I think being black and neurodivergent in today’s society is great, as I have been able to connect with all kinds of exciting and interesting people. I am very proud of my culture and being bi-racial, and I love uplifting people in my community. Sometimes it can be challenging, though, as sometimes I feel misunderstood, but the majority of the time, it’s great.

Try and find ways to break down barriers and lead with kindness, learn about black SEND icons and learn about their experience, and try and implement them into policies and procedures so they benefit everyone equally. I would also say don’t be afraid to ask questions to the black community and try and make a safe space so people in the Black community feel able to share their views on the more difficult topics, and we can all work together to create a better world for all.

While there are some famous people who inspire me, I am inspired by everyday by black people in my life who are neurodivergent and/or disabled, and listening to their stories, experiences, and dreams and I think not enough people take inspiration or admire people in their daily lives, and sometimes save their admiration for famous people. But two famous people I really admire are Maggie Aderin-Pocock, who is an astrophysicist and is dyslexic, and she struggled in school with undiagnosed dyslexia, and I think that this shows that mainstream education doesn’t work for everyone, and you can thrive despite struggling in mainstream education.

I also think it would be cool if more SEND schools and alternative provisions could have culture days in a way that is sensory-friendly and inclusive, so they can benefit from the fun that mainstream schools have, but in an accessible way so the staff and students there can learn about different black cultures, as it’s so rich and diverse, just like the SEND community! 🙂