In a first for the magazine this month, we hear from a group
of international occupational therapists who all identify as
neurodivergent; that is, as people with diverse ways of
thinking and perceiving, due to their different wiring.
As scholar and author Dr Nick Walker says
(https://neurocosmopolitanism.com/), the idea that there is one
‘normal’ or ‘healthy’ type of brain or mind, or one ‘right’ style
of neurocognitive functioning, is no more valid than the idea
that there is one ‘normal’ or ‘right’ gender, race or culture
(https://autisticuk.org/neurodiversity/).
So, on pages 32 to 37, seven occupational therapists look
at the origins of the Neurodiversity Movement, and then share
snapshots of their daily working lives and shared experience of
working environments, in which acknowledgement or support of their neurodiversity has been
‘limited or non-existent’.
Recognising that the concept of neurodiversity is ‘not without controversy’, the authors hope
that their very personal narratives provide others with an insight into how – as neurodiverse
people – they experience the world around them. As they strongly assert, ‘neurodiversity is not
something to be fixed’ because ‘together, we are all kinds of minds’.
The principles of equality and diversity are core to the practice of occupational therapy, and
RCOT is committed to change and to leading the way to improve diversity, equality and
inclusion for the profession (www.rcot.co.uk/equality-diversity-and-inclusion).
With this in mind, and following last month’s focus on race, we would like to see an increase
in regular contributions from readers who would like to share with the wider occupational
therapy community their own life experiences – professional and personal – to help improve
equality, diversity and inclusion in the profession.
So whether it be about race, gender, sexual orientation, culture or disability, we want to hear
your stories. This could be your own experience of inequality or exclusion as an occupational
therapist or student, or your work to improve access to services or to improve the patient
journey for marginalised or under-represented groups.
It’s Black History month in October, which is a fantastic opportunity for the magazine to
celebrate the outstanding contributions people of African and Caribbean descent are making to
the occupational therapy profession. If you have any ideas or contributions, please get in touch
by the end of the month at: [email protected].
editor’s
comment
Tracey Samuels, Editor
If you have any feedback about this issue of OTnews, or
would like to contribute a short article or feature for a future
publication, please email me at: [email protected]