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To understand the need for Neurodiversity Celebration Week, we must first understand what it means to be neurodivergent. ‘Neurodiverse’ is an umbrella term that describes people who have cognitive conditions such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia and dyspraxia (amongst others) that are natural variations in how people think and process information.
More broadly, the term neurodiverse is a way of saying that human brains are unique and just as we each have a different personality, we each also process information differently. As described by the National Autistic Society, “Neurodiversity includes every single human being. Like biodiversity describes all life on Earth, neurodiversity describes the diversity of all human brains.”
The National Autistic Society goes on to explain that here is no single or ‘official’ definition of neurodiversity. To understand the word, it can be broken into two parts:
With this in mind, the National Autistic Society says there is no ‘official’ list of who is considered neurodiverse and people naturally have different views about which groups of people should be included.
The National Autistic Society goes onto say, “Neurodivergence means having a ‘neurocognitive’ experience (to do with how information is processed by the brain) that ‘diverges’ from (is different to) what is considered typical. Neurodivergent people experience and react to the world differently to ‘neurotypical’ people.”
An estimated 1 in 7 people in the UK – around 15 per cent of the population – are neurodivergent. Yet most healthcare systems are set up by neurotypical people, which can lead to neurodivergent people facing difficulties navigating everyday systems that were meant to support them.
By highlighting the challenges and celebrating the differences of neurodiversity, we can create a world that is more inclusive for all.
What is Neurodiversity Celebration Week?
Founded in 2018, Neurodiversity Celebration Week is a worldwide initiative that challenges stereotypes and misconceptions about neurological differences. The aim of the week is to help the world understand, value and celebrate the talents of neurodiverse individuals.
The mission of Neurodiversity Celebration Week is outlined by four key principles:
With this in mind, we at P3 are raising awareness of neurodiversity and ensuring it’s meaningfully reflected within our EDI (Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) strategy and everyday actions. At P3, we know that everyone’s experiences, strengths and challenges are different and that inclusive services are built by listening, learning and adapting.
By recognising and celebrating neurodiversity, we aim to create environments – for the people we support, our volunteers and our colleagues – where individuals feel understood, respected and empowered to be themselves. This includes challenging stigma and taking practical steps to ensure our services and workplaces are accessible and inclusive for all.
Year-Round Commitment to Inclusion
At P3, inclusion goes beyond awareness weeks, as inclusion is built into our culture, ensuring our services and workplaces are inclusive, flexible and responsive to everyone, including neurodiverse people.
Following a person-centred, PIE and TIC approach, our services are designed to adapt to individual needs by recognising different ways people communicate, engage and experience the world. Our inclusive approach to neurodiversity has helped us establish strong relationships with the local communities we serve. For example, our Hillingdon services have recently undergone a contract change to directly support neurodivergent young people.
In Hillingdon since 2006, P3’ youth services have become indispensable within the area. Built through trust and collaboration with our community partners and Hillingdon council, in 2025 the service was recommissioned with an expanded focus on neurodivergent people. The renewed contract has enabled our Family Advice Service to broaden its reach and impact.
Alongside housing advice, financial support and education and employment guidance for families and young people, the biggest change was that the service is now placing greater emphasis on the needs of neurodivergent individuals – a growing and often underserved group in the borough.
In June 2025, Zara Sweet, Regional Young People and Family Services Manager for P3 Charity, said, “I’m happy to share that we’re continuing to deliver P3 services in Hillingdon. Our new contract will allow us to strengthen local partnerships and reach even more young people and families who need our support.”
From the start, the voices of the young people we support have helped shape and develop the future of the service, influencing how support is designed, delivered and improved over time.
As a workplace, P3 is a proud Disability Confident Employer, demonstrating our commitment to fair recruitment, reasonable adjustments and creating a workplace where all our colleagues can thrive.
We also provide neurodiversity training for our colleagues, with additional support and guidance available for managers to help them confidently support neurodiverse colleagues. As Hayley Brydges, P3 Charity’s Learning and Development Coordinator, highlights, building understanding and flexibility across teams is key to creating inclusive environments where everyone feels valued.
Hayley says, “Training in neurodiversity is offered at P3 because it helps us all to better understand the different ways people see the world. By replacing misconceptions with awareness and empathy, we can equip our colleagues with practical strategies for clearer communication, flexible working and more inclusive collaboration. This training supports our responsibility to create an inclusive and accessible environment, helps remove barriers that prevent people from performing at their best and improves wellbeing across teams.”
Through inclusive services, employment practices and leadership, we continue to create spaces where people feel respected, supported and able to be themselves.
This Neurodiversity Celebration Week, P3 teams across the country were encouraged to explore how neurodiversity appears in everyday life and work. Many teams reflected on how we can become more aware of different communication styles and sensory needs. Moving forward, this means adapting activities across services, using accessible materials, and acknowledging and celebrating the voices and lived experiences of neurodivergent people.
