Alice Hewson - Author

My autistic friends are not the problem. Neither is taking paracetamol during pregnancy.

#Autism #Autistic #Neurodiversity #Neurodivergent #ADHD #Inclusion

The solution? We need to change the narrative so that we all understand inclusion. Listen to those with lived experiences. And implement universal design into policies, practices, systems and services. So ND folk have a place at the table.

So the REAL problem? It's systems in society that are not built to include. Its comments from powerful world leaders that puts our awareness, education and understanding back decades.

There isn't a sudden influx of ND folk, we're not invading, we've always been here. More of us are just empowered to speak up and challenge years of stigma, discrimination and being misunderstood.

We're finally able to access the learning, that makes everything make sense, so we can fit in, sometimes for the first time in our lives.

We're getting better at understanding what
neurodivergence looks like in women and that it doesn't disappear when we reach adulthood, leading to more people getting diagnosed in their 30's, 40's, 50's and even older.

We are now getting better at recognising the challenges ND folk face, finding our tribe and feeling part of communities.

We've had years of awful, inaccurate representation. Non-speaking autistics were hidden away in institutions, and names like "stupid" and even worse (that I don't want to type) were common in education settings.

Phrases like "clumsy child syndrome" and "minimal brain dysfunction" were also used.

The real answer is that autism, alongside ADHD and dyspraxia, has been under-diagnosed for years. Especially in women and girls. Autism has been portrayed as things like rain man, and ADHD was linked to hyperactive, naughty boys.

➡️ Research by the Harvard Business review highlighted that neurodivergent teams can be up to 30% more productive.

I know this stuff because I have spent months writing a book about ND inclusion. And I have 36 years of life with a neurodivergent brain.

➡️ According to research by the institute of management, 50% of leaders and managers said they would not employ someone who is neurodivergent citing reasons of incapability and needing to provide extra supervision.

Here's some real stats for you:

➡️ 1 in 7 people or 15% of the UK population are neurodivergent.
➡️ 33% of American adults are neurodivergent.
➡️ One research report highlighted that 61% of American respondents experienced stigma or felt misunderstood at some point during their career.

Yet that is exactly what one of the most powerful men in the world has done. This time about autism. And this, quite frankly is scary (and dangerous.)

Trump then cited some numbers that were wildly inaccurate and he seemed to pluck out of thin air.

The words "we won't let it happen anymore", "we found an answer" and "how to get better when you have it," should not be used in the same sentence about neurodivergence.

#Autism #Autistic #Neurodiversity #Neurodivergent #ADHD #Inclusion

Drop me and email and we can make that happen!

Publishing Neurodiversity in the Workplace is still one of the best things I have ever done. Feedback makes all the late nights trying to find the right words very much worthwhile.

#Inclusion #Speaking #NeurodiversityInTheWorkplace #Neurodiversity #Belonging #ADHD | @speakerscollective.bsky.social

Speakers Collective - Alice Hewson Alice is an author, writer and speaker based in Gateshead in Northeast England, with a background in charity communications, journalism and youth work. Alice is an author, writer and speaker based in ...

Read about my speaking here: www.speakerscollective.org/speaker/alic...

#Inclusion #Neurodiversity #Belonging #ADHD | #NeurodiversityInTheWorkplace #Speaking @speakerscollective.bsky.social

30 Minute Meeting - Alice Hewson

You can book a 30 minute call to chat about what I offer and find out more. Use my calendly to book a time: calendly.com/alice-hewson...

#Inclusion #Neurodiversity #Belonging #ADHD | @speakerscollective.bsky.social

I'm available for talks on neurodiversity & inclusion for workplaces, schools, youth orgs and anyone who values lived experience about growing up with ADHD & dyspraxia, & my learning on developing inclusive practices.

#Inclusion #NeurodiversityInTheWorkplace #ADHD | @speakerscollective.bsky.social

I'm starting to get enquiries for podcasts again, which is very exciting, and something I love to do, always leading to some brill conversations.

