: neurodiversity. Key takeaways that resonated with our mission at Sophia High School 1. Appreciation through self-identification: Empowering neurodiverse individuals to recognise and embrace their unique strengths. 2. Thriving by leveraging diverse skills: Harnessing the exceptional abilities of neurodiverse individuals to benefit organisation’s and society. 3. The power of "Can": • Can Do • Can Be • Can Succeed One question stood out: "How can I help you demonstrate your true value?" This simple yet profound inquiry is at the heart of what's missing in traditional education. At Sophia High School, we're addressing this gap head-on through our personalised, flexible digital school model. By meeting young people where they are, we're preventing the catastrophic wave of: • Emotional school-based avoidance • Social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) challenges • Disengagement from mainstream education Our approach isn't just about accommodation—it's about celebration. We're creating an environment where neurodiverse students don't just survive, they thrive. A massive thank you to Dr Martin Bloomfield for the invite for Nicole Pelletier and I to attend today and take part in his incredible workshop on executive dysfunction. We even ran into another #LadieswhoLaunch Sandra Tibbles We are really excited to continue the conversation and important discussions on how we can build a more inclusive, empowering future for all learners and the role that online schools can play in this process. Huge well done to the team at #ALF. 🚀 #NeurodiversityInEducation #AccessibleLearning #DigitalSchooling #InclusiveEducation

What an exceptional opportunity to celebrate #neurodiversity today at the Accessible Learning Foundation (ALF) inaugural event hosted by Matt Hancock with the ever fascinating Sabrina Menasria and a strong panel including Dan Harris FRSA Mohammad Koheeallee Ben Corbridge challenging us to think not about how neurodiversity is different but how it should be part of our daily norm, and the energy of Dr Martin Bloomfield making it real, on executive dysfunction. What a phenomenal opportunity to network and see how we can make a difference to a workforce that can positively thrive when we include everyone.

What an incredible day it’s been at the Accessible Learning Foundation (ALF) "Neurodivergence at Work" conference! 🌟 It was fantastic to meet so many people passionate about creating a more inclusive workplace for neurodivergent individuals. A huge thank you to our brilliant speakers for sharing such vital insights, tips, and strategies. Each of you played a crucial role in making this event so impactful, and I’m confident everyone is walking away with valuable knowledge to help drive change within their organisations. A special thanks to Sarah Dixon, our amazing Director, for her hard work in organising this event and making it such a success. This is just the beginning, and I’m so excited for what’s to come as we continue to push for better support for neurodivergent people in every workplace. The passion I saw today really showed why ALF’s mission is so important, and why we all should work together in making our society more neuroinclusive. 💪 #ALF #Conference #Workplace #Neurodivergence #Neirodiversity #Neuroinclusion #Business #Workplace

Thanks so much for speaking at our conference today. It was a privilege to listen to your important insights.