Neuroinclusivity through Relationship Building

'Neuroinclusivity through Relationship Building' will be a face to face live event hosted by the Centre for Neurodiversity and Development, in Collaboration with the Gateshead Community Bridge Builders. The event will focus on sharing research findings and community insights on topics related to relationship building and neuroinclusivity (i.e. working in partnership with neurodivergent people, supporting neurodivergent people in services, professional settings, and the community), and will feature a range of speakers including researchers, practitioners and community members.

This two-hour face-to-face event on 'Neuroinclusivity through Relationship Building' will explore how people can foster inclusion and accessibility through placing relationships at the heart of what they do. The event is collaboratively designed and run between researchers in the Centre for Neurodiversity & Development, The Relationships Project, and the Gateshead Community Bridge Builders.

Neurodiversity is a hot topic; neurodivergent people are more likely to have school difficulties, be under/unemployed, and be socially excluded. A range of organisations, including schools and businesses are keen to address these issues, but it can be hard to know where to start. The social science researchers in the Centre for Neurodiversity and Development provide key insights into developing trust and respect, and understanding neurodivergent needs. Our collaborative partners the Gateshead Bridge Builders have unique and innovative insights to share from the development of their 'Finding Neuro' programme, a community-led, grassroots group run by and for neurodivergent people. Their group is a demonstration of how relational approaches — built on trust, shared leadership, and lived experience — can fill gaps that formal systems struggle to address (but that formal systems can also learn a lot from).

Attendees can expect to hear several short talks, followed by a panel discussion and interactive audience Q&A.

Dr Amy Pearson, Assistant Professor in Psychology
Dr Haemy Lee-Masson, Assistant Professor in Psychology
Dr Monique Botha, Associate Professor in Psychology
Professor Neil Denton, Professor in Practice IHRR and co-lead of The Relationships Project

All

This event is likely to be of broad interest given that neurodivergent people are present in all areas of life (e.g. school, the workplace). It might be of particular interest to:

People working in the education sector, the third sector, the private sector. Clinicians, academics. Parents and caregivers.