#Inclusion #Speaking #NeurodiversityInTheWorkplace #Neurodiversity #Belonging #ADHD | @speakerscollective.bsky.social | TriggerHub

“This is why we play tunes,”: on navigating imposter syndrome and understanding why sharing music with others is so important for wellbeing I’ve always felt an intense feeling of imposter syndrome when it comes to music and playing my fiddle. I wasn’t one of “the best” in the school orchestra, I wasn’t bro…

I wanted to share some thoughts about the imposter syndrome I often feel when I play my fiddle, and how this relates to inclusion, belonging and sense of community. It was a tough one to write and to find the right words ⬇️

#Inclusion #Belonging #FolkMusic #Fiddle #Neurodiversity #Impostersyndrome

“This is why we play tunes,”: on navigating imposter syndrome and understanding why sharing music with others is so important for wellbeing I’ve always felt an intense feeling of imposter syndrome when it comes to music and playing my fiddle. I wasn’t one of “the best” in the school orchestra, I wasn’t bro…

New blog post: “‘This is why we play tunes,’ On navigating imposter syndrome and understanding why sharing music with others is so important for wellbeing”

I've finally put into words things I've been reflecting on a lot recently.

#Inclusion #FolkMusic #Neurodiversity #Impostersyndrome
#Belonging

Finding work in an unemployment crisis: What redundancy and job hunting has taught me about community This week it was announced that unemployment has risen to the highest level in four years. According to the Office for National Statistics the rates were 4.

As I'm at the start of a lovely new journey, I will continue speaking and writing about what I've learned when I believed I would never get a job again.

Here's some words to conclude this chapter ⬇️

www.linkedin.com/pulse/findin...

#Inclusion #Neurodiversity #Unemployment #JobHunting #NewJob

Finding work in an unemployment crisis: What redundancy and job hunting has taught me about community This week it was announced that unemployment has risen to the highest level in four years. According to the Office for National Statistics the rates were 4.

There’s also a lot of positives I've gained from this year too, so much learning and self discovery about what works for my brain, for inclusion and spaces I feel most valued. I've understood community and identify more than ever before.

#Inclusion #Neurodiversity #Unemployment #JobHunting #NewJob

As I enter my sixth week in a new job after a year being part of those statistics, I've written about what it's like being in the middle of this unemployment crisis, and one of the stories behind the numbers.

#Inclusion #Neurodiversity #Unemployment #JobHunting #NewJob

Finding work in an unemployment crisis: What redundancy and job hunting has taught me about community This week it was announced that unemployment has risen to the highest level in four years. According to the Office for National Statistics the rates were 4.

New blog post!

Recently new data from Office of National Statistics announced that unemployment is the highest it’s been in four years.

#Inclusion #Neurodiversity #Unemployment #JobHunting #NewJob

Picture of a grey cat, sitting on a grey sofa, next to a tablet with the front cover of the book neurodiversity in the workplace. On the cover there is the lettering in red, orange, green, blue and purple that reads: "Neurodiversity in the Workplace." "How to create an inclusive and safe environment." Below the title there is a brain, with one half red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple. And the other half white and black. Under the image there is the authors name "Alice Hewson" written in black.

And don't forget to leave me a review on either Amazon Goodreads or Story Graph. I read them all, and they really do make me smile.

#neurodiversity #inclusion #neurodiversityatwork #indieauthor

If you'd still like to buy Neurodiversity In The Workplace, you can order here 👉https://triggerpublishing.com/9781915680730

Picture of woman wearing glasses and a green dress, standing at podium doing a speech and holding up a book. Behind there is a power point slide on the screen that has a photo of her wearing an orange jumper, a green triangle at the top, with a white triangle at the bottom, and Neurodiversity in the Workplace written on top of the white triangle.

Thank you to everyone who has reached out, bought Neurodiversity In The Workplace, written reviews, had me on your podcasts or radio shows, written articles, and created many different communities to help keep me grounded.

Photo of woman in green jumper and wearing glasses holding up a book

It hasn't been easy, but I'm still here with a book in my hands that has moved so many people, and three weeks into a shiny new job too.