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Multiple buttons on the heads to press and hear the thoughts of hat goes through our minds.

"what topic shall I research today for 10 hours" "this is a waste of time" "do those people like me even though I have been friends with them for 10 years"

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The room design for this container came naturally after playing around with the ideas of using buttons and what kind of surface would these buttons be sat on.

I had this thought of the red and white dotted mushroom having multiple connotations of "mad" or "fool" and the white circles on the mushroom head looked like buttons.

Plus who doesn't love a giant mushroom to look up into, draws the eyes up and around

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Multiple textiles will be flooding out of the piece of art, ideally lots of different kinds to overload senses.

Including rough, soft, scratchy, noisy (polystyrene)

will be advised to take shoes off (w/socks on ) to really get the feel.

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Where the first X is, is the viewpoint of a NT and how they see simple pieces and plain boxes

Then when you walk to the other end of the room, the art is distorted and there is more to see in terms of the boxes

this is representing how we see multiple perspectives of one thing, we see things in a deeper and more creative way which can cause distress and overload

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Then you have to lie down under the shelves on this rough carpet with a speaker telling you really negative thoughts and your surrounded by horrid words.

Ideally the horrid part is first and then you can experience the happy section.

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On top half is a happy,, over motivational space, including really potive quotes, lots of plants as they are proven to make everyone feel better, over happly wall paper with colours and will have a sunset lamp and lovely music.

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Painting around the room for the task, chairs to sit down as it can get frustrating.

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Wall of speakers with them giving tasks at once, some gibberish, some just masking each other.

The task will be to click the button off the piece of art the question is asking you to do, ideally they'll get it wrong and get frustrated, because they won't understand the question

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Distorted walls and mirrors around the room represent a dysfunctional puzzle that doesn't match.

The incompletable puzzle is reflected by the walls.

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bricks for the upper half to show the many layers we hold, with also links to the train tracks. Different thoughts of the art can be wrote on each brick, introducing a community style of conjugating thoughts that others can read.

Floor is bland and one colour to demonstrate a rational, straight forward thinking to a NT

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One person walk way. max 2 people in that room at one time.

train tracks going off in each direction, inside all the little nooks to look into and the walls will be where the thoughts wander to, all stemming from one painting

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How many people in one space at a time?

Ticket distribution?

Temporary structure?

No time limit per group but how will i manage that with people being in one space for too long?

Obvious guided route with break spaces representing "needed break from stimulation"

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Boxes 1:75 scale

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Carrying out verbal instructions and tasks

can't easily order the tasks and get confused

-speaker giving tasks relating to the piece of art but all gibberish and hard to follow

-headphones, different ones around

-room full of distractions and words

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Creative thinking

inventive and creative way of seeing

-we feell textures of images strongly and can get over stimulated by this

-make an piece of art come to life and fill the room with the various textures that we would feel in the image

-over stimulate with multiple textures

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Problem-solving

challenges to the brain spark interest and calms the mind

-Abstract art, we try to solve it and want an answer to what it is

-puzzle of abstract art that can never be completed, this will hopefully lead to frustration

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Perspective taking

understanding all points or none at all

-can see all perspectives or viewpoints to an image/argument

-seem more level headed

-image of a person, NT see face value and ND see all the messy bits that add up

-study done by terra vance

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Mind wandering

flittering from topic to topic

-Loss of convo, bored easily, topic to topic for stimulation

-train tracks of multiple pathways

-convo divergent

-topic changes

All represented in the mind (the ceiling)

-the floor is NT and the ceiling ND all route from one piece of art

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Intense emotions

Higher highs and lower lows, criticism felt strongly

negative feedback and thoughts weighing on you, how about a place where you can lie under and the middle is all calm and extremely uplifting and peaceful

Middle will have a sky of light and positive thoughts, creating a really uplifting atmosphere compared to weighty ceiling of negative

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Living in the moment

emotions, action, consequences, all at once

one speaker in one corner, one on the other and there’s a line in the middle where it becomes one sound but lean ever so slightly to each side you won’t hear one of them

Multiple buttons around the room that just blurt out random thoughts

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Highest places with ADHD services is london obviously, but are they educated on it enough. Is London the best place to hold this event.

