This product is currently in development and is a collaboration between Breaking Cycles CIC and Know Learning Limited.
Attending one of Know Learning’s Mental Health First Aid courses sparked a series of conversations, about neurodiversity, mental wellbeing and modern workplaces, between myself (Phil) and Jon Myhill. We believe that society as a whole needs a better understanding of neurodiversity* and the neurodiversity paradigm** in order to improve inclusivity and the wellbeing of the general population, we also believe that this is a slightly overambitious goal! We have therefore decided to start with something achievable and accessible: a half day awareness course for workplaces.
Increasing understanding of neurodiversity in the workplace will help to:
- Reduce absence from work due to poor mental health
- Increase staff retention
- Increase productivity
- Increase creativity
- Develop more efficient and effective procedures
- Actively recruit the skills we need in the workplace
- Celebrate diversity
- Develop more inclusive attitudes and practices
Please Email Jon Myhill or Phil Wade to find out more about receiving neurodiversity training.
*The term neurodiversity was first used by sociologist, Judy Slinger in the late 1990s. It refers to the concept that certain developmental disorders are normal variations in the brain. And people who have these features also have certain strengths.
**The neurodiversity paradigm challenges the idea that having a condition such as dyslexia, autism or ADHD is a disability as these are normal variations within the human brain. The physical variation of being very tall has advantages, like getting a better view of the top shelf and disadvantages, like not having enough legroom on an aeroplane. The average height of a man in the UK is 5’9”, so lets say that very tall is someone over 6’2”. The neurodiversity paradigm posits the argument that labelling someone who has a neurodivergent condition as disabled because they struggle in certain situations is equivalent to labelling everyone over 6’2” as disabled because they might need the extra accommodation of more legroom on an aeroplane.