Neurodiversity celebration week: on-going resources and events
This week is Neurodiversity Celebration week - a worldwide initiative that aims to transform how neurodivergent individuals are perceived and supported.
CORC have been commissioned by The Mayor of London’s Violence Reduction Unit to evaluate the implementation of it’s Difference Matters Programme over the next two years. Difference Matters is a new education programme designed to support neurodivergent young people in mainstream secondary schools. We will be a learning partner, supporting continuous programme development and engagement, working with all schools and partner involved.
By empowering young people, raising awareness, and making schools more neuro-inclusive environments, the programme aims to improve young people’s experiences of school, reducing absenteeism, suspensions and exclusions.
For more information see here.
CORC recently developed a guidance which highlights challenges experienced by neurodivergent children and young people associated with outcome measurement, supporting better practice.
CORC are running a webinar about this topic on 27 April, which is available to both CORC members and non-members.
The benefits of this webinar are:
- Using outcome measures with neurodivergent children and young people and those with learning disabilities in ways that encourage engagement, minimise barriers and maximise the benefits of outcome measurement.
- Ensuring the voices of neurodiverse children and young people, and those with learning disabilities, can be expressed so they feel understood and supported.
- Improving the inclusivity of your service by successfully integrating diverse needs into everyday practice.
- Your service will gain from the improved implementation of outcome measurement in their service or organisation and greater inclusion, leading to better data and insight.
More information and how to book you or your staff on this is here:
If you’re a member of the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition, you can also attend this Lunch and Learn webinar which CORC are delivering on 15 April. This will explore the wider context of how aspects of neurodivergence, learning disability and culture can impact the way that children and young people relate and respond to measures.
You can register for this here:
Using outcome measures with specific groups of children and young people
Anna Freud resources and events are also available for you to share, and utilise within your work with children and young people, and their families.
Autism Central
Autism Central is England’s Peer Education Programme for families and support networks of autistic people of all ages. The programme is delivered by Anna Freud and commissioned by NHS England.
If you work with family members of autistic people, or need guidance for your own family, Autism Central provides a welcoming, accessible learning environment where families can learn together, share lived experience, and build confidence side by side. This is done this though providing families with education sessions, coaching, and resources.
All sessions are delivered for free by trained and supervised peer guides with lived or family experience.
Find out more here:
Neurodiversity and Wellbeing in Schools
Anna Freud have launched a new training set to support 10,500+ neurodivergent students over three years.
Neurodiversity and Wellbeing in Schools is available for state school staff from primary and secondary schools in the UK for free. The launch follows a pilot version of the training - Autism and Wellbeing in Schools - which was launched in 2023 and supported 154 school staff.
Neurodiversity and Wellbeing in Schools builds on the pilot by including adaptations for school and system leaders, along with support for ADHD students. It will also eventually have a train-the-trainer module, helping create sustainable change within schools.
You can read more about this programme here:
New training launched to support neurodivergent students
You can sign up for dates in April and May 2026 here:
Neurodiversity and Wellbeing in Schools training
