We lead, campaign and persuade, always placing neurodivergent people at the heart of what we do.
Society does not always understand neurodivergent people or enable them to live their life on their terms. Often, this will leave neurodivergent people, and their families, feeling invisible. They may be left socially, politically, and economically isolated and subjected to pervasive inequalities, structural discrimination, and prejudicial attitudes.
This must change.
The Donaldson Trust envisages a society in which neurodivergent people are understood, accepted, treated fairly, and valued. As well as delivering services for neurodivergent people, we seek to shape public policy on issues important to the communities we support.
A core element of this is ensuring that the priorities, perspectives, and experiences of neurodivergent people, and their families, are visible to and understood by parliamentarians and decision-makers here in Scotland and beyond.
Though there is much work to be done, we know that there are genuine opportunities to change society for the better.
As the National Body for Neurodiversity, we aim to be at the forefront of driving meaningful change, working in partnership with neurodivergent people and colleagues across the voluntary, public and private sector to improve outcomes and representation.
Shaping policies that impact neurodivergent people
We contribute to public consultations (run by the Scottish Government, Committees of The Scottish Parliament and UK Government) on a wide range of issues relevant to our practice, the interests of people with whom we advocate, and neurodivergence more broadly. We produce ad hoc briefings on important subjects as appropriate outlining our positions on key issues.
Read our latest responses and briefings here.
Building relationships with decision-makers and our partners
We build a strong, cross-party network of elected representatives at Holyrood and Westminster. These are MSPs and MPs who value the contributions of neurodivergent people to society, recognise the challenges they often face and understand the importance of neuro-inclusive policy and practice and raising neurodivergence up the political agenda.
We meet regularly with politicians to build on these existing relationships.
We work closely with officials of the Scottish Government as well as partner charities and a range of affiliated academics, funders, and businesses.
Campaigning on key issues alongside neurodivergent people and families
We work alongside neurodivergent people and families to raise awareness of issues important in this space and seek to persuade others along the way.
Being guided by research, evidence, and the lived experience of neurodivergent people
Policy and practice about neurodivergent people should be shaped by neurodivergent people. At The Donaldson Trust, our work is guided by the lived experience of the people we support, as well as the perspectives of their families.
These experiences are foundational to the development of our policy positions and in the design of our campaigns and projects.
