Since the United Nations General Assembly designated 2 April as World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) in 2007, the global movement has expanded beyond awareness to actively promote acceptance, appreciation, and inclusion.
On this World Autism Awareness Day, we’re looking at how taking action in education can better support young neurodivergent people to engage with learning.
Angela Evans, Head of Learning Services, was recently interviewed by @autismeye for a feature on Making Mainstream More Inclusive. In the article, Angela discusses how increasing school staff`s understanding of neurodiversity and reconsidering curriculum delivery are essential in developing truly inclusive classrooms where difference is respected, dignity is protected, and every autistic pupil can thrive.
Read the article in the link in our bio.
By embedding neuro-inclusion, we strengthen creativity, resilience, and innovation, helping to lay the foundation for more just, inclusive, and sustainable communities.
Want to find out more about neuro-inclusive learning? Get in touch on info@donaldsons.org.uk or visit https://www.donaldsons.org.uk
#WorldAutismAwarenessDay
To celebrate International Women’s Day, Mother’s Day, and the arrival of spring, the young people we support at Gate made some beautiful bouquets to give to the important women in their lives. 💐
Everyone went for a walk to pick some daffodils, and combined these in bouquets with flowers bought at the supermarket. The young people learned about how to cut the flowers and arrange them, then tied their displays with ribbons and made gift tags.
This activity gave the young people the chance to try something new while making a thoughtful gift. Everyone was eager to take part, including one young person who had previously found it difficult to join in with group activities. Everyone was very patient and kind with one another throughout the activity, and they were very proud of their beautiful bouquets. One of the young people very kindly gave her bouquet to the team at Gate.
To find out more about our Gate service, visit the link in our bio.
Do you want to make a meaningful difference in the lives of neurodivergent adults? We have the perfect role for you!
At The Donaldson Trust, we believe every neurodivergent young adult deserves the chance to thrive, discover their place in the world, and shape a future that works for them.
As Team Leader, you will focus on the day-to-day delivery of our Treehouse service; a specialised service for neurodivergent adults who require bespoke support in wellbeing and learning.
You will have an SVQ L3 / SCQF L7 in Health & Social Care, and a willingness to work towards becoming a Care Inspectorate Registered Manager. You will also have a working knowledge of Health and Social Care Standards and the SSSC Codes of Practice and experience in leading a team.
If you’re professional, dependable, collaborative, curious and adaptable, we’d love to hear from you. We offer:
– An opportunity to work in a values-led, inclusive environment
– Good work-life balance: working hours are Monday to Friday between 8am and 5pm, with no weekend work or shift work
– Ongoing professional development
– A culture of team support, innovation and reflective practice
– A great pension (up to 12% employer contribution)
– Generous annual leave 7.8 weeks, plus special leave allowances
– Life Assurance scheme
– Health Cash Plan
🔗 To find out more and apply, visit the link in our bio.
📆 Applications close: Monday 13 April 2026.
#recruitment #neurodiversity #jobs
Pupils at our Sensational Learning Centre have been enjoying sessions with Mhairi and Katie from @livemusicnowscotland.
They have been focusing on the violin, learning how to hold the instrument, the names of the strings, and how to use the bow. Everyone has been enjoying learning to play and is sounding fantastic! 🎻
Playing music is a great way for young people to express themselves creatively, and learning something new sparks curiosity as well as helping to build confidence.
We’re looking forward to welcoming Mhairi and Katie back for more sessions on the violin and an introduction to playing the guitar. 🎸
Find out more about the Sensational Learning Centre on our website (link in bio).
Jay and Gemma, who are supported at our Gate service, have been taking part in cooking sessions. This has been a new activity for them, and they have been involved in deciding what they want to make, so they have arrived at each session excited to start cooking.
Burgers and homemade buns were on the menu recently, and as you can see, they looked absolutely delicious! 🍔
Through these sessions, Jay and Gemma have been learning essential life skills and building up their confidence doing something new. They are very proud of the delicious food they have been making, and have been really excited to share it.
Our Gate service offers specialist, neurodiversity-informed support designed to guide young adults toward independence, confidence and wellbeing. To find out more, visit our website (link in bio).
#Neurodiversity #NeuroInclusion
#NeurodiversityCelebrationWeek may be over, but real inclusion and support for neurodivergent people needs to happen every week.
If you missed our webinar on making workplaces more neuro-inclusive, here are some actions you can take today.
Want to find out more? Louise Storie, Head of Connect, discusses simple but lasting changes that can make workplaces more inclusive for everyone – link in bio.
#neurodiversity #NeurodiversityInTheWorkplace
Throughout Neurodiversity Celebration Week, our services have been sharing their voices and experiences in lots of different creative ways.
The young people at Vibe made an incredible walk-through art tunnel highlighting how people see and experience the world differently, while Sensational Learning Centre learned about famous people who have different neurodivergent profiles and developed a neurodiversity library.
Treehouse showcased their achievements through video and colourful display boards, while Gate focused on wellbeing and relaxation with a spa session in the swimming pool.
There were displays, quizzes, interactive sessions, and even a spider plant trail featuring stories from people we support.
Everyone was supported to take part in ways that felt right for them, from choosing activities and creating artwork to research and planning. This reinforced that there is no single right way to do things, and that everyone can celebrate neurodiversity in their own way.
It was great to see the celebrations across our support services, but we also recognise that not everyone wants to celebrate this week. This is why action is so important: if we make changes to improve experiences for neurodivergent people in education settings, workplaces and public spaces, we can create a society in which everyone feels they can celebrate.
#NeurodiversityCelebrationWeek #NeurodiversityCelebrationWeek2026
“Traditional recruitment processes can present a range of challenges for neurodivergent people.”
In today’s blog, Trustee Lorraine Gillies shares her personal experience of recruitment and the challenges that many neurodivergent people face when applying for jobs, as well as actions organisations could make their hiring processes neuro-inclusive.
Read the blog at the link in our bio.
#NeurodiversityCelebrationWeek #Neuroinclusion
