Post by Amanda Moses

It’s Neurodiversity Celebration Week and, if I’m honest, I don’t really feel like celebrating. I’ve noticed this pattern in myself. These calendar events come around, “Neurodiversity Celebration Week”, “Autism Awareness Month”, “ADHD Pride Day” and the like, and I just find myself with nothing to say. When you live in this world, and perhaps my life is a little more immersed than most between my clinical work, my PhD, my role as a trainer, and my actual home life, I often feel like I spend every waking moment advocating. It’s in the layers of the work that I do. It’s woven into my role as a mother. I’m breathing this every day, 52 weeks of the year. And the reality is, I do want to celebrate. But I also find myself feeling jaded at these times. Because the reality for many people, particularly those with higher support needs and those who are most marginalised, is that they are still living in a world that doesn’t truly accept them. People like the idea of them. They like the idea of diversity and celebration. And for some, it becomes a moment to jump on a bandwagon that allows them to feel inclusive for a week. But what is actually changing? What is being done to ensure Autistic people have equitable access to the world every other week of the year? Because the reality is that for many, while they like the idea of celebration and inclusiveness, they don’t like the effort required to make that a reality. I see it everywhere. In workplaces, in schools, yes, even in my own profession. And that disconnect can feel so jarring. Like a complete disconnect between the intention of these events and what is actually happening behind closed doors. I do appreciate the spirit of these initiatives. I don’t want people to stop celebrating, and this post isn’t intended as a criticism of those who are showing up. I see your posts, and many of them genuinely make me smile. We need lightness and joy too around these times. I just wanted to offer a different perspective on how I (and maybe others) might be feeling, and why I’m finding it really hard to celebrate this week. P.S. I recognise that the neurodivergent umbrella is broad, and Neurodiversity Celebration Week is about more than just Autistic people. I’ve referred to Autistic people here because that’s what is most relevant to my own work and perspective. #neurodiversitycelebrationweek