Fellow Neurodiverse Connection Development Lead Grace Lee @somegalart examines how Neurodivergent minds can be vulnerable to #exploitation and #radicalisation by by far-right narratives and deliberate #misinformation.
As an appendix (below) I considered what can be done to find a way forward: "#Safeguarding #neurodivergent communities against racism and radicalisation involves creating supportive environments that are growth-orientated; aware and reflective, equity-focused, and inclusive, proactively educational, and responsive. Supportive, safe, and regulated environments mean there is a willingness within the community or organisation to engage with and sit with ‘taboo,’ triggering and uncomfortable questions, and topics, be messy and make mistakes in discussions, and individually and collectively assess bias, privilege, power, as well as acknowledge and bridge knowledge deficits. As a learning organisation, at Neurodiverse Connection, we are committed to becoming anti-racist and are making space to explore how we can safeguard our organisation and community against racism and radicalisation. Last year, as part of our #Grooming and #CoerciveControl Summit, the red and green flags around communities and groups in our NdC curated resource Safeguarding Neurodivergent Individuals from Spiritual Abuse and considered the applications of it to online hate speech promoters and influencers, such as Andrew Tate. The points made in this resource around why neurodivergent individuals might be more at risk of spiritual abuse – social exclusion, challenges in discernment, a desire for belonging, reliance on authority figures, difficulty in self-advocacy and isolation - might equally apply to specific vulnerabilities of risk of radicalisation. We recognise the importance of understanding diverse cultural backgrounds within the Neurodivergent communities to address internalised and structural racism by seeking representation, voices, and perspectives. Our focus on service and community accountability, some of the green flags listed in the resource means that we look to create safe space, peer support, allyship and collaboration opportunities."
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So that was Tuesday. I started facilitation of the latest round of the #Neurodivergent #Wellbeing Approach #Training for Neurodiverse Connection.
The Neurodivergent Wellbeing Approach is a holistic, Neurodivergent-friendly well-being curriculum that offers education and practical strategies for the #mind, #body & #spirit of Neurodivergent individuals, their family members, friends, caregivers, and professionals who support them. This #nervoussystemfriendly system & #traumainformed programme is based on the concept of ‘experience to share’ and is designed to promote the wellbeing of participants, which they can then share with those they care for and support. The next round of early evening training starts on Oct 1st & there are only a few places remaining. In this three-part series of blogs, as NdC Development Lead I examine the complex entanglement of #Neurodivergence and #trauma, and the implications this has for the concept of “#recovery”. In this first part, I explore how natural rhythms, such as the seasons, can illuminate an understanding of trauma and recovery.
Extracts below. Link to read the whole blog & to the Neurodivergent Wellbeing Approach Training in comments: "In the Neurodivergent Wellbeing Approach course, I talk about the importance of connecting to and eventually honouring and structuring our life around our unique energy rhythms, through observing, being mentored by, and communing with nature’s rhythms. These #cyclical rhythms include the #seasons and the #lunarcycles. Living coordinated with our inner seasons leads to better nervous system regulation and more sustainable living habits. This is especially important for Neurodivergent individuals who may ‘buck the trend’ (as I do) of being most energised and uplifted in summer. Whatever our rhythms, connecting to nature shows us that just as the seasons turn and the trees bud, bloom, shed and rest, and the sun rises, shines, sets and disappears, and the moon waxes to fullness, and wanes to darkness, so do we need to find our unique rhythm, which is our best season and do our utmost to find out which environments echo that to support us be most regulated. Trauma is healed through connection and nature offers us connection in a gentle and comforting way. It reassures us that we can be a wild, non-conformist, fast-growing climber (think some types of clematis) which can’t/won’t be tamed and flourishes in peak heat or a sturdy, reliable, prickly holly bush which dependably produces red berries, nourishing the birds in the hardest, coldest winter. Everything is welcome; there's space for all ways of being a plant, tree, or flower. Seasons remind us that we, as living beings, need to figure out how long it takes and what we need to bud, bloom, harvest, and rest. That is why I advocate for cyclical living education in schools, mental health care, and therapeutic intervention within the Neurodivergent Wellbeing Approach training." Returned from the Oxford conference to a very busy working week which started on Monday presenting online, on behalf of Neurodiverse Connection, to a #multidisciplinary #care team in London, about #regulation & #dysregulation, during which I emphasised the importance of practitioners & care providers understanding & taking responsibility for their own #windowoftolerance, because of the direct correlation of practitioner self-awareness, nervous system regulation & the quality of care provided.
