Kerry Pace - Diverse Learners

28/08/2026

Warning has a swear word early on.

Song about Autism and ADHD by Chris Rewired.

Alarms
Lists
Phones and keys
Shiny
Sleep
Getting lost

"That's my brain mate"

26/08/2026

Tim Curry (19 April 1946 – 26 August 2026)

“Don’t dream it, be it.” — The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

We can’t quite believe we’re writing this following the tragic loss of Dolly Parton yesterday, but we’ve just learned that the legendary Tim Curry has also passed away.

Through his roles across film, theatre and television, as well as his incredible voice work, this remarkable man gave us some of the most iconic and unforgettable characters in acting. Most notably, of course, Dr. Frank-N-Furter from The Rocky Horror Picture Show, a character that continues to inspire generations of drag artists.

Tim, thank you for teaching us that it’s okay to be a little different, a little outrageous, and unapologetically yourself. We hope to continue your legacy on our stages and inspire future generations through your work.

We will miss you. 🖤

19/08/2026

I’m a big Tim Minchin fan, so I was delighted to see that ‘I’m Not Remarkable’ has received an Emmy nomination.

There are so many sentiments in this film that resonated with me, but particularly the references to words like “inspirational” and “brave”.

They’re words that are often used with the very best of intentions when talking about disabled and neurodivergent people.

But they’re also words I spend quite a lot of time talking about in the disability awareness training I deliver.

We explore concepts such as “inspiration porn” and why describing someone as inspirational simply for navigating everyday life with a disability can sometimes feel very different to the person on the receiving end.

I share my own lived experiences in these conversations, alongside experiences shared with me by students and clients I support, including how I navigate those moments when somebody tells me I’m “remarkable” for doing something that, to me, is simply part of my life.

That’s one of the reasons this film struck such a chord.

If you haven’t watched it yet, give it a watch below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmFPWxjmnqE

Do you have a favourite line from the song?

I’d particularly love to hear the thoughts of my fellow disabled and/or neurodivergent folk.

What resonated with you?

Apple has built-in accessibility features like Magnifier, Accessibi...

17/08/2026

Sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself is close the laptop, put the phone down and go and have the ice cream.

If you’re finding it difficult to properly switch off this summer, look for the easy wins.

- Schedule what you can.
- Put your out of office on.
- Tell people when you’re unavailable.
- Turn the notifications off.
- Decide what genuinely needs doing and what can wait.

Everything will still be there when you get back.

And you might just come back with a much clearer head.

What’s helped you switch off this summer?

14/08/2026

It’s ! There’s something particularly lovely about receiving feedback after delivering a session and knowing the conversation has genuinely made people stop, think and look at their workplace differently.

We recently delivered a Disability Awareness session for Network Rail, where we explored neurodivergence, including ADHD, and what accessibility can look like in practice.

Because making a workplace more accessible for neurodivergent colleagues isn’t always about huge changes.

Sometimes it’s clearer communication.
More flexibility around how information is shared.
Understanding that people process, focus and communicate differently.
Being curious rather than making assumptions.
And giving people the confidence to ask for what they need.

The aim of these sessions isn’t to give people a list of things they should be doing.

It’s to help teams better understand the people they work alongside and start thinking about the small, practical changes that can make a real difference.

We were so pleased to receive this feedback from Network Rail following the session.

A huge thank you to Charlotte and everyone who joined us, asked questions and got involved in the conversation.

Creating more accessible workplaces starts with awareness, but what happens after the session is where the real difference is made.

If your organisation would benefit from a Disability Awareness or Neurodiversity session, get in touch to find out more.



Image description: Three Feedback Friday graphics from Diverse Learners sharing positive feedback following a disability awareness training session delivered for Network Rail. Attendees describe the session as informative, insightful, engaging and relatable, saying it improved their understanding of ADHD and provided practical strategies they could use. One attendee, Charlotte, said the workshop “ticked so many boxes” personally and was incredibly helpful.

