Nurturingnd

The next Neurodiversity in Business Co-working session at Shell Store Hereford is Thursday 25th June.

The session includes:

✅ Three hours access to a neuroinclusive and sensory friendly co-working space between 9.30am-12.30pm

✅ Free tea, coffee (and hopefully biscuits!)

✅ Specialist on hand to provide support for strategy development/ implementation and assistive technology

✅ Signposting to other support and resources available

✅ WiFi and facilities available at The Shell Store

Come along for the full morning, or just drop in at a time to suit you. £5 for Shell Store members and £7.50 for non members.

Book your space here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/copy-of-neurodiversity-in-business-co-working-tickets-1990080966743

If you have any questions, reach out here or email me on [email protected]

Not sure if you can make it? Sign up and use your ticket for the next event if you can’t.

Some really positive feedback on a session delivered online last week. This session explored effective no/ low cost adaptations and strategies to make working environments more accessible and inclusive. This feedback outlines how those small changes can make a big difference to individuals and wider working communities.

If you are interested in strengthening inclusion, improving staff wellbeing and embedding meaningful neuroinclusive practice in to everyday culture, please do reach out for a chat.

Vision has a huge impact on how you access learning and work. But how do you know if you see the world differently to others? How do you know if you should investigate your visual experiences?

If text is:
👀 uncomfortable to read
👀 or it moves, blurs or goes in and out focus
👀 or you focus on the patterns the white space makes rather than the text itself

gathering an understanding of what you are reading is definitely going to take a lot more time and effort from you. This visual from Crossbow Education shows how visual difficulties can manifest and the impact these can have. If you would like to find out more, the following resources are great:

Visual difficulties - British Dyslexia Association

What is Visual Stress? | Symptoms | Visual Stress Resources

Whilst an overlay will often alleviate symptoms,  it is essential that these difficulties are investigated by a qualified vision practitioner. In Hereford and the surrounding areas, the following practices offer investigation:



Andrew Jelley Opticians

Alongside practical tools, like overlays, reading rulers and coloured paper, it is a great idea to look into the accessibility settings on phones, tablets and PCs, as well as the free to use technology listed below:
MyStudyBar (callscotland.org.uk) Download: MyStudyBar 4.1 (callscotland.org.uk) from CALL Scotland

Using Windows 10 ‘Accessibility’ tools to support learners with visual difficulties (callscotland.org.uk)
 
How to use the Immersive Reader - making reading more accessible (youtube.com)
 
How to use the Immersive Reader in the Microsoft Edge browser (youtube.com)

Is being neurodiversity affirming enough or do we need to be neurodiversity responsive?

A neurodiversity aware person asks:

“What is neurodiversity?”

A neurodiversity affirming person asks:

“How can I respect and support neurodivergent people?”

A neurodiversity responsive person asks:

“What barriers exist, who benefits from current dominant norms and systems, what assumptions and biases do I hold, whose needs and perspectives are being centred or excluded and what needs to change within the system for inclusion and collective liberation?”

Inspired by culturally responsive frameworks, you can read more about neurodiversity responsive here:

https://www.livedexperienceeducator.com/blog/from-neurodiversity-affirming-to-neurodiversity-responsive

SEND Consultation Drop-in Events - Experts at Hand

We’re inviting parent carers to join us for a SEND consultation drop‑in event focusing on the “Experts at Hand” model proposed in the Schools White Paper.

This session is a chance to share your feedback, insights and ideas about what 'Experts at Hand' should look like in practice in Herefordshire – what would work well for children and young people with SEND, families and schools, and what needs to be done differently.

Hosted by: Hilary Jones, Head of Service for Additional Needs, Herefordshire Council

When & Where:

Tuesday 2 June, 4pm – 6pm @ Riverside Primary School, Hereford - Book here: https://orlo.uk/Hereford_iHyj7

Tuesday 9 June, 4pm – 6pm @ Leominster Primary School, Leominster - Book here: https://orlo.uk/Leominster_gu2iJ

Tuesday 16 June, 4pm – 6pm @ John Kyrle High School, Ross-on-Wye - Book here: https://orlo.uk/RossOnWye_QBF71

This is an informal drop‑in session – pop in, ask questions and have your say. To help us manage numbers, booking is essential. Click on each session to book your free space on Eventbrite.

Your experience and expertise as a parent carer really matters, and we’d love to hear your views. Please share with anyone who might be interested in attending to share their ideas.

Are you a parent/carer of a young person with Special Educational Needs/Disabilities (SEND)? Do you want to support them to prepare for adult life?

Spaces are still available for our FREE SEND workshop this Saturday:

𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗘𝗡𝗗: 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗱𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱

📆Saturday 13 June
🕛10am-1pm,
📍The Hive, Worcester

This practical 3-hour session (with breaks) will cover:
• Options for education, training, volunteering and employment
• Independent Living
• Participation in the community
• Health and wellbeing

During the session, we will work together on activities to help you plan how you will support your young person to make informed decisions about their future. You will leave the session with an action plan.

Find out more and book your place here: https://tinyurl.com/55nmywmh

Record numbers of children with mental health support in schools The government is on track to meet its manifesto promise that every school and college will have access to mental health support teams by the end of 2029

I have been a bit quiet lately as I’ve been super busy with assessments for access arrangements in schools and completing training to refresh my knowledge. This week:

⭐️ Tickets have gone on sale for the next Neurodiversity in Business Co-working at This will be on Thursday 25th June from 9.30am-12.30pm. Book your place here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/neurodiversity-in-business-co-working-tickets-1990080966743

⭐️ I’m meeting with colleagues to plan exciting new projects.

⭐️ I’m facilitating a session on neuroinclusive working environments.

⭐️ I’ll be providing specialist tuition.

⭐️ Catching up on the SASC conference.

Looking forward, I’ll be: completing more assessments for access arrangements in schools, preparing for full diagnostic assessments to investigate dyslexia, and taking part in the neurodiversity panel at the biannual showcase.

Phew! That should keep me nice and busy!