NJ Department of Environmental Protection’s Post

It’s April! Which means it’s also World Autism Awareness Month! It’s made me reflect on the profound diversity of the human mind, particularly in the context of neurodiversity and its place in our professional spaces. If you’ve ever looked over your company’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) statement, one critical element likely remains conspicuously absent: neurodiversity. While strides have been made to recognize and celebrate various aspects of diversity, neurodiversity is still on the fringe of these discussions. It’s an oversight that not only undermines our DEI efforts but also deprives our professions, particularly in healthcare, of the incredible benefits that neurodiverse individuals bring. I’d love to see the day when all aspects of diversity, including neurodiversity, are embraced and integrated into DEI policies across all professions. By doing so, we can unlock the full potential of our workforce, foster truly inclusive communities, and ensure that *everyone* has the opportunity to contribute to their fullest!

People often question why an autism diagnosis or self-identification is needed if you are late discovered, or question why you need to give yourself a ‘label’ when you’ve got this far in life. For me, my self-discovery has, without doubt, saved my life and changed my life. That ‘label’ has given me a frame of reference and a depth of understanding I never had access to. That ‘label’ has enabled me to show myself the empathy, self-compassion and kindness that I have needed for four whole decades. That ‘label’ has facilitated the expansion of my self-knowing. That ‘label’ has connected me to another world where our neuro-minority is a common humanity and with it - acceptance, belonging and community. That ‘label’ has enabled me to come home to myself.

🗣️ Neurodiversity Awareness Week 2024 🗣️ 🧠 Today marks the first day of an important week dedicated to celebrating the diverse minds and abilities that make our community vibrant and unique. Neurodiversity awareness week encourages us to recognise and respect neurological differences such as ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and more. ❓Did you know❓ o Research by Theo Smith reveals an estimated 15-20% of the population is neurodiverse. o Up to 30% of Berkley employees are potentially neurodiverse. o Approximately 40% of us at Berkley have a neurodivergent family member. o Despite their talents, only 22% of autistic adults are employed in any form. 🌈 As a care group committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment, we believe in recognising and celebrating the strengths and abilities of all individuals. 🤝 Join us in raising awareness and reducing stigma.

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Welcome to Neurodiversity Celebration Week! An opportunity to celebrate the beautiful diversity of minds and learn more about what makes each of us unique. Neurodiversity week means celebrating the different ways our brains work. From autism to ADHD and dyslexia, each brain is special and valuable! The image shows my autism diagnosis from when I was 7. I’d only started communicating verbally at 5 years old, and had speech therapy in Primary school. Of course, the displayed status of ‘Past’ isn’t correct! You can get involved by: Educating and Raising Awareness: Share articles, resources, and personal stories that highlight the talents of neurodivergent individuals and the importance of neurodiversity in society. Participating in Events: Join free events and activities that celebrate neurodiversity. https://lnkd.in/eUzrq7vc has lots of events this week for free. The sessions are recorded, and you’ll be sent these so long as you register. Engaging in Dialogue: Start conversations about the benefits of neurodiversity in the workplace and beyond. Use this as an opportunity to challenge misconceptions and promote understanding. Supporting Neurodivergent Talent: Showcase the achievements of neurodivergent individuals, and advocate for inclusive practices in hiring and workplace culture. If you have any questions about Autism, you’re welcome to ask. How are you getting involved this week?

✨ Making Your Event More Neuroinclusive: 3 Tips ✨ The rise of diversity, equality and inclusion! Therefore we need to be ensuring that all of our events are accessible to all, no matter our disabilities or neurodiversities. Some of the common neurodiversities are: Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorders, ADHD or ADD (the list continues!). The term neurodiversity for those unfamiliar is to describe the differences in the way that people's brains work. Being neurodiverse can cause challenges to some people due to the way that they perceive or respond to the world around us. But these differences are to be EMBRACED and ENCOURAGED! ⁉️ Did you know... ⁉️ Approximately 20% of the global population are neurodivergent.

🎉In case you've missed it, this week marks Neurodiversity Celebration week! 🎉 It's a time to celebrate all different types of minds, celebrate their individual capabilities and recognize that such neurological differences are a natural part of human diversity! By actively choosing to celebrate neurodiversity, you are: 💫Reducing the stigma and misconceptions that surround neurodiverse conditions and are in turn, creating a more understanding and inclusive environment for neurodiverse individuals in workplaces, schools and the wider community 💫Highlighting the strengths and unique perspectives that neurodiverse individuals have. Often, its exceptional talent in areas such as creativity, problem-solving and attention to detail 💫Promoting inclusivity by recognising that neurological differences, such as autism, ADHD and dyslexia, are natural parts of human diversity! 💫Choosing education and understanding by wanting to encourage learning about different neurodiverse characteristics and how they can impact individuals. This of course, leads to an increased level of understanding and empathy across the board and helps foster more inclusive and supportive communities all round! So here's to celebrating the wonderful individualities of our minds, how they work and how incredibly valuable they ALL are! 👏 Image Description: A picture of 5 different colour head profiles all showing different thought processes via drawings and diagrams. The image shows a cartoon man thinking at the bottom of the picture and is on a beige and navy background with a quote by Harvey Blume, 'neurodiversity may be every bit as crucial for the human race as biodiversity is for life in general. Who can say what form of wiring will prove best at any given moment?' written in beige.

EMBRACING #neurodiversity IN THE WORKPLACE 30st, Nov, 11 am to 1 pm Register here: http://bit.ly/3QVx5MY I’ll be speaking at 12:10 pm As creative geniuses, our biggest strengths and our biggest weaknesses are often the same! Our brain works differently. We often feel that just because we work differently, certain things are unavailable to us. We feel boxed in. But these boxes can be opened by out-of-the-box thinking As a leader, if you learn how to hire and lead creative-geniuses, you can assemble your very own Avangers (or A-team if you're from the older generation). As a coach and an artist, I've been around truly creative people. In this webinar, I'll share how to find the talent in your future team and the potential in your existing one. #leadership #businesscoaching #creativeindustry #humanpotential

🔍 Are You Practicing What You Preach in Reality? 🔍 In the realm of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB), it’s easy to advocate for broad, inclusive principles. But are we truly implementing these values, especially when it comes to neurodiversity? Neurodiversity encompasses a range of cognitive variations, including autism, ADHD, dyslexia, trauma, and more. While many organizations speak about inclusion, the real test lies in how we integrate neurodiverse individuals into our workplaces. The Legecy of Trust!

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