13/08/2026

As a massive fan of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, my advice to anyone who hasn’t quite got the results they were hoping for today is…

DON’T PANIC.

One set of results doesn’t decide your future.

There’s rarely only one route to where you want to go, and sometimes the route you hadn’t planned for turns out to be the one that suits you best.

In this film created by The Open University, we explore my less conventional educational story. Learning in this way enabled me to discover flexible ways to pursue my career and run my business in a way that works for me.

Now, I'm living my passion - teaching and supporting people who, like me, are neurodivergent and delivering disability and inclusion awareness training to NHS Trusts, professional bodies, universities and other organisations.

So, whether you’re celebrating today or wondering what on earth you’re going to do next, remember…

There are always options, opportunities and people who can help you work out what comes next.



The students that appear in this video are Ray Mart Lacey, Beki Juffsand Tefnut Assante.

13/08/2026

This week, another FREE session took place, this time with Kimberly Naylor, a NHS CHAMS practitioner. It was funded thanks to our Buy a Neurodivergent Nurse a Specialist Support Session campaign.

The idea behind the campaign is simple: look after the people who look after us.

Neurodivergent nurses and health and social care professionals support thousands of people every day, yet many struggle to access specialist support themselves due to budget cuts and long waiting times for schemes such as Access to Work.

That’s why we launched this campaign.

Every £100 raised funds a one-hour specialist 1:1 support session with Kerry Pace or a member of the Diverse Learners specialist team.

The sessions offer practical, individual support around things such as managing cognitive load, confidence, communication, organisation, workplace strategies, access rights and self-advocacy.

And seeing another funded session happen this week is exactly why every pledge matters.

Whether you contribute a little, fund a session or choose to support us monthly, you’re helping us make specialist neurodivergent support more accessible to the people working hard to care for others.

It’s not too late to pledge via the link in the comments.

Together, we can look after the people who spend their working lives looking after us.



Video description: Kerry Pace, Founder of Diverse Learners explaining how a contribution of £25 would contribute towards 15 mins of a Specialist Support, so if 4 people did this, one full session would be funded. A contribution of £100 would also fund one full session

05/08/2026

Perfect time to apply for Disabled Students' Allowances (DSA).
If you have and / or mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, bipolar, BPD you could get specialist 1:1 support via DSA.
We, Diverse Learners might be the ones to provide that support.

Applying for Disabled Students’ Allowance?

It’s important to apply as soon as you can so that your support is ready when you need it.

- Find out how to apply: www.gov.uk/disabled-students-allowance-dsa/how-to-claim

- Find out more about needs assessments: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/what-to-expect-from-your-disabled-students-allowance-dsa-needs-assessment

24/07/2026

Today is , and I think it's important to remember that self-care looks different for everyone.

For some people, it's exercise, reading a book or spending time with friends.

For others, particularly those who are neurodivergent, it might be cancelling plans because they're overwhelmed, taking time away from noise, wearing headphones, asking for support or simply giving themselves permission to rest.

Too often, people feel guilty for meeting their own needs.

But self-care isn't selfish.

It's recognising what helps you function, regulate your emotions and protect your wellbeing.

It's understanding your own needs instead of forcing yourself to fit someone else's expectations.

When we understand our own needs and respect them, we're better able to learn, work, care for others and be the best version of ourselves.

So today, I'd encourage you to ask yourself one simple question:

What do I need today, not what does everyone else need from me?



Image description: Photo of Kerry strolling along a countryside path leading towards the coastline beneath clear blue skies. The peaceful natural surroundings evoke a sense of balance, mindfulness and self-care, highlighting the value of stepping away from busy environments to reconnect with yourself.

21/07/2026

This post was shared on one of my professional forums and thought I'd share it here.

6 month FT role for a research associate in disability law, based at Metropolitan University:

All about Manchester Metropolitan - an exciting, modern university in the heart of one of the UK's great student cities.