From March 17th to 23rd, 2025, we celebrate Neurodiversity Week!
Neurodiversity Celebration Week is a global initiative aimed at challenging stereotypes and misconceptions about neurological differences. Its goal is to shift perceptions and enhance support for neurodivergent individuals by encouraging schools, universities, organisations, and communities to recognise the importance of neurodiversity. An initiative that promotes inclusivity, embraces differences, and aims to empower everyone.
Find out more on the official Neurodiversity Week website:
2025 Events Schedule- Neurodiversity Celebration WeekHow is Living Options getting involved?
Living Options recognises the importance of supporting neurodiversity. Throughout the week, we’ll be celebrating neurodiversity on our socials as some of the team share what neurodiversity means to them.
Why sharing lived experience matters
Sarah is an Oliver McGowan Autistic Expert by Experience and part of the team delivering Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism to health and social care staff.
What makes Oliver’s Training special is that it is co-delivered by people with lived-experience of a learning disability and autistic people. This makes it authentic, real, and relatable. Sarah’s journey as a trainer is shaped by her own lived experience and highlights the impact of sharing, connecting, and listening.
“Hearing someone say that my life experiences have helped families, their role in health care and had a wider impact makes me really happy. It doesn’t take away the difficulties I have experienced but it is healing and turns a negative into a positive.”
Reflecting on working as part of the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training team at Living Options Sarah said:
“Being somewhere and knowing you have acceptance; you can entirely be yourself and not have to be anxious because you feel you have to be a different way. Everyone accepts the difference – myself is enough. I have stopped thinking of myself as wrong and not fitting in. All you have to do is come as yourself, everyone is just supportive of each other, and we all learn from each other. It has been a life changing opportunity for me and a really positive experience and I’m really proud to be part of the OMMT Living Options team.”
The difference being supported can make
Joe is part of the Living Options Business Services team and helps to coordinate the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism.
“I am autistic and have several diagnosed family members (including my mum and teenage daughter). I have found Living Options to be an incredibly inclusive organisation, a safe place for colleagues of all neurotypes to thrive together. The charity has a positive approach towards celebrating and recognising neurodiversity.
In the past I have often felt the need to mask many of my behaviours or felt shame due to my challenges or ‘deficits’. While masking and shame are difficult habits to break, I can honestly say that I’ve never felt more able to be myself in a job role.
My team are supportive of my needs and are very responsive to any reasonable adjustments I require – without drawing unnecessary attention to them. I think it is important for employers to know that neurodiversity is a term that covers all humans, whether neurodivergent or not. It’s important for employers to know that we all have individual needs and strengths, with unique experiences and perspectives that can really enhance an organisation or team.
There needs to be awareness and education across organisations to ensure that colleagues are treated with respect and able to thrive!“
JJ is an Oliver McGowan Expert by Experience and has been delivering training as part of the team since March 2024. They share their thoughts on how Oliver’s Training is supporting neurodiversity:
“The Oliver McGowan mandatory training sessions demonstrate just how integral accepting and accommodating Neurodiversity is to our lives. Through exploring empathy, intersectionality and areas of difference, again and again we have found common ground and straightforward but vital solutions for Neurodivergent people accessing healthcare in this training.”
Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism
To date (March 2025), over 5,000 NHS staff in Torbay, Exeter. Plymouth and North Devon have now received Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism. Training delivered by the team at Living Options Devon. This is training that can and will change lives.
“I have learnt more about Autism in the last few hours than I have done in over 30 years of clinical practice.”
Attendee of an Oliver McGowan training session.
The power of the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism is evident in the impact it has on those who attend the training sessions. By listening to the voices of those with lived-experience, professionals gain insights that go beyond theory. These insights can help to recognise the challenges, strengths, and perspectives of neurodivergent individuals. A shift in understanding essential for creating more inclusive communities.
Our Business Services website has more details about Oliver McGowan training:
Oliver McGowan TrainingKeep an eye out across our social media as we’ll be posting about Neurodiversity week throughout the whole week Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn