A special neurodiversity workplace event

During Neurodiversity Celebration Week, I attended a special workplace awareness event organised by the West Midlands Combined Authority. Located at West Bromwich Town Hall and Library, the event, titled “Understanding and Celebrating Differing Minds: Neurodiversity in the Workplace and You”, explored different ways we can embrace neurodivergent individuals in the workplace. It combined presentation talks, live poetry, and an interactive workshop.

Val Clarke, Director of 4PS by Hilti UK, took part in the foundation level of the Thrive at Work programme and received a bronze accreditation. She spoke about the history and development of the programme and presented examples of creating an inclusive and accommodating working environment. This included exploring how workplace practices have evolved over time and the impact of organisational change. She highlighted that many businesses employ neurodivergent individuals and emphasised the importance of strong foundational policies. Her organisation has developed initiatives to further improve inclusivity, including reasonable adjustments and the introduction of quiet spaces.

Siphi Eric Ndlovu, an influencer and poet, and a former Poet Laureate and Disability Access Arts Champion, delivered a powerful session combining poetry, lecture, and interactive participation. He encouraged audience engagement through warm-up activities, including standing, hand movements, and interactive singing.
Siphi explained how music and musicality have been a source of freedom for him, helping him to overcome the challenges of a speech impairment in his youth. He reflected on the barriers he has faced, including a lack of support from some employers, while emphasising that everyone is different and unique. During his session, Siphi presented two pieces combining video and live poetry. The first focused on how dance can help break a mindset of chaos and included video footage of Birmingham. His second presentation, titled “Recode”, explored his experiences of dyslexia.

The event continued with a panel discussion featuring Alice Hargreaves, Chief Executive of SIC; Laura Bladon, Regional Lead at DFN Project SEARCH; and Carolyn Smith, Managing Director of TPSquared, a creative agency.
The discussion explored key themes such as recognising strengths and attributes, the importance of thinking beyond conventional approaches, examples of reasonable adjustments, and how many effective solutions can be implemented at little or no cost.

Later, the event concluded with an interactive workshop, where participants were divided into different groups. I focused on creative solutions, working with Carolyn Smith, Managing Director of TPSquared.

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Keith Mckenzie
Keith is an awareness campaigner, a creative designer (Graphic design and digital art) and a salsa dancing participant
With a background in Art & Design (including Graphic Design & Digital art) and a participant in music-related film documentaries, events & record label project King Of the Beats including filming and behind the scene preparations.
Keith was educated at Hereford College of the Arts, the University of Northampton, Birmingham City University and Google's Digital Garage. Since 2000 , he has developed over twenty years in providing awareness projects, campaigns and activities with the Awareness brand Plus Value Awareness along with Differences Originals. Also am involved with salsa classes in the local community
as an assistant. I also have participated in major dancing conventions in Birmingham's, including Motion City (created by Birmingham Latinmotion and London's ManboCity) during the summer and Latinmotion's NYE Fest during the New Year public holiday.
In 2022. Keith became a featured community participant for Birmingham who became part of special projects and campaigns to promote a positive legacy beyond hosting the Commonwealth Games