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Mapping survey. The children and adolescents with ADHD in transition between children’s services and adult services project focuses on what happens to young people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) when they are too old to stay within children’s services

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Living in the present - emotions, actions and consequences all at once

Intense emotions - higher high and lower lows, happiness and criticism strongly

Mind wandering - flit from topic to topic

Perspective taking - understanding all points of view or none at all

Problem-solving itch - challenges to the brain spark interest as it quiets the mind

Creative thinking - inventive thinkers

Carrying out verbal tasks - can't order them in head, no interest

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Engage with intersubjectivity, perspective and varying experiences through a common theme

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Engage with intersubjectivity, perspective and varying experiences through a common theme

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What are the different perspectives from an ADHD person 

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What are the different perspectives from an ADHD person 

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Deep problem solving desires

We are empathetic for everyone

Dual viewpoints

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Meagan Brown is a Winnipeg artist who has ADHD.

While she makes a living out of her art, she also uses some of her pieces as a way to process the stigmas attached to her neurodivergence. They are now displayed in an exhibition with at Artbeat Studio on Albert Street.

"There were certain times I would have a pretty much finished piece in my hand and look at it and think, 'Wow, I don't have the same feelings about some of these things as I did before,'" she said.

One of her pieces is a comic strip-style piece that shows a person hacking away at a pillar of "negative self."

"It's really about taking these unbelievably strong core beliefs of negative self that have broken up, and doing the work to chip away at this and turn all this self-hate and negative self-image into self-love. Because every little bit you take off of that negative self-image becomes at least self-acceptance to begin with, and eventually self-love," she said.

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Another piece she did is called Shame Distorts the Self, where negative self-image became negative self-talk.

"I actually realized I developed a tic over the past sort of three or four years of audibly saying, 'I hate you' to myself out loud, which is a bit horrifying," she said.

However, working on the piece presented her with a revelation.

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"As I was working on this piece and finishing it, I realized that it is an intrusive thought that has now replaced a more dark, and destructive intrusive thought," she said.

Executive director of Winnipeg Art Therapists, Kayla Cardinal, says art is an excellent way to work through mental health issues.

"You would be able to notice the deeply buried inner conflicts that you might not be able to verbalize, but rather you can work through them, see them, and then do something with them," Cardinal said.

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Among the perks is that you don't have to be a particular kind of artist to partake.

"Painting, drawing, sculpting, it could be acting, dance. It would also be visual arts in any shape or for... Any kind of expressive medium to be able to take the internal to externalize it," she said, adding, better yet, you don't even need to be an artist to reap the benefits.

"One of my favourite directives to do is something called an energy sketch, where it's quite literally just scribbling what's going on internally, putting it out onto the page, using colour, form, shape and just transferring that energy out onto the page."

Speaking from personal experience, Brown says that transfer of energy is key.

"The time and the physicality of transferring feelings into something physical... even if it's hurt... it is right as colour," she said.

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Cardinal said in a time when it can be exceedingly difficult to access mental health services, art therapy may be a more flexible option, with the ability to source out free programming and take work home.

"I wouldn't necessarily encourage you to be your own art therapist, especially when there's a lot of free art therapy available for you, whether it's locally or virtually - it's there. And I hope that if anything, you reach out just for one session, just to gain more information and say, 'I'm looking for more information and where can I find more?'"

Artbeat Studio wants to help make therapeutic art experiences accessible for all.

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"We provide studio spaces and connections for artists or people with lived mental health experience to have that space to really kind of heal," said Uyen Pham, the Artbeat Studio's executive director. "It's a space where we talk about mental health freely and we encourage all of our artists and our participants to do that as well."

The non-profit hosts free sessions over the summer, works with organizations like the Victoria Hospital Foundation, and has art in buildings throughout Winnipeg.

By exhibiting her art with the studio, Brown hopes others will take notice.

"I think breaking down the shame and the stigma is really one of the best things right now. Having conversations and getting more people involved."

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Winnipeg woman uses art to help mental health, showcases in exhibition - Winnipeg | Globalnews.ca

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A Winnipeg woman says creating art has helped her process some of the dark thoughts and feelings stemming from stigma about her neurodivergence.

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Music Festivals for Neurodivergents: Avoid Overstimulation - Austin Anxiety & Trauma Specialists

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Every spring, the city of Austin and its innovative art and music scene ramps up for SXSW, one of the biggest music festivals of the year. The festival attracted more than 205,000 music enthusiasts in 2022—41,000 of whom likely live with a mental illness. Music festivals can be a source of fun, excitement, and unforgettable

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Listening to music focuses concentration 

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Listening to music focuses concentration 

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Effects of Music on Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Potential Application in Serious Video Games: Systematic Review

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Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has a considerable impact on an individual’s daily life. Some difficulties with timing deficits may be associated with deficiencies in attention, reading, language skills, or executive function. Music…

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Advances in technology are offering us an increasingly bigger window into the neurological bases of ADHD. We now know that differences in structure, functionality, activation, and connectivity all come into play. The key to understanding your behaviors - why you act the way you do - is to understand the needs and wants of your unique brain. If friends and family can't make sense of your actions, and sometimes you can't either, learning how your brain works will explain your behaviors.

