𝐍𝐞𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬

#Neurodiversity means people experience and interact with the world around them in many different ways; there is no one "right" way of #thinking, #learning, and #behaving, and differences enriches the environment and are not viewed as deficits.

It is a term coined by, Judy Singer, an Australian sociologist. And it aims to increase acceptance and inclusion of all while embracing our neurological differences.

𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲

Like everything else we discuss in #Mindfulness, when we talk about becoming a mental health ally at workplaces, schools, and every other setting, we always need to bring forward the knowledge of ‘𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬’ because our words matters and it helps shapes cultures.

Encouraging inclusive cultures through words and actions.

How Can We Become Mindful?

• 𝐀𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐝𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬: 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲: Offer a quiet break space (🙋🏻‍♀️ I know through out my working years I have always found it difficult working in open office spaces — I would get fixated on the loud noise and it hindered me from getting things done).

• 𝐆𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝. I do even apply that in a classroom setting. We should not be stuck behind our desks and glued to our chairs. We are not meant to function that way. (Plenty of Studies by Stanford researchers Opezzo and Schwartz, Hillman, University of IIinois by Dr Chuck, Microsoft human factor lab — Found that walking breaks, and merely standing even 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧).

• 𝐃𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥! Inform people of what you expect from them at workplaces/students of what you expect from them in classroom settings, and don't assume someone is deliberately breaking the rules or being rude. 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐝𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞.

• Communicate with clarity. Be kind, patient, and thoughtful.