From Law To Advocacy: A Passion for Neurodivergent Support - Sarah Dixon

This week I sat down with Sarah Dixon , the director of the Accessible Learning Foundation (ALF) .

Sarah’s journey from a commercial property lawyer to a passionate advocate for neurodivergent communities has led her to running a prominent emerging charity.

You can watch or listen to the full interview below or as always, for those who are pressed for time, or prefer to read, I've condensed the conversation into a blog highlighting the key takeaways.

From Law to Advocacy

Sarah Dixon’s career began in the bustling world of commercial property law in London. After studying geography at Bristol University, she followed her father’s advice and trained as a lawyer.

For seven years, she worked diligently in the legal field before transitioning to a property agency director at London Property Match. Here, she utilised her legal expertise to help people find homes in London for 14 years.

A Personal Motivation

Sarah’s advocacy for neurodivergent communities was deeply influenced by her personal experiences as a parent. Her two daughters, aged 13 and 10, both have dyslexia and ADHD.

The challenges and triumphs she faced in supporting her children’s education fueled her passion for better identification and support of neurodivergent conditions in schools, workplaces, and even prisons.

The Lockdown Revelation

The COVID-19 lockdown was a pivotal moment for Sarah. It highlighted the disparities in her eldest daughter’s learning, prompting her to move her to a specialist dyslexic school.

This period also underscored the importance of early identification and support for neurodivergent children, a cause Sarah champions at ALF.

Building a Support Network

Sarah’s journey into advocacy began with voluntary work at her daughters’ school, where she set up a parent support group.

This group, which now boasts over 100 members, became a crucial platform for parents to share experiences and seek support.

It was through this group that Sarah connected with Matt Hancock , leading her to her current role at ALF.

The Mission of ALF

At the Accessible Learning Foundation, Sarah and the team are dedicated to supporting neurodivergent individuals across various settings. Their mission includes:

- Early Identification in Schools: ALF focuses on training teachers to identify neurodivergent conditions and traits early, ensuring children receive the support they need from the start.

- Support in Prisons: Recognising the high prevalence of neurodivergent conditions and traits in prisons, ALF works on policy development and support workshops to aid inmates.

- Workplace Awareness: ALF aims to raise awareness and encourage cultural changes in workplaces to better support neurodivergent employees.

Overcoming Barriers

Sarah highlighted several barriers to effective support, including funding, time constraints, and cultural issues in workplaces.

She emphasised the need for simple yet impactful changes, such as creating supportive environments through initiatives like WhatsApp groups, or for example through Employee Resource Groups (ERG's).

The Importance of Diagnosis

A significant part of ALF’s advocacy is promoting the importance of diagnosis.

Understanding one’s strengths and weaknesses is crucial for both personal development and creating supportive environments.

Sarah shared her personal experience with educational psychologist reports for her children, underscoring the transformative potential of early intervention.

Future Plans for ALF

Sarah is proud of ALF’s progress in its first year, including becoming a registered charity and launching a screening project in a primary school. Looking ahead, ALF plans to:

- Develop the early identification program further.

- Start new projects in prisons.

- Encourage businesses to take proactive steps in supporting neurodivergent employees.

How You Can Help

ALF is always in need of funding and volunteers, especially those with charity experience. If you’re interested in supporting their mission, visit the ALF website for more information and donation options.

For more information and to support the Accessible Learning Foundation, visit their website: ALF

Together, we can make a difference.