What is neurodiversity, how do we celebrate it, and what does neurodivergent mean? – BBC

Neurodiversity Celebration Week kicks off from 18 – 24 March, and we have been discovering out extra about what it means to have a neurodifference.

Neurodiversity is a phrase used to explain the completely different pondering types that have an effect on how folks talk with the world round them.

It’s an umbrella time period – a phrase that sums up plenty of various things. It consists of autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia and Tourette’s.

Three of our press packers, Riley, Mateo and Lucy-Lu, spoke to Newsround about their expertise of being neurodivergent.

The phrase comes from two elements – neurological and divergent.

Neurological is a time period for issues to do with our mind, and divergent is about transferring away from a set path.

It’s a time period used for plenty of completely different individuals who have completely different pondering or speaking types.

These embody plenty of various things, together with autism and ADHD, which affect how folks talk with others and the world round them.

There’s additionally dyslexia, which impacts how folks learn and spell, or dyspraxia, which impacts your motion and co-ordination.

Neurodivergent can confer with numerous various things.

Some folks would possibly prefer to confer with particular circumstances as an alternative. Nonetheless, there will also be some crossover with completely different neuro-differences, resembling autism and ADHD.

Round 15-20% of all of the folks dwelling on the earth are thought to have a neuro-difference. No two folks might be affected in the identical manner.

There are many well-known individuals who have neuro-differences, together with Lewis Capaldi, who has been elevating consciousness about his expertise with Tourette’s.

In 2022, a bunch of autistic younger folks despatched a letter to the federal government, asking it to make colleges extra inclusive for pupils with neuro-differences. They wished this to incorporate insurance policies round behaviour and uniform.

Mateo, Riley and Lucy-Lu all go to the identical college, and they’re all neurodivergent.

Mateo is autistic, and says he struggles with sure meals. He wears ear protectors when issues are noisy. Lucy-Lu has ADHD and dyslexia, and says she finds it onerous to focus at school, and can typically fidget. She additionally makes use of ear protectors typically.

Riley has ADHD, and says he finds it tough when he cannot take care of his feelings if one thing he doesn’t like occurs.

Fortunately of their college, they’ve plenty of various things to assist them all through the day, together with stand-up desks, sensory partitions and actions, and locations to go in the event that they really feel overwhelmed.

Nonetheless, not everybody has entry to the identical assist.

From the 18 – 24 March, folks all around the UK are inspired to consider and rejoice neurodiversity, in addition to problem stereotypes folks may need about it.

Greater than 2,500 colleges have signed up to participate, to rejoice completely different minds and lift consciousness about what it means to be neurodivergent.

When you have a situation like autism, ADHD, dyslexia or many others underneath the neurodivergence umbrella, you may get assist at school, from household and mates and if you happen to want it, from the NHS.

Keep in mind you’ll be able to all the time speak to somebody you belief about how you feel. When you’re unsure who you want to speak to, ring Childline on 0800 1111 who might be ready that will help you with how you feel.