The Project
Who we are
Faces of Neurodiversity (FoND) is an advocacy organisation led by and for neurodivergent people.
What we aim to do
FoND aims at changing the narrative on neurodiversity by addressing both neurodivergent (ND) and neurotypical (NT) folks. This project is first for us, the ND community. We are aiming at being a platform where ND folks can reflect (literally and metaphorically) on themselves. The ambition of the project is to share and find commonalities in our lived experiences, as well as a support system tailored to our unique needs. Because every community needs a space where its voices can be heard unfiltered, its members seen and validated. This project is then for NT folks who want to understand us better. We want to fight ableism by re-humanizing us in NT eyes. The medical model, deficit based language and pathologizing of neurological differences is harmful and has led to structural barriers that prevent disabled people from thriving. With this project, we hope to dent the double empathy problem, showcasing our humanness to NT.
How we are going to do it
In its first phase, FoND will be an art project featuring pictures, illustrations and written portraits of a wide variety of neurodivergent Londoners (and beyond). We want to show how different people under the umbrella of a-typicality see themselves in order to create a more nuanced and realistic picture of our community. While the art project will be delivered in its multiple forms (online and in physical spaces), we aim at becoming a social enterprise advocating for inclusion in society. Focusing on enacting social change, FoND will be giving support and creating opportunities for neurodivergent people through mentorship, practical support, knowledge sharing, with a special focus on ND with intersectional identities and vulnerable adults.