WELCOME

Welcome the Neurodiversity & Mental Wellness user group.  This space is a dream that a few of us have had for a few years. It is a place where arts, culture and tech professionals can come and talk and learn from each other, especially related to mental wellness and neurodiversity. To that end we hope to create an environment where neurodiverse folks and neurotypical allies can support each other and share resources so that we can work and live to our optimum. Celebrating differences is important and we are all stronger together, with our road blocks removed, and being met on our terms.  We support the social model of disability.

It’s worth loosely defining some terms to start as neurodiversity is a brave new world to many of us. 

Neurodiversity It is an umbrella term that encompasses neurocognitive differences such as autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, Tourette’s syndrome, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, intellectual disability and schizophrenia, as well as ‘normal’ neurocognitive functioning, or neurotypicality. Neurodivergent individuals are those whose brain functions differ from those who are neurologically typical, or neurotypical. [autisticadvocacy.org]

Mental Wellness According to the World Health Organization ... mental health is “a state of well-being in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.” [beyondblue.org.au]

Neurodiversity and Mental Wellness Chairs are Shelly Binkley (Kennedy Center) and Heath Wilder (Sydney Theatre Company). We invite you to share knowledge, resources and stories, and ask questions and for support.

Previous planning team members include Mae Simmons (Michigan Opera Theatre), and Heath Wilder (Sydney Dance Company), with the incredible support of Tom Brown (41xRT).