Neurodiverse Connections helps communities embrace
this beautiful Neurodiverse* world we all share.
We provide resources to those who work with, teach, love, befriend, parent, or ARE neurodivergent themselves. We make invisible disabilities visible when we partner with our schools, professionals and community to build NeuroEmpathy* and relational safety for all kinds of minds.
*More info on Neurodiversity and other ‘neuro-terms’ in our ND: 101 section.
*More info on NeuroEmpathy in our Programming Section.
Please consider investing in empathy and equity. Neurodiverse Connections is an all-volunteer, entirely neurodivergent-led organization, and your tax-deductible donation will directly contribute to exceptional programming and expanded offerings. Together, we’re building a future where all minds are valued for their unique strengths, honored for their differences, and treated with dignity and respect.
ND 101
The human population as a whole is neurodiverse, meaning that there is a range and variety of ways nervous systems and brains are wired. Our brain and nervous system wiring pattern determines our neurotype.
- A majority of humans are wired to process the world in a similar way, and this most common wiring pattern is termed neurotypical or neuro-normative.
- Somewhere between 20 and 30% of us are wired differently from the majority and we are considered neurodivergent. ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, and Tourette's (to name just a few) are examples of neurodivergent neurotypes.
- The word neurotypical does not connote better or worse, it simply identifies the most common neurotype. The word neurodivergent does not connote better or worse, it simply means not neurotypical.
- Just as different eye colors and heights are not objectively better or worse than another, there is no value judgement assigned to neurotypes.
However, just like eye color and height, certain presentations may carry advantages or disadvantages depending on our environment. A blue-eyed person squints in bright sunlight and a very tall person is miserable on long flights in coach class. Blue eyes and very tall bodies are not inherently disadvantageous; it is certain environments that make them so.
Since our nervous systems and brains determine our perception of the world, people with different neurotypes often experience an empathy gap. An autistic person and a neurotypical person can be standing side by side when something happens, but their perceptions of the experience may be completely different due to their different wiring. Unfortunately, since we only ever perceive the world through the lens of our own neurotype, it's nearly impossible to accept or even conceive of a different version of what feels to us like fact or truth. This empathy gap is the source of many cross-neurotype misunderstandings, and that's where Neurodiverse Connections comes in.
Programming
At the core of our programming are NeuroEmpathy Workshops. These immersive, engaging events allow kids and adults of all neurotypes to experience the friction of being neurodivergent in a world built by and for neurotypical minds. Minds are shaped by personal experience, so instead of lecturing and explaining “The Why,” our workshops offer parallel versions of neurodivergent lived experiences so participants get up close and personal with “The Why.” This relational understanding—or as we call it, NeuroEmpathy—has deep and lasting impact.
When we truly empathize with another human being’s circumstances, their behavior makes sense. Accommodations and supports become self-evident, arising organically from the needs expressed by the individual, not from a generic one-size fits all “policy”. Our workshops emphasize that:
- Accommodating different communication, learning, thinking, and work styles addresses the equity and accessibility gaps inherent in our culture.
- Accommodations are not an onerous list of the “special needs” of a few individuals.
- Accommodations are universally beneficial allowing all people to feel comfortable, included and able to do their best work.
Additionally, when we present, we proudly stand tall in our own autistic, ADHD, and dyslexic identities, making it safe for others to do the same. By bringing visibility to invisible disabilities we foster exuberant conversation, true empathy, increased acceptance and a novel sense of belonging in our alliance woven from “neurodiverse connections.”
Additional programming made possible by your donation:
We support neurodivergent families through support groups, educational workshops and private consultations where we share referrals and resources, answer questions and foster connections with our community.
Our sensory recovery tent makes large community gatherings like Bainbridge’s Grand Old 4th of July more accessible by offering tools and space so overstimulated families can take a break from the joyful chaos and re-regulate throughout the long busy day.
SENSORY RECOVERY SPACE on JULY 4th
