A groundbreaking national conference is taking place next week, which aims to shift attitudes towards neurodivergent people in the Jewish community.
Belonging Matters on April 27 will see people with lived experience, experts, employers and educators come together to ensure that Jewish communal organisations are able to “keep pace with wider society” when it comes to creating inclusive spaces, said organisers.
The conference will open with a keynote conversation with Jessie Hewitson, the Times and Sunday Times SEND agony aunt, bestselling author and founder of NeuroUniverse, which supports families with neurodivergent children.
There will then be a broad choice of sessions, ranging from education and employment to navigating friendships and how to make simchas more inclusive.
Conference coordinators Natalie Burger and Rivka Steinberg told the JC: “There is incredible work happening across the Jewish community on neurodiversity, real expertise, real commitment, real care. But it’s often fragmented, hard to access, and too often, the burden falls on already overstretched parents and carers to find and navigate it.
“This conference is about changing that. It’s about bringing the community together, connecting what already exists, sharing what works, and moving beyond awareness to practical, measurable change.”
The term “neurodivergent” is used to describe people whose brains function and process information differently to those who are considered “neurotypical”, and includes autistic people and people with ADHD, dyslexia and dyspraxia (developmental coordination disorder). It is estimated that one in seven people – more than 15 per cent of the population – are neurodivergent.
We often pride ourselves on being a strong, supportive community, and we are. But on neurodiversity, there is more we need to do to keep pace with wider society
Burger and Steinberg said that while wider society – football stadiums, festivals and places of work – were routinely incorporating calm spaces and wellbeing areas, and creating opportunities for neurodivergent people, “our synagogues, community spaces and organisations are playing catch-up”.
They added: “We often pride ourselves on being a strong, supportive community, and we are. But on neurodiversity, there is more we need to do to keep pace with wider society.
“Every synagogue, every school, every charity, every workplace and every community space has a role to play in creating environments where neurodivergent people can genuinely belong.”
They said that the aim of the conference was to “equip people with the practical steps needed to make events, programmes, services and workplaces more inclusive”.
They said that the day was for neurodivergent individuals, and Jewish families with neurodivergent children and young people; professionals working in schools, synagogues, charities and community organisations; and leaders, employers and those who shape workplace culture, policy and practice. “This is for everyone who has a role to play, which is all of us. If you are part of the Jewish community, you are part of this.”
Belonging Matters is being coordinated by Norwood, the United Synagogue and Gesher School, in partnership with the JC.
To book, click here or go to: thejc.com/events/belonging-matters-neurodiversity-conference-uc68ot9g
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