#educateevolveembody #embodiededucation #embodimentspirituality #inandthrough #fleshyknowing #nervoussystem We did it! We made it into the EUROTAS @eurotas.world 2024 Online Blackwell's Bookshop AND in-store in the Oxford @blackwelloxford Bookshop
Delighted! Check out the Creative Bridges @aleftrust online book list here 👇 https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/collection/EUROTAS2024/-189014?r=qr Embodied Education: Creating Safe Space for Learning Facilitating and Sharing coauthored by @kaylouisealdred & Dan Aldred was published in May 2023 by @girlgodbooks #educateevolveembody #embodiededucation #embodimentspirituality #inandthrough #fleshyknowing #education #philosophy #theory Being #Autistic-#ADHD in a body-mind of hypersensitivity & hyper empathy means my differences are foremost an embodied experience.
Basically, my body has no mute button with regards to #interoceptive awareness & processing sensory environments. There is no pathology in this and nothing to ‘cure’ – it’s just how some body-minds are formed. A long train journey via two London train stations to Oxford & then an intensive five day long residential conference environment with challenging acoustics, hundreds of delegates to interact with, bright lights & lots of new knowledge to process, alongside city living, was challenging, but manageable, with the companionship of my husband, pacing, aids & reasonable environmental adjustments. I've been reflecting on the hidden, invisible & additional processing burdens & additional self-management neurodivergent individuals (of all profiles) have to undertake to access educational spaces, employment opportunities & travel. Environments & cultures either enable or disable. Part of the solution is #embodiededucation which I presented at the Creative Bridges conference last week. Truly understanding the human mammalian body & workings of its #nervoussystem is foundational to #rehumanising & creating hospitable environments for all bodies & neurotypes. It's a bottom-up, body-mind endeavour. Embodied Education: Creating Safe Space for Learning Facilitating and Sharing 📕 available now @girlgodbooks & online stores Creative Bridges 2024 : Embodied Consciousness, Psyche & Soul in Research & Practice Conference took place last week in the Examination School & New College of Oxford University. Hosted by @aleftrust #aleftrust @eurotas.world #eurotas & @britishpsychologicalsociety #educateevolveembody #embodiededucation #embodimentspirituality #inandthrough #fleshyknowing It was an absolute honour to present about our book, Embodied Education: Creating Safe Space for Learning Facilitating and Sharing, which my husband Dan and I coauthored, & which was published by @girlgodbooks as part of the Transformative Education Track & Embodiment & Transpersonal in Education session of the Creative Bridges 2024 : Embodied Consciousness, Psyche & Soul in Research & Practice Conference on Thursday last week in the truly magnificent Examination School of Oxford University @oxford_uni
To be part of this fantastic event, in the magical city of Oxford, within Oxford University, centre of pioneering ideas, as part of a line-up of speakers, thinkers & practitioners leading & bridging the energy of exploration & spiritual renewal of our times & for the good of future generations was humbling & inspiring. I learned so much. It's going to take a while to integrate but I'll share as I do. Thank you : for the opportunity & the whole event @aleftrust #aleftrust @eurotas.world #eurotas @britishpsychologicalsociety #educateevolveembody #embodiededucation #embodimentspirituality #inandthrough #fleshyknowing “Creative bridges” are spaces where we transcend the restrictive and regressive forces that confront us in what is clearly a transitional age. By forging new connections, we create paths that may lead us wisely into the next phase of cultural and spiritual evolution.
Bridges lie at the core of our work as practitioners, researchers, and scholars. Embodied Education #embodiededucation which I presented at this conference in Oxford last week is the creative bridge of mind & body reconnection & the rehumanising act of making educational, sharing & learning spaces hospitable & safe for all bodies & neurotypes. Embodied Education: Creating Safe Space for Learning Facilitating and Sharing 📕 available now @girlgodbooks & online stores Creative Bridges 2024 : Embodied Consciousness, Psyche & Soul in Research & Practice Conference took place last week in the Examination School & New College of Oxford University. Hosted by @aleftrust #aleftrust @eurotas.world #eurotas & @britishpsychologicalsociety #educateevolveembody #embodiededucation #embodimentspirituality #inandthrough #fleshyknowing Travelling home after an intense but culturally, academically & spiritually rich five days in Oxford.
Everyone at the Creative Bridges 2024 : Embodied Consciousness, Psyche & Soul in Research & Practice Thank you 🙏 @aleftrust #aleftrust @eurotas.world #eurotas @britishpsychologicalsociety #educateevolveembody #embodiededucation #embodimentspirituality #inandthrough #fleshyknowing In and through ⭕🌀 ...
... our muscles, bones, blood ⭕ ... sensation, reaction, emotion ⭕ ... our patterns, storylines & DNA ⭕ #inandthrough ⭕🌀 to our #fleshyknowing ✋🦴🩸🧠 via #embodimentspirituality #tangibledivinity to a #humane #humanitarian #humanity Resources : #embodiededucation #somaticshamanism #mentorshipwithgoddess #makinglovewiththedivine All 👆 @girlgodbooks workbooks 📚 |
AuthorKay Louise Aldred MA, PGCE Archives
November 2024
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