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The National Neurodiversity Youth Council is a visionary project lead by young people to ensure their voice is included in neurodiversity advocacy
In December 2022 the Dyspraxia Foundation was delighted to be invited to participate in setting up a National Neurodiversity Youth Council led by the ADHD Foundation.
The Council will create a forum of 16 young people comprising of representatives from charities engaged in supporting and advocating for neurodiversity. The project has funding for Year 1 and will include induction of young ambassadors, monthly meetings, the opportunity to access media training to improve communication skills and other training identified by the young people themselves. Plans for the future of the group include an educational visit to Auschwitz, Poland to learn about discrimination, exclusion and why it is imperative that young people have a voice in education, health, employment and opportunities for active citizenship. A visit to the United Nations European HQ in Geneva to meet with UN officials to advocate for understanding, inclusion and opportunities for young people with differences. They also hope to meet with Government Ministers’ in London, Cardiff, and Edinburgh to advocate for ND young people. CEO Eleanor Howes has joined the Governance Forum to agree collaboration, objectives and activities.
The Dyspraxia Foundation put out a call for young people to represent the charity aged 16 – 24 and were delighted so many volunteered to help. Thank you to all those who applied for this wonderful opportunity but we could choose only two. We are very pleased to announce that the two Ambassadors for dyspraxia and the Dyspraxia Foundation are Beth Evans and Jade Bruce.
Beth Evans is 20 yrs old and studying make up at Bournemouth. Beth is a confident individual who enjoys public speaking and using her voice for good. She is passionate about being an advocate for dyspraxia and the Dyspraxia Foundation.
Beth writes ‘I’m Beth, I grew up in North Devon and I am currently studying Makeup for Media and Performance at Arts University Bournemouth. I got diagnosed with dyspraxia when I started university but I had always struggled with coordination and memory, having poor handwriting and struggling with neatness of work.
I volunteered to become an ambassador because I wanted to use my experiences with the condition to help raise awareness and to make change where I think it’s needed. I am incredibly excited to be involved in this project, and I can’t wait to get started with the ideas the group have come up with!’
Jade Bruce is 23 yrs old this month and studying for her second degree, graduate entry medicine at Kings College, London. She is the charity director of the medical student association and has experience of fundraising. She looks forward to using her learned skills to benefit the charity and those with neurodiversity.
Jade writes ‘My name’s Jade and I’m super excited to be part of the National Neurodiversity Youth Council, as an ambassador for people with dyspraxia. At the moment, I’m studying medicine so spend quite a bit of my time buried in textbooks (or more often staring at screens). But for fun I love playing the accordion, judo and writing. My dyspraxia can be challenging, but I also see it as a strength. I struggle with coordination, dexterity and balance. Sometimes, I find it difficult to process information, particularly things involving orders or multiple steps, and also have poor attention. However, I think my dyspraxia enables me to think more creatively and out of the box, making connections that others might not.
I’m very proud to represent the Dyspraxia Foundation; working with the Youth Council, I hope to raise awareness about dyspraxia as well as dispel myths. I would love to learn more about other people’s experience of dyspraxia and neurodiversity, to promote practical change that improves the lives of neurodiverse people.’