Changing perspectives: An update from Moray Wellbeing Hub
/Moray Wellbeing Hub’s project update describes how the group conducted community conversations in order to co-design resources aimed at increasing understanding of, and improving support for, neurodiversity in Moray.
Background
Moray Wellbeing Hub’s Knowledge is Power project aims to research the use of the term “neurodiversity” for the people of Moray, and the possibilities that use of this term could change perspective on differently wired brains and create a positive impulse within the community.
The hub conducted conversations in their community in order to collect the voice of lived experience around neurodiversity to further their aim of increasing ‘Mental Wealth’ across Moray.
Neurodiversity resources
More recenlty, and based on their conversations, the group has been working on the following:
Working with the Neurodiversity Action Group to create a strength based leaflet. Click to access the resource as a pdf.
Developing a neurodiversity themed pathways tool for people to find the right support with neurodiverse challenges. Click to visit the tool (external website)
Working towards a celebration of what we achieved in this project by updating the campaign clip (see accompanying video).
All of these resources have been co-designed outputs from Moray Wellbeing Hub’s peer-led research around Neurodiversity, which was enabled by Knowledge is Power.
Moray Wellbeing Hub’s Neurodiversity strength-based leaflet
Minding our language
Use of language is sensitive as everyone experiences neurodivergent challenges in different ways. There is a lot of stigma and self-stigma attached to labels such as autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia and many, many more.
Moray Wellbeing Hub needed to find consensus within the action group, but feel it is also necessary to acknowledge that because neurodiversity is experienced in such an individual way, it is impossible to do it right for everyone.
However, they also feel it is possible to be thought provoking and at least change perspective by breaking through existing barriers and stigma.
“The amount of meaningful discussion this research has provided is tremendous. It’s an essential resource of information on how we can make change and will be taken forward in actions outwith this project.”
What’s next?
In November 2021, Moray Wellbeing Hub had a final celebration of the project and its outputs. During the pandemic, the group has been able to adapt their ways of working so that they have been able to meet their project plans.
“The project funded by Knowledge is Power has now come to an end. However this revolution will not stop here, so keep an eye out!”