Supporting

Neurodiversity Celebration Week

This is my ninth year on supporting Neurodiversity Celebration Week with Plus Value Awareness.

There has been so much initiative to improvements which enable better understanding and positive developments, inclusivity and consideration of reasonable allowances. Especially related to the working environment

However it is not just about work, there is a lot that needs to be done related to understanding change of attitudes & perceptions.

There is some progress and certain paths of life. (Some examples I am honoured to participate throughout my awareness and insight)
This includes:
> Transport
> Some aspects of different industry sectors
> Education
> Housing

Addition I have done special initiatives to improve Neurodiversity awareness in related to creative & design industries online and on social media.

Gaps of progress

Unfortunately there are many gaps with some examples of concerning
Retail
I have observed an increasing amount of ableism in retail environments. Also have experienced physical intimidation though impatience of other customers. Also when of a retailer I have noticed that customer staff communicating too fast which led to customer impatience after a clarification request
There are additional kinds of discrimination which I will not share online with retailers causes escalation discrimination caused by the general public.

Call centres & online support
Through my experiences I have noticed inconsistent standards of accessing call centres. This is where the call centres staff are hard to grasp as they speak too quickly. In addition certain support phone lines become unfairly impatient and make me feel like a nuisance.

Government policies
In related to policies and changes I have noticed on occasions decisions have been made without any negative implications of Neurodivergent especially when it is regarding the general public are required to change certain requirements without considering some might adapting impossible. It can also an effect any government department services which effects disabilities including neurodivergent people

Press & media
There is a mixture of good and problematic. On the positive side the programming and reporting presents different examples of positive Neurodiversity role models and achievers. However in relation to understanding I have observed closed minds judgement of certain neurodivergent conditions which can fuel closed minds and typecasts. One of the recent policy changes was about enabling disabilities and neurodivergent people to access employment opportunities. Rather than have balanced picture on the challenges and barriers, some of the coverage had fuelled hostility and in some cases demonisation through misperception.
Find out more by reading my article on this matter.

Services related to senior citizens
When attending a community hub, I was having a polite conversation I am shunned abruptly with hostile intolerance from a staff from a support charity for seniors. This can cause damaging implications of Neurodivergent citizens over 60 when accessing any type of support or assistance.


Clubbing & music venues
Although these environments are mainly aimed at everyone, I have observed changes and obstacles. Sadly I have experienced including amounts of ablelism in a variety of ways which including physical abuse pranks and throwing drink over me and a combination of trivalisation and hatred threats. has affected my presence and safety and therefore stopped attending with minor exceptions. Because I received inadequate support when reporting, it brings a wrong message which causes exclusion and division with the outdated out of sight generalisation.

Banking
I have observed these environments the most intolerant and cause many obstacles thought impatience and unrealistic expectations against a person's difficulties. This can remove anyone to enable it to be a confident customer. Through my experience I have faced gaslighting when addressing any problem with misleading solutions into pressuring to adapt to the digital or telephone banking. There are inconsistency if I receive messages from a bank without the risk of facing scammers. this example happened to me and because I was courses against any fraudsters or scammers I was wrongly had my debit card blocked. This was caused by the bank not doing enough to distinguish themselves against forced us and scammers when receiving unplanned phone calls and text messages.

There are still more improvements which needs to be made to change & attitudes
Entertainment & Music
There are still examples of entertainment which stigma including old fashioned stereotypes.
this includes the the movie starTom Hank starred in the film rainman which many people have made sweeping generalization autistic people. Because of this some people with hidden related difficulties get constantly if believed with remarks such as "You Don't Look Autistic".

Positive role models with divergent individuals as entertaining and individuals involved with music and production, there isn't a diverse equivalent of diverse voices to combat against prejudice and ableists to attitude and behaviour. This includes music and entertainment celebrities speaking up to encourage them to not discriminate.

Political Public figures
There have been an increased amount of political voices which have caused damaging and harmful stigma.
Out of all of the conditions the autistic spectrum has been harmfully pipe cast after a policy in the United States with the humanising autism as allegation linked with immunisation treatment. American news programs we've certain guests pin on political or business shows use dyslexia as a intelligent put down. A particular world political leader made a sweeping generalisation without evidence saying that people with neurological conditions should not be working in professional job roles. This was after a helicopter crashes that occurred in the United States in 2025.

When addressing negative stigma of disabilities cause by the hostile coverage which demonising disabilities & difficulties related to welfare announcement by the government, I was wrongly disrespected by my local MP I was told to give up my ambition and downgrade my aspirations.

So what's the next step
We must break the gap in newer diversity awareness beyond the world of work. Just like everybody else a neurodivergent should be treated fairly equally and inclusively.

However everyone needs to stop taking responsibility on not to judge and treat others who have varying abilities.

This is not just about understanding it is about validating and embracing without it excuses not just in work but in every path of life in society.