Rules of ADHD Engagement

The brain regulates our responses to stimulation, and needs to be engaged in order to function well. Optimal arousal enables brains to be alert, receptive, and ready to attend and learn. Well-choreographed executive functions cue the skills necessary for effective response selection. Goal-directed behaviors can be fine-tuned without the distractions of emotions or sensations. Generally, non-ADHD brains are adequately aroused by the shifting internal and external stimulation of daily life. Regardless of fluctuations in stimulation, those brains can operate with reasonably sustained focus, fueled by the dependable coordination of neurotransmitters. They can self-regulate with relative confidence, and exercise an adequate amount of control over their behavior.

ADHD brains do not adapt as easily; they have their own rules of engagement. They are motivated by their search for optimal stimulation, rather than by what others label as important. Their degree of arousal differs based on whether the request for attention comes from an internal desire or an external demand. The owners of these brains are not making conscious choices to ignore external demands, although it often appears that way. Instead, internal motivations are intrinsically more meaningful to their brains and, as a result, more dopamine becomes available. Concerns about time or consequences are dwarfed by the pursuit of pleasurable reinforcement. Whether through sensation or hyperactivity, ADHD brains compel their owners to scan the environment for engaging stimulation. When mundane tasks can't be avoided, ADHD brains may be compromised in their ability to choose goal-oriented responses.

More Dopamine, Please

Learning from experience is the basis for sound decision-making, and the motivation to learn is modulated by the promise of reward. The current Incentive Salience Model describes a dopamine reward system that is responsible for motivation, positive reinforcement, and pleasure for all brains. However, dopamine-increasing behaviors are even more gratifying to ADHD brains.

Key aspects of the reward system are underactive in ADHD brains, making it difficult to derive reward from ordinary activities. These dopamine-deficient brains experience a surge of motivation after a high-stimulation behavior triggers a release of dopamine. But in the aftermath of that surge and reward, they return to baseline levels with an immediate drop in motivation.
[Get This Free Resource: Secrets of Your ADHD Brain]
One of the many consequences of reduced dopamine in the synapses is that the significance of tasks is decreased. If most stimuli appear equally compelling, it's difficult to attend to the most important task. As a result, stimuli need greater personal relevance - larger, more immediate, or repeated rewards - to be attractive to ADHD brains. Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS) has been proposed to explain why ADHD brains need stronger incentives. Deficits in the reward pathway, including decreased availability of dopamine receptors, decrease motivation. Indeed, ADHD brains struggle to sustain motivation when rewards are mild or are linked to long-term gratification. As a result, ADHD brains search for stimulation that can increase dopamine more quickly and intensely. Ultimately, the pursuit of pleasurable rewards may become a potent form of self-medication. In fact, dependent brains exhibit similar dysregulation of the dopamine reward system.

Every behavioral reward that has been studied has been shown to amplify dopamine production, including food, sex, exercise, competition, and music. High-risk activities - driving fast, motorcycle riding, and waterskiing - motivate ADHD brains to focus. Some extreme activities, like daring ski jumps, sky-diving, or taking fast-acting street drugs, elicit a dopamine spike, the brain's most intense reward. Some ADHD brains have benefited from the greater dopamine involvement that is intrinsic to high-intensity, high-risk careers, like those of emergency medical technicians, firefighters, and ER doctors.

However, nicotine, caffeine, alcohol, opiates, risky sex, pornography, gambling, physical risk-taking, reckless driving, and compulsive buying increase dopamine even more. In fact, all substances or behaviors that can ultimately result in dependencies have the ability to increase the release of impulse-reinforcing dopamine, and reduce the impulse-inhibiting effects of serotonin.

