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About the event
Thank you for your interest in this event. This event has now taken place, and though registrations are closed, if you would like to watch the recording then you can access it here (along with the other NCW 2024 event recordings!). We hope you enjoy.
Everyone wishes to use the 'right' language when talking about neurodiversity. However, what is right for one person, may not be right for another!
Neurodiversity is a relatively new term and cultural and personal understandings of neurodiversity have changed significantly. And in many cases, they continue to do so. It's a deeply personal subject that may go to the heart of lots of peoples’ identities.
We hear there’s a lot of fear of communication around this subject. People don’t want to cause offence, get it wrong, or they worry about negative comments on social media. Using positive language also helps to reduce stigma and promote understanding and is important in the context of advocacy and policy-making.
In this panel discussion, we will explore the different words people use when talking about neurodiversity. What are the meaning words like Neurodiverse, Neurodivergent, Neurominority? What about individual differences or conditions? Should I say, “Autistic Person” or “Person with Autism”?
We hope to leave you with lots of practical takeaways to reflect on how you, or your organisation talks about neurodiversity.
This is a free online event via Zoom.
Tania Martin | Event Chair
Head of the UK Neuro-Diverse Centre of Excellence EY
Tania has over 20 years’ professional experience in people and operations process improvement roles. She has a passion for belonging and inclusivity, and working as the Lead for EY’s Neuro-Diverse Centre of Excellence (NCoE) in the UK has given her the opportunity to help build something truly human centred and drive lasting change across the organisation. At the heart of what she does is helping build a better working world that allows you to be authentically yourself, regardless of who you are. Tania herself is late diagnosed ADHD, and brings her own lived experience to all she does in the corporate world.
Anne D Ferguson
Brand Communications Strategist, Public Speaker & Advocate for people with ADHD & Dyslexia
Anne works with neurodivergent entrepreneurs to help them find the words and the confidence to get noticed on and offline. She helps large and small clients clarify, simplify and amplify their brand’s message, and deliver it in a way that helps their business grow.
Anne hosts The BrandUp! Podcast, a show about marketing for neurodivergent entrepreneurs. At home, Anne keeps learning about her brain whilst guiding her two neurodivergent teens through life’s challenges and joys. Anne is a public speaker, and works to end the stigma around neurodivergence in organisations by encouraging companies to communicate in ways that help neurodivergent people feel valued, included, and safe at work.
Morwenna Stewart
Coach, Trainer, Speaker
Over 25 years, Morwenna has been a writer and editor in public and private sectors, such as British Medical Journal, civil service, and more. She now works as a neurodiversity and writing coach / trainer. Morwenna is autistic, ADHD, dyspraxic, and dyscalculic.
Morwenna supports ND and NT clients – through early-career to CEO – to work at their best, using strengths-based and positive psychology models. She believes that people are "creative, resourceful and whole" (Carl Rogers) and they have all the solutions within themselves. Morwenna particularly loves to coach and train people to write – whether that’s books, PhDs, business or academic writing.
Keisha Adair Swaby
Author of Empowering Dyslexics - Blessed and Gifted
International Inspirational Speaker
Author of Empowering Dyslexics - Blessed and Gifted
Radio Presenter
Top 50 Most Influential Neurodivergent Woman
Film and Television Supporting Artist
Keisha is an award winning Dyslexia Advocate who is on a mission to inspire and empower others to overcome challenges and achieve their dreams and goals! Keisha is the Author of the bestselling book Empowering Dyslexics - Blessed and Gifted! A book which shares her own journey of determination and resilience. Keisha is available to speak at events, schools, universities and workplaces.
Jonathan Levy
Dyspraxia Foundation Chair
As an adult with dyspraxia, Jonathan takes every opportunity to raise awareness of the condition and is proud to be the Dyspraxia Foundation’s first-ever chair to have dyspraxia. Professionally, Jonathan runs a fundraising agency and chairs Europe’s largest professional fundraising event. He is passionate about promoting neurodiversity in fundraising and will soon be launching a CIC related to this.
Inas Ismail
Co-founder and Product Director
Dr. Inas Ismail is the co-founder of Autsera, a London-based startup combining tech, gamification and effective science-based therapy to build intervention game apps helping neurodiverse children become socially independent.
Autsera, derived from autism and serra (incubator in Latin), was set up just before covid as Inas and her co-founder, Omar Massoud, witnessed first-hand the difference early intervention can make in children’s lives and realised many children don’t have access to such intervention.
Inas has won the InnovateUK Women in Innovation Award in 2023, London’s GoogleforStartups’ Female Founders Residency & second place in TechRound 50 Women in Tech and Startups Competition.