Making the world a better place for Neurodivergent people: We are Neurodiverse Connection.
Kay Louise Aldred, Development Lead at NdC, shares an insight into recent work undertaken by colleagues across our organisation, to update and define our organisational purpose, vision, mission and values!
Neurodiverse Connection is a Neurodivergent-led Community Interest Company (CIC) dedicated to improving support and outcomes for Neurodivergent individuals. We established Neurodiverse Connection to achieve better results for the people we work with and to create a more supportive work environment for our team.
Having faced various barriers and challenges in employment ourselves, we designed Neurodiverse Connection as a workplace where Neurodivergent professionals can empower and support one another within the Neurodivergent community. As a Community Interest Company, we are committed to reinvesting any profits we generate back into projects that promote positive social change.
All our initiatives are delivered and led by our Neurodivergent team members. We also collaborate with colleagues of all neurotypes to ensure high-quality service delivery, depending on availability and need. Additionally, we regularly partner with artists and graphic teams to develop original content as part of our holistic approach.
Our purpose
At the heart of everything we do is a simple but powerful purpose: to make the world a better place for Neurodivergent people. This is the reason we exist. We believe that Neurodivergent people deserve to live in a world where we are understood, accepted and supported to be our authentic selves.
Our vision
We envisage a world in which Neurodivergent people are consistently understood and able to live authentically - without needing to mask who we are. This is our guiding star. It’s a world where we experience genuine connection, belonging and community, and where equality of opportunity exists across employment, healthcare, education and all areas of life.
This vision drives every decision we make, every partnership we form and every conversation we have.
Our mission
Turning vision into action takes dedication and collaboration. Our mission is our ‘manifesto’ and guides how we create real change:
Educate and improve outcomes – We provide training, curate and create resources and promote lived experience leadership to raise understanding and empower others.
Connect and support the Neurodivergent community – Through our online groups and community spaces, we offer connection, peer support and a platform for Neurodivergent voices and experiences to be heard and amplified through our blogs and social channels.
Advocate and campaign for equity – We stand up for equity and progress through our summits, campaigns and advocacy work - using our influence to disrupt outdated norms and catalyse change.
Model affirming practice – We practice what we preach and walk our talk. Our organisation embodies and models Neurodivergent-affirming practice, approaches and relational ways of working, both internally and externally. Collaboration and partnership working are at the core of how we increase our impact.
Our values
Our values shape who we are, how we work and what we stand for. They are not just words: they are lived in our daily actions and relationships, our ‘culture’.
Curious – We seek to understand deeply, listen openly and keep learning. Curiosity helps us challenge assumptions and grow together.
Courageous – We speak up, take risks and stand firm for what’s right, even when it’s uncomfortable. Courage drives change.
Relational – We believe in connection. Our work is rooted in empathy, collaboration and community.
Authentic – We show up as ourselves and create space for others to do the same. Authenticity builds trust and belonging.
Integrity – We do what we say we’ll do. We act with honesty, accountability, and care.
Who we are and how we work
Our purpose, vision, mission and values are intertwined: they guide not just our strategy, but our culture. We are a team of lived-experience leaders and allies, working collaboratively to build a more equitable world for Neurodivergent people.
Every piece of training we deliver, every campaign we launch and every story we share is shaped by our belief that understanding and inclusion make the world better for everyone.
Together, we are curious, courageous, relational, authentic and operate with integrity, and we’re proud to be part of an organisation that is reshaping what inclusion truly means.
