On Monday, we welcomed @jennyyoungmsp to our campus here in Linlithgow.
It was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the Trust`s day-to-day work and share our vision for the future. Together, we focused closely on our approach to inclusive education and reflected on the systemic barriers neurodivergent individuals and their families navigate daily – and, critically, the steps needed to break those barriers down.
Alongside the recent roundtable on the LDAN Bill and our own direct engagement with MSPs at Holyrood, the visit offered us an opportunity to speak direct to parliamentarians.
As Scotland`s National Body for Neurodiversity, we are proud to collaborate with decision-makers across Scotland to amplify the voices and experiences of neurodivergent people and their families, ensuring these lived experiences directly shape national policy.
A huge thanks to Jenny Young for visiting us, spending time with our team and listening to our community.
#Neurodivergence #PolicyAndAdvocacy #Neurodiversity #HumanRights
Today is #WorldTeachersDay – a day to celebrate the pivotal role teachers play in shaping the future by nurturing students and driving educational progress. 🎓
We are so lucky to have an amazing team here at The Donaldson Trust! Our teachers work alongside Learning and Wellbeing practitioners, Tutors and Support staff, all dedicated to supporting, inspiring and caring for the children, young people and adults across our services.
Thank you for the difference you make every day! 🥰
If you are spending your Sunday evening looking for a fresh start and a job that brings real purpose to your week, we have the perfect opportunity for you.
We are looking for a Facilities Technician to join our team in Linlithgow!
If you thrive on rolling up your sleeves, taking ownership of practical maintenance and making sure everything runs safely and smoothly, this role is made for you. Best of all, your work directly supports our purpose and makes a tangible difference in the lives of neurodivergent individuals every single day.
What we offer:
✅ Full time (37.5 hrs/week, alternating shifts 7am–7pm)
✅ Ongoing professional development including access to a variety of training
✅ A great pension (up to 12% employer contribution)
✅ Generous leave allocation
Ready to take the next step? Check out the details and apply today, click the link in our bio and head to `Work With Us` for more info.
⏰ Closing Date: Sunday 18th October
Looking for plans this weekend? Pop into DyslexiFest, hosted by @dyslexiascotland!
Stop by Barracks Conference Centre in Stirling between 10:00 AM and 3:30 PM, entry is entirely free and open to all.
Whether you`re a parent, educator or individual looking for advice, this drop-in event is packed with helpful information stalls, tech insights and inspiring talks.
Talk highlights include support in schools, technology tools, self-advocacy and a parent masterclass. Places for talks are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, so pop along early!
#ScottishDyslexiaAwarenessWeek #DyslexiaScotland #StirlingEvents #Neurodiversity #SupportInEducation #InclusiveLearning
Is October the time to start prioritising neuro-inclusion?
With ADHD Awareness Month, British Dyslexia Awareness Week and World Mental Health Day all falling in October, this month provides a timely moment to look at the bigger picture of neurodiversity, inclusion and mental well-being.
If you’re looking for a great place to start the conversation this month, listening to expert insights is a fantastic first step.
In this recent episode of ’What’s Up Docs?’, twin doctors @doctorchrisvt and @avantulleken dig into the facts and explore the narrative surrounding neurodiversity. Joined by Professor Duncan Astle (Professor of Neuroinformatics at @cambridgeuniversity), they explore everything from understanding diagnosis to reshaping how we view human variation and childhood development.
Neurodiversity is a term we hear regularly but bridging the gap between hearing the word and truly understanding it is essential for building inclusive environments where everyone can thrive.
Listen to the full episode now on @bbcsounds 🎧
#NeuroInclusion #Neurodiversity #ADHDAwarenessMonth #DyslexiaAwarenessWeek #WorldMentalHealthDay @drchris_drxand
October is almost here and that marks the start of ADHD Awareness Month!
We’re all about sharing valuable tools and resources with our community which is why we`re shining the spotlight on the Global ADHD Conference which goes live tomorrow at 1PM.
Whether you`re looking for expert insight, practical strategies or new perspectives, here is what’s included:
• 36 expert speakers sharing insights on a range of topics
• 24+ hours non-stop content covering various aspects of ADHD
• Watch at your own pace – if you can`t tune in live, registering still gives you access to session recordings
Register here: https://globaladhd.com/
#ADHDAwarenessMonth #ADHD #Neurodiversity #FreeWebinars
At this critical juncture for neurodivergent rights, taking the perspectives and experiences of neurodivergent people and families to parliamentarians is absolutely vital. The change we all want to see rests, in part, on ensuring our decision-makers are mindful of the needs of our communities.
And collaboration is at the heart of our work, which is why our Policy Lead, Stephen Caulfield, and CEO, Lynn Wassell, have been spending time at Holyrood in recent weeks engaging in what has been a series of constructive discussions with MSPs. We have been encouraged by the cross-party consensus on the need for systemic change, and their willingness to stand up and drive positive change.
Over the course of these visits, conversations touched on several crucial issues, including: vital next steps for the Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodivergence (LDAN) Bill; improvements to neuro-developmental assessment and support pathways; Additional Support for Learning (ASL); and ensuring neurodivergent voices are heard amid wider public service reform.
We have taken the opportunity to share more information on the evolution of our own service offer, highlighting how person-centred support empowers neurodivergent children, young people and adults to thrive.
We`d like to thank the MSPs who have taken the time to meet with us over recent weeks to listen, engage and plan future collaboration.
@geo_adam @lauramoodiesgp @calumrkerr
#Neurodivergence #ScottishParliament #PolicyAndAdvocacy #Neurodiversity #HumanRights
This #DyslexiaAwarenessWeekScotland, we’re proud to support our friends at @dyslexiascotland and their campaign “The Right Tools for the Job”.
Work and learning should be neuro-inclusive – built to fit people, not the other way around. Yet research by Dyslexia Scotland and @uofglasgow shows that less than half (41%) of adults with dyslexia in Scotland receive reasonable adjustments at work, and a quarter of them don’t find the support they get helpful.
As highlighted in a recent article in @thirdforcenews “For those of you without 20/20 vision, imagine struggling through life with the wrong lens prescription.” It doesn`t mean there`s anything wrong with you, it just means your environment isn`t working for you.
Whether it`s screen readers, training or adaptable processes, having the right tools for the job helps everyone thrive.
