Red in the Spectrum

Public discussion around issues such as gender, bodily autonomy and neurodiversity is increasing. But this does not mean that neurodivergent sex workers or clients are new.  Sex work has historically included workers from various social demographics. And the sex industry has diversified with the increase in digital communication.   But sex work is stigmatised, which amplifies stereotypes across gender, race and class – and disability and neurotype. https://lnkd.in/gCmsHzP7 #sexwork #neurodiversity

This story illustrates the importance of the social model of disability in effectively addressing neurodiversity at work. A postal delivery worker was making repeated mistakes when sorting letters into the sections of the frame used to prepare for delivering them. It got to the stage where management was threatening to discipline, or even sack, him. The worker went to see his trade union representative. The rep, who is dyslexic, made the member feel comfortable enough to open up about their problem, and between them, they soon realised that the worker was probably dyslexic, although he did not have a formal diagnosis. The worker and the rep wondered whether that particular frame was causing the problem, as it contained lots of addresses with the same first word but a different second word eg. Road, Street, Close, Avenue. The union rep tried sorting mail on this frame and came up against the same problems that the worker had. The delivery office considered this particular frame a priority for prompt delivery of mail, which created additional pressure on the worker, which had led to more mistakes. The rep explained the issue to the delivery office manager, who knew nothing about dyslexia and was hostile at first. The rep persisted, and persuaded management that dyslexic workers be allocated to other frames. The worker – and other dyslexic workers – now make far fewer mistakes and experience less distress. The social model of disability recognises that barriers disable people with impairments or differences This story illustrates the importance to neurodivergent workers of the social model of disability. The employer was applying a medical (also known as individual) model of disability, seeing the problem as coming from the worker. In contrast, the union rep applied the social model of disability, looking for – and finding – barriers presented by the workplace to the dyslexic worker. Under the medical or individual model approach, the worker was the problem, and the only ‘solution’ the employer could identify was to discipline or sack him. Under the social model approach, it was the street names in a particular sorting frame that were the problem, and the solution was for dyslexic workers to work on other frames. The union rep had taken part in a training course on neurodiversity in the workplace, which had been arranged by his trade union and delivered by Red in the Spectrum. His main takeaway from the training was the social model of disability, and the story above is just one example of how he has applied it in practice. Contact Red in the Spectrum to arrange neurodiversity training for your trade union, your workplace or other organisation you are involved in, and use what you learn to put the social model of disability into practice! More here: https://lnkd.in/ebUG-smB #neurodiversity #dyslexia #socialmodel

Today, Red in the Spectrum is running part 2 of our course for Communication Workers' Union reps and officials. We are building on what we did in part one, and have spent this morning reporting on and assessing the work that participants have been doing since the first part. It has been great to hear about successful representation of neurodivergent union members, challenges to employers, and making the union itself more neuro-inclusive. #neurodiversity #neurodiversitytraining #tradeunions

A very welcome endorsement from Shared Assets.

A lovely venue for training land use campaigners Shared Assets about #neurodiversity Sheffield Central Library

Read Red in the Spectrum's Janine Booth's talk about including autistic workers. Lots of information about your rights and about changes that would make the workplace more inclusive. https://lnkd.in/eTrWGKBt #autistic #autisticworkers #rightsatwork

Red in the Spectrum's Janine Booth talking about Including #Autistic People at Work at 1-to-1 Enfield's #Autism #Inclusion Conference on 11 July. https://lnkd.in/ekgYZ5QP

The General Federation of Trade Unions (GFTU) has launched its #training programme for 2023/24, and for the first time, it includes a trade #union #neurodiversity course. Red in the Spectrum's Janine Booth has written and will deliver the course, which is running twice - in January and July 2025 - at GFTU's spacious and well-equipped training facility at Quorn Grange hotel in Leicestershire. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eMBm82JZ

Today, Red in the Spectrum's Janine Booth is at Enfield One-to-One's Autism Inclusion Conference. She will be taking part in a panel Q&A and giving a talk on Autism Inclusion at Work: removing barriers and challenging discrimination. It is taking place at the (Kyle) Walker Ground in (Gareth) Southgate). :-)