The Search for Stimulation

So ADHD brains are highly motivated - to find that unique balance of stimulation that enables optimal functioning. Whether ADHD brains overreact or underreact to the stimuli at hand, they rarely engage with moderate stimulation that falls "in the gray area." ADHD brains tend to respond at one end of the continuum in most but not all areas of functioning. These opposite routes to the same goal explain how a high-energy, outgoing, talkative, over-subscribed individual and a shy, low-energy, passive, and withdrawn individual can each have an ADHD brain.
[Click to Read: ADHD Neuroscience 101]
For some ADHD brains, optimal functioning involves augmenting the existing stimulation - seeking louder, faster, bigger, funnier, and riskier - the more intense, the better. Boredom is a common complaint for the owners of these brains. For them, it is physiologically uncomfortable when their under-aroused brains struggle to engage with their environment. In fact, in mundane, low-stimulation situations, these restless brains may compel their owners to increase the intensity level with fidgeting, noise, laughter, or conflict, if there is no other route to high stimulation available. These more impulsive ADHD brains have their own logic: If some stimulation is good, more is better. This is the signature short-sighted philosophy of brains compelled to choose immediate rewards over long-term gratification.

Too Much Stimulation

In their hunger for greater stimulation, ADHD brains can suddenly find themselves in a state of over-arousal. Egged on by their need, most are unable to modulate their responses, and can't anticipate an impending "crash." The fun suddenly gets out of control, the laughter takes on a tinge of hysteria, sights and sounds bombard them until they are overwhelmed. Ambushed by physiological overload, and depleted of psychic energy, they become irritable, tearful, restless, or aggressive. Their brains abruptly demand respite from the commotion, so that they can regroup with negligible stimulation. Their sudden and total withdrawal is a source of confusion and consternation to those who know only the spirited stimulation-seeker.

At the other end of the continuum, there are ADHD brains that can barely tolerate existing levels of stimulation. These brains teeter on the brink of sensory overload, and seek every opportunity to escape from the bombardment. Unexpected or novel stimulation is experienced as an ambush, evoking discomfort, frustration, and irritation.

Owners of hypersensitive brains reduce stimulation by avoiding group activities, tuning out of conversations, and isolating themselves. They shun busy department stores, loud concerts, big parties, and prefer to stay where they can control the level of stimulation. These brains find comfort in the self-contained world of video games. With an internal structure that offers complete control over the kind and amount of stimulation, they select games with rewards that are strongly reinforcing to their brains. These rewards offer pleasure within a cocoon, shielding them from the unpredictable minefield of personal interaction. As a result, video games have incredible habit-forming potential for the inattentive ADHD brain.

Carbs, Chocolate, and the Brain's Glucose Metabolism

Food activates the dopamine reward center in all brains. However, especially for the more impulsive ADHD brain, it leads to a torturous daily self-regulation challenge. The low levels of dopamine interfere with focused self-regulation, increasing the likelihood that ADHD brains will be inattentive to the factors that modulate eating behaviors. In addition, ADHD brains exhibit decreased glucose metabolism compared to non-ADHD brains, resulting in less energy available to the attention center in the prefrontal cortex. As a result, ADHD brains send out distress messages demanding more glucose, and the owners of those brains suddenly crave sugary foods and carbohydrates, which can be quickly converted into glucose. Glucose increases dopamine and serotonin, so brains experience pleasure and greater calm. Many people with ADHD chide themselves for indulging in pasta and cookies, when their brains are actually demanding those foods instead of salad. Chocolate is appealing to ADHD brains because it increases glucose and has the added stimulation of caffeine.

It is no wonder that those with ADHD struggle with diet and nutrition. When they self-medicate with food, their brains enjoy a surge of dopamine, an increase in glucose-based energy that improves attention, and a serotonin-based calming of restlessness. Particularly for the impulsive ADHD brain, this perfect storm of rewards increases the likelihood of overeating.

Sleep and the Reticular Activating System

The Reticular Activating System (RAS) in the brainstem is responsible for regulating arousal and the sleep/wake cycle. In ADHD brains, the RAS is dysregulated; circadian cycles skew toward higher activity levels in the evening, resulting in later bedtimes and waking times. In fact, many individuals with ADHD celebrate when they finally have time to themselves late at night. This is when they are attracted to internally driven activities, like watching TV, engaging with social media, looking at porn, or playing computer games. With their greater arousal, which is often experienced as a second wind, these brain-pleasing behaviors are reinforcing. Studies show that the blue LED light from screens further increases alertness while suppressing the normal elevation of melatonin. With delayed melatonin production, ADHD brains are flooded with both internal and external stimulation into the early morning, delaying sleep and making it difficult to be an early riser.

