Delivered by Jill Corbyn (Founder, Neurodiverse Connection)
With guests Penni Charteress, Heather (DIVAS) and Steph (DIVAS)
Content Warning: Grooming, Abuse and Coercive Control
Heather and Steph are members of the DIVAS group supported by Peni from The Women’s Centre In Cornwall. We’ll hear about the training and improvement work that DIVAS support and hear reflections on how to identify a health relationship. We’ll also hear about the barriers to services, and what services could do differently to better meet the needs of neurodivergent women.
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She/Her
DIVAS
Heather has been a DIVA for 4 years. Prior to joining the DIVAS Heather worked as a Peer Educator, Co-delivering training to professionals in Autism through the NAS and Cornwall Council. She also sat on the Autism Partnership Board as a parent representative and Autism Advocate for over 12 years. She has been involved with NHS England on the Transforming Care Partnership. Heather is Neurodivergent (Autistic, Dyslexic) and has Prosopagnosia (face blindness). She is a carer to her son, and until recently her brother, who are both Autistic with complex additional needs. Heather is a survivor and expert by experience.
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They/them
Founder & Director Neurodiverse Connection
Jill is interested in people, collaboration, autism, sensory environments health & social care. They are skilled in facilitating workshops and enabling change in practice and working with individuals and teams to support better outcomes for individuals.
In previous roles, Jill has worked with provider organisations supporting involvement, as an advocate, and supporting involvement and innovation in cancer services. In their role with NDTi they developed the autism programme, developed the sensory work into housing and hospitals.
Jill was the lead author on the co-produced ‘It’s Not Rocket Science’ report into inpatient sensory environments. This was commissioned by the CAMHS Mental Health Taskforce. The NHS ‘Sensory Friendly Ward Principles’ are embedded in this report and are supporting change across inpatient services in England. They have continued to develop and embed this work, developing guidance into lighting and working with architects to include aspects of the report into building notes.
Jill was also lead author for the co-produced LGA paper ‘Supporting autistic flourishing at home and beyond: considering and meeting the sensory needs of autistic people in housing’.
They are a lover of walking and wild places.
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She/Her
Women’s Centre Cornwall
Is a Community Engagement Worker at The Women’s Centre Cornwall, working on the DIVAS project. She is currently studying for a Masters in Understanding Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence at Goldsmith University London. In addition she is the Mentor Coordinator at The Women’s Centre Cornwall, Mentoring supports women who have experience of the criminal justice system. Previously she worked in education at a FE/HE college. Penni loves the ocean and swimming in the sea.
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She/Her
DIVAS
Steph is a founding DIVA and peer educator. She is a neurodivergent woman (Autism and ADHD), who is passionate about making sure that neurotypical people understand the barriers faced by neurodivergent women who have experience domestic abuse and sexual violence. She loves gaming and being creative, making videos and has her own YouTube channel. She enjoys looking after Marshmallow her Hamster.
Disclaimer
At Neurodiverse Connection, we are committed to promoting the use of neurodivergent affirming language. However, please do note that in these webinars, as with any content that Neurodiverse Connection host or share that includes input from other organisations or parties, we cannot guarantee that the preferred neurodivergent affirming terminology is always used.
Our guide to language is available here: Neurodivergent Affirming Language