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I recently attended a Neurodiversity celebration event at Addleshaw Goddard to mark Neurodiversity Celebration Week which ran from 13 to 19 March 2023. I attended with my fellow colleagues at the Law Society and it was a privilege to hear my chair and co-vice chair of the Disabled Solicitors Network speak at the event.

It was a fantastic opportunity for those in the legal sector who identify as neurodivergent, and for allies to come together as a community. It was a comfortable, relaxed and informal environment which made it a great space to meet others in the profession.

Read this LCN says from ADHDLegal on removing barriers for ADHD lawyers.

For me, one key takeaway from the event was how accessibility was well thought out. In particular, there were quiet networking rooms and quiet breakrooms which could be accessed throughout the event. In addition, there was the provision of chairs in the main networking room, which was great for me to use as I regularly need to sit down, especially on days when I’m not using my wheelchair or stroller.

Hopefully, the event leads to continued conversations, learning and actions around neurodiversity inclusion in law firms.

Check out this LCN Says from Uptimize founder Ed Thompson titled ‘neurodiversity to neuroinclusion’.

What’s Neurodiversity Celebration Week?

Founded in 2018 by Siena Castellon, Neurodiversity Celebration Week aims to change how neurodivergent people are perceived and celebrate neurodivergent talent. It also allows organisations to join in the celebrations and look to improve their workplaces to be more accessible for neurodivergent people.

There are many ways to mark Neurodiversity Celebration Week in the workplace, this could include:

• hosting your own celebration event inviting allies and neurodiverse colleagues along;
• developing your organisation’s understanding with Neurodiversity training and awareness campaigns;
• sharing podcasts to raise awareness about neurodivergent employees’ workplace experiences;
• learning from your neurodivergent colleagues or neurodiversity staff network; and
• sharing best practice toolkits or guides to line managers within your organisation.

Take a look at LawCareers.Net’s Diversity Access Schemes page for a list of diversity initiatives and access schemes springing up.