Neurology Explains a Lot

Understanding what ADHD brains want makes it clear that the struggle for self-regulation is neurological, and has nothing to do with character deficiencies. For example, it would be easy to misinterpret the following scenario as a standoff between two partners: Imagine that your partner asks you to pay the electric bill, and you say to yourself, "OK, I have time to do that today." But when you sit down to do it, you keep getting distracted. The ADHD brain needs higher stimulation in order to complete this rote task with minimal payoff. Your ADHD brain says, "That task is way too boring, and I can't focus on it. Find something that interests me more, which offers me a bigger dopamine reward, and I'll work with you." It doesn't matter that you know you should pay the bill as promised; if your brain won't engage, it's an ugly standoff. Perhaps, after a day of procrastination - when your partner will be home in 20 minutes and the bill is still unpaid - there may be enough of an adrenaline rush from a sense of crisis that your brain will engage and you pay the bill.

The ADHD brain and its owner are at odds with one another. It's difficult to compel a disengaged brain to engage by force of will. In fact, much of the treatment for ADHD involves learning to psych out the brain, so that it will attend to necessary, low-stimulation tasks.

Appreciating the tug-of-war within that pits intellect against neurobiology increases compassion and acceptance for one's hidden struggle. ADHD behaviors are frequently mislabeled and misjudged by society, and there is some comfort in knowing that there are neurological explanations for seemingly incomprehensible behaviors.
[Read This Next: Everything You Never Knew About the ADHD Brain] Ellen Littman, Ph.D., is a member of ADDitude's ADHD Medical Review Panel.

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Never Enough? Why ADHD Brains Crave Stimulation

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At times, it feels the ADHD brain is never sated - particularly when it comes to common sources of stimulation like video games, sex, and substances. Here's why your brain craves these things - and how it affects your day-to-day behavior.

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"There is no fixed spot for you to be in so you are able to move around freely, exploring the depths of the vast space to find any secrets you can uncover over the course of three packed hours with no breaks"

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An incredibly ambitious and huge immersive piece of theatre reliving the fall of Troy.

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"overflowing with snippets of narrative for those who wish to search for them"

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Punchdrunk, immersive theatre, and the dickmask

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THE NEW
PODCAST SERIES

Join ADHDer, Dr Mine Conkbayir and husband, the BAFTA award-winning comedy actor, Paul Whitehouse (Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing, The Fast Show) , as they explore ADHD with diverse celebrity ADHDer guests, professors and specialists in this brand new Podcast series.

Listen now

Welcome to our
'I'm ADHD! No You're Not!' website!

This website is designed to accompany our Podcast series and is regularly updated - and interactive! We encourage our listeners to share their experiences of ADH'D' with us, particularly in line with what our guests share with us during each episode. You can get in touch here .

What's the Podcast about?

Comedy actor, Paul Whitehouse and I explore the experience of ADH'D' with diverse celebrity ADH'D'ers, as well as ADH'D' specialists, researchers and psychotherapists.

Paul typifies the archetypal sceptic, challenging the very concept of ADH'D' - partly due to its unfit-for-purpose definition, the recent 'explosion' in diagnoses (particularly within the world of comedy) and, the fact that many symptoms present, to a lesser extent, in neurotypical individuals. I provide the theoretical backfill and counter-argument to Paul's challenges.

This Podcast isn't just a bit of fun (despite the many laughs we have along the way). I wholeheartedly believe that it plays a vital role in challenging long-held erroneous beliefs about ADH'D', while getting ADH'D'ers and neurotypical folk alike impassioned enough to take a stance and challenge the current deficit model of ADH'D'. On which note, you've probably noted that I insert apostrophes above the 'D' in ADH'D' - this is because I loathe the term, 'disorder'. Why? Because we are different. NOT disordered!

So, join me, Dr Mine Conkbayir and Paul Whitehouse, as we chat all things ADH'D' with our diverse guests. Do be prepared, though - our conversations are as deep as they are outlandish! I'm talking on the level of UFOs - yes, you read that correctly!

Episodes drop every Thursday morning and you can listen on Apple Podcasts , Spotify and all major platforms:

https://podfollow.com/imadhdnoyourenot

EPISODE 1 - ADHD 101 WITH RORY BREMNER

Impressionist, satirist and ADHDer Rory Bremner joins Dr Mine and Paul Whitehouse in this, the series premier of I'm ADHD! No You're Not.

EPISODE 2 - DENISE WELCH (COMING SOON!)

The Amazing Dynamic Hilarious Dazzling and recently diagnosed ADHDer Denise Welch joins to chat about under diagnosis in women - but no one mention Chipgate!

