
Diversity & Equity Newsletter
March 2024
Awareness & Heritage Days
Be sure to click on the icon titles above to learn more about each topic!
Neurodiversity Celebration Week
What is Neurodiversity?
- No two brains are exactly the same, and our differences create opportunities to learn, grown, and have new ideas.
- Some brains may work differently than what is considered "the norm" but that doesn't make them broken or wrong!
- Neurodivergent is an umbrella term used to describe people who do not have what is considered a "typical" brain. Neurodivergent traits can include Autism, ADHD, Tourette’s, Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, mental health conditions, and more!
- Up to 20% of the human population is considered neurodivergent.
If we all thought in exactly the same way, we would never have invention, innovation, improvement, or societal growth!
Ways to Celebrate
- Expand your knowledge of neurodiversity
- Share your knowledge and experience with neurodiversity with others
- Share what neurodiversity means to you
- Encourage others to support neurodiversity
- Do projects or crafts like the ones shared on neurodiversityweek.com
- Read books, blogs, or articles about neurodiversity or neuro-inclusion
- Write your local legislators encouraging them to support programs and initiatives that help neurodivergent people
- Talk to your workplace about ways they can support employment for neurodivergent people
- Talk to your workplace about ways that they can support neurodivergent people currently working there, whether they are "out" or not
Neurodivergent Celebrities (That You May or May Not Know About!)
There are quite a few celebrities that are open about being neurodivergent. Below is a short list of some of those celebrities! Shared from https://www.neurodiversityweek.com/posters
Ryan Gosling has ADHD
Emma Watson has ADHD
Will.i.am has ADHD
Simone Biles has ADHD
Channing Tatum has ADHD
Zooey Deschanel has ADHD
Satoshi is Autistic
Keira Knightley is Dyslexic
Orlando Bloom is Dyslexic
Jennifer Aniston is Dyslexic
Florence Welch is Dyspraxic
Daniel Radcliffe is Dyspraxic
Rebranding the Brain: Neurodiversity at Work Dave Thompson |TEDxDanville
Upcoming Events
Neurodiversity Employment Network Presents: 5 Year Celebration of NEN
Join us for Neurodiversity Employment Network’s 5 Year Celebration and Fundraiser.
WHEN:
March 8, 2024 6:00-8:30PM
WHERE:
Hyundai Club at Lincoln Financial Field
1 Lincoln Financial Field Way
Philadelphia, PA
You are cordially invited to join us on March 8th to celebrate 5 years since our grassroots start in Philadelphia and to help us raise funds to continue our mission moving forward!
You can expect cocktails, heavy appetizers, entertainment, silent auction, raffles, & more! All proceeds benefit Neurodiversity Employment Network.
Sponsorships and other support opportunities available!
Click here to purchase tickets!
Friday, Mar 8, 2024, 06:00 PM
Hyundai Club at Lincoln Financial Field 1 Lincoln Financial Field Way Philadelphia, PA
Rock Your Socks for World Down Syndrome Day!
Join ASUA and others globally by wearing silly socks for World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD)!
March 21 is recognized annually as World Down Syndrome Day. This date was chosen to represent Trisomy 21, another name for Down Syndrome, which is caused by having an extra (3rd) copy of the 21st chromosome. We wear silly mismatched socks on WDSD because chromosomes are shaped like socks. Our brightly colored socks celebrate diversity and promote awareness. When someone asks why you are wearing mismatched socks, you can tell them you are raising awareness for Down Syndrome!
Thursday, Mar 21, 2024, 08:00 AM
Glossary & Suggestion Box
Expand Your DEI Knowledge
- Disability Day of Mourning Anti-Filicide Toolkit - Autistic Self Advocacy Network
- Autism Strengths - Embrace-Autism.com
- Stop Asking Neurodivergent People to Change the Way They Communicate - Harvard Business Review
- World Down Syndrome Day Lots of Socks Campaign - WorldDownSyndromeDay.org
- Pronouns Refresher for Trans Day of Visibility - PFLAG
- 10 Things You Can do for Transgender Day of Visibility - Phila.gov
- International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination - UNESCO