Celebrating Neurodiversity: Launching Neurodiversity Advocacy Network Event
Last Friday, idoba supported the launch of Perth’s Neurodiversity Advocacy Network by hosting an event. At idoba, we believe that creating, belonging, and community is essential for the kind of trust that supports us to be our best selves, to be creative and innovative. We're dedicated to building a workplace where everyone can be their authentic selves, contribute their exceptional talents, and thrive…
While our internal idoban journey continues to unfold, we are excited to play our part in incubating a community space for neurodiverse people, from a range of industries, to gather. With high spirits, we begin this remarkable journey of advocacy, knowledge sharing, and community building.
Cheers to our champions
Jacinta Reynolds, idoba’s Culture and Inclusion Cultivator and Emily Kendal, South 32’s Decarbonization Principle
A big shout-out goes to two individuals who have played a crucial role in shaping our Neurodiversity Advocacy Network: Emily Kendall, Decarbonization Principal at South32, and Jacinta Reynolds, idoba's Neurodiversity and Inclusion Cultivator. Their contributions have been instrumental in creating safe spaces that embrace neurodiversity, emphasize the importance of neurodiverse networks, and invite those who identify as neurodiverse to shape the conversation that we as team members, leaders and employers need to participate in.
Embracing neurodiversity at idoba
With over 25% of our employees identifying as neurodiverse, idoba celebrates neurodiversity as a source of skills, ideas, and creativity. Our goal is to provide equal opportunities for all our employees, recognising different modes of participation, and cultivating an environment where everyone can thrive. We firmly believe that by embracing the strengths that come from neurological differences, we open a powerful innovation and growth engine.
“At idoba, we think that diversity and belonging in organisations benefits us all, so we want to support community-led innovation and development to improve the experiences of neurodiverse people at work. We’d like to support those conversations by providing a space for the community to gather, and impetus for innovation within our own and other organisations” says Amanda Fordham, idoba’s Thriving People Lead.
“The first meeting of the Neurodiversity Advocacy Network was a lively event that demonstrated quite a strong appetite for connection and a bias for action. We are watching closely, cheering on, and are ready to learn from what this community produces.”
Amanda Fordham, idoba’s Thriving People Lead
The Neurodiversity Advocacy Network Event
The Neurodiversity Advocacy Network event stands as a shining beacon, championing neurodiversity within our workplace. This event is all about sharing knowledge, experiences, and best practices about neurodiversity and finding workplaces that work for neurodivergents.
Emily and Jacinta's goal was to create an amazing event by tapping their networks and spreading awareness. They succeeded beyond expectations, with the event selling out three days early. Attendees came from far and wide, thanks to the viral spread of their message. Impressively, 67% of those who attended identified as neurodivergent. It was a truly inclusive and inspiring event!
“The turnout was better than I expected. It was so inspiring to see how much trust our people had put in us to run a neurodiverse friendly event. They showed up ready to network, which we’re generally pretty bad, and to make new connections. And because we were the majority, I found myself relaxing, and not thinking about my masks or filters. I could just relax and be myself. This is different to usual networking events where I have to have every filter and mask possible on as well as worry about the crowds of people and other sensory inputs. At this event I didn’t have those stressors. I was in my element, and apparently so was everyone else!” commented Jacinta Reynolds
“I was humbled and amazed at what a seemingly safe space we created where people didn't need to decompress, and a great majority of attendees chose green stickers (suggesting they wanted to be engaged and network). The fact that so many showed up (neurodivergent outnumbered neurotypicals 2:1!) and many stayed beyond closing time shows that the community wants a space to connect. We're looking forward to receiving the survey results from those who joined us so we can keep delivering impact and what the community wants. Thank you idoba for supporting this much-needed event. I hope to learn from their inclusive culture and embed that in other businesses so neurodivergent can thrive everywhere.” Emily Kendall, South32’s Decarbonization Principal
Unlocking the Power of Neurodiverse Networks
Neurodiverse networks hold a multitude of benefits that extend far beyond individual employees. By cultivating a sense of belonging and acceptance, these networks create an environment where individuals can thrive, without having to worry about masking or being misunderstood, and unleash their full potential. The diverse perspectives and problem-solving approaches that emerge from neurodiversity ignite innovation and lead to more creative and effective solutions. Moreover, these networks provide abundant opportunities for personal and professional growth, fostering a culture of continuous learning and development.
With the launch of our Neurodiversity Advocacy Network event, idoba takes a tremendous leap forward in celebrating neurodiversity within the workplace. We firmly believe that embracing neurological differences isn't just the right thing to do—it's the key to unlocking boundless innovation and cultivating a genuinely inclusive environment.
But this is just the beginning. We are thrilled to announce that the Neurodiversity Advocacy Network event is the first of many to come. In the upcoming months, we will continue to add more inspiring events, workshops, and initiatives that foster knowledge sharing, collaboration, and community building. These opportunities are not only intended for individuals who identify as neurodivergent but also for those who are passionate about creating positive experiences for neurodivergent individuals.
Stay tuned for updates as we embark on this transformative journey together.