Usdaw puts a spotlight on neurodiversity

Paddy Lillis – Usdaw general secretary says: “At least one in five people in the UK are thought to be neurodivergent. Many Usdaw members are neurodivergent and many others are juggling paid jobs with caring for someone who is neurodivergent. While that can be a very rewarding experience, it can also be hugely demanding. Our Spotlight Day helps to reach out to members in workplaces, showing that Usdaw can help and is not just there for when things go wrong at work.

“Neurodiversity is the term that is commonly used to describe the differences in how people's brains behave and process information. It refers to the fact that we all think, learn and act differently and have different strengths and challenges. It can be helpful to think of neurodiversity in the same way as we think about physical differences between people. Some people are taller than others, or stronger. Just as we recognise and accept that we are all physically different, the same is true of our brains.

“These differences are something to be celebrated, which is why the theme of this year’s Supporting Parents and Carers Spotlight Day is ‘Celebrating Different Minds’.
Usdaw is using the day this year to celebrate neurodiversity. Without it, the world would be a poorer place as we’d miss out on all the different observations, insights, interpretations and discoveries made by neurodivergent minds. Today we put the spotlight on Usdaw’s all-year-round campaigning. Our fantastic workplace reps
are committed to ensuring that all members understand their rights and are able to access the support that is available to them whenever they need it.”