ADHD & Autism is everywhere; but that doesn't mean it's everyone!

Neurodiversity is a topic of growing importance, yet its complexities are often misunderstood. Autism and ADHD are prevalent in our society, but their presence doesn't equate to universal experience.

This week, I want to delve into the pervasive nature of these traits and the significant, often overlooked impacts they have on individuals and society as a whole.

Personal Experience and Insights

Recently, I had the opportunity to present at PSI a Statisticians event in Amsterdam, attended by healthcare sector employees. During this conference, I heard numerous stories from parents whose children have faced exclusion, mistreatment, and systemic failures.

Some parents have resorted to private education, homeschooling, or relentless battles with the education system to secure their children's futures.

In addition, only this morning during a breakfast meeting with two leaders from a building company, similar stories emerged about siblings and friends facing these challenges.

These personal accounts, are not unusual for me to hear, every time I'm asked what I do around a table people willingly share these very personal and often traumatic stories. I've lost count of the men who've been brought to tears as they share their heartbreaking stories.

And yes I highlight men, rightly or wrongly, because other than a death of a parent or family member, seeing them cry, is not common place. Which begs the question, what are we doing to people to push them to this level of crisis.

This highlights the profound impact it's having on work, relationships, and overall mental health. The struggles extend beyond the individual, affecting families and communities, leading to broken marriages and strained social ties.

Impact on Society

The implications of these struggles are far-reaching. A failing social system that neglects individuals who are Autistic and/or ADHD inevitably impacts the economic health of a country.

Parents, who are also employees, carry the weight of these challenges, affecting their productivity and well-being. Furthermore, individuals who are Autistic and ADHD who are failed by the system are more likely to need extensive support from education, healthcare, and social services in the future.

Ignoring these issues now only perpetuates a cycle of failure and dependency. It is essential to recognise that addressing these challenges is not just a matter of individual well-being but a societal necessity.

The UK data speaks for itself

Councils in England are forecasting a massive shortfall in budgets for supporting children with special educational needs.

The BBC has found councils face a deficit of almost ￡1bn in schools’ funds for these pupils.

Failing our children, is failing our parents, is failing on teachers, is failing on education that will impact on health and ultimately on business and productivity.

Call to Action

It's time to tackle this crisis at the grassroots level. Providing opportunities for individuals with lived experiences of Autism and ADHD to work in public services can be transformative.

These individuals possess unique insights and capabilities, making them exceptionally well-suited to provide care and support within our communities.

By enabling marginalised individuals to re-enter the workforce, we can foster a more inclusive and resilient society.

We must recognise that solving these issues is not a distant goal but an urgent need. The individuals we have failed so far are the very ones who can help build a better future.

Let's take action now to support neurodiversity, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

We can have better public services, and it's those in need, who we are failing, who can potentially be the exact people we can support into those key roles.

But our systems, technology and people processes need to be adapted.

Government funding also needs to be put in place to enable this to work.

You reap what you sow...

What do you think are the next steps we need to take, and is it the perfect time to shift the tides of power and take affirmative action?