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I'm ADHD! No You're Not - The Podcast - I'm ADHD! No You're Not - The Podcast

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Join ADHDer, Dr Mine Conkbayir and husband, the BAFTA award-winning comedy actor, Paul Whitehouse (Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing, The Fast Show) , as they explore ADHD with diverse celebrity ADHDer guests, professors and specialists in this brand new Podcast series. Listen now Welcome to our 'I'm ADHD! No You're Not!'

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"Even after initial enthusiasm for a new hobby or group activity, some people may become quickly bored and want to switch to something else. They can then become frustrated with the time and, sometimes, expense that they have wasted."

This backs up my view on how when doing some kind of intimate experience like an escape room, there needs to be constant change due to getting bored easily and frustrated at no pace.

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ADHD in Social Situations | Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

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ADHD in social situations - social occassion are often highly rewarding, however, they can present some difficult challenges for people with ADHD.

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"Museums should do more to cater for austistic people"

This article writes about ways museums and art spaces can and should cater to the neurodiverse audience.

Awaiting a response from editor

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Museums should do more for people with autism | Apollo Magazine

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Immersive and interactive exhibitions can be uncomfortable for neurodivergent visitors, writes Lillian Crawford, but if galleries made more of an effort, everyone would benefit.

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This is a great explanation of intimate performance.

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THE Adrian Howells Award — Take Me Somewhere

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Festival of contemporary performance, Glasgow.

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Mahlia Amatina -  A neurodiverse artist specialising in immersive interactive installations, abstract mixed media and digital work.

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Mahlia Amatina -  A neurodiverse artist specialising in immersive interactive installations, abstract mixed media and digital work.

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I am awaiting an email back from her, after asking how immersive art makes her feel from a neurodiverse perspective.

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Employer Services | Reading, UK | mahliaamatina

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Services designed to help build a better understanding of neurodiversity in the workplace for employers and staff. Including:- writing handbooks, guides, blogs and articles; coaching, mentoring, peer support and talks; reviewing Diversity and Inclusion policies; Neurodiversity advocacy and championing; corporate art exhibitions and collections

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Commentry from students at imperial college and other places, with neurodiversity 

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Commentry from students at imperial college and other places, with neurodiversity 

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One of the students has created this art work to demonstrate how "our brains work differently and neurodiversity relates to the different ways we process information".

The kaleidoscope pattern "celebrates the unlimited and different ways we see things".

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Azarra Amoy (b. 1989)
How do you see the world? Is it different to how others see it?
We all have unique ways of thinking and connecting with the world around us. Our brains work differently and Neurodiversity relates to the different ways we process information.

These artworks tell the story of people working in the institutions around Exhibition Road who identify as neurodiverse. Their contributions help drive innovative thinking in science and the arts here in South Kensington. Inspired by the idea of neurodiversity as a spectrum, Azarra celebrates one individual in each design using motifs from their life and work. We are all unique so every person in the artwork has a unique colour and kaleidoscopic patterns. The combination of colours with the kaleidoscope effect celebrates the unlimited and different way we see things.

Discover South Kensington, Imperial College London and partners collaborated with KCAW Art Trail team to develop Kaleidoscopic Minds. The work launched at the Great Exhibition Road Festival and is on display over the summer as part of the borough-wide Kensington & Chelsea Art Week Trail.

James Scott
Research Student, Imperial College London

James's research is looking at how 3D printing can be used to improve implants in the knee. As part of Imperial's Biomechanics Group, he is exploring the biomechanics of the knee and developing partial knee implants for patients with early-onset osteoarthritis. The work could help to improve healthcare for people suffering from joint problems.

Diagnosed with dyslexia at a young age, James found school life challenging. The difficulties he had with reading, public speaking and sitting exams made him doubt whether university would be an option. But over time, his perception of his dyslexia has changed, and James now believes that his dyslexic strengths have

benefited his research approach.

Silhouettes of the knee joint feature in the collage, as well as patterns from the inside of the knee implants.

Careers in research are possible forpeoplewho struggled withtraditional learning during their school and early university years

Qona Rankin
Dyslexia Coordinator, Royal College of Art

Noticing that many talented design students found essay writing really difficult, Qona discovered a high percentage of dyslexic and dyspraxic individuals in the art and design community.

As well as helping dyslexic students at the RCA, Qona is an active researcher, regularly contributing to publications and conferences. Inspired by her work with dyslexic students, she set up the 'Creative Mentors Foundation'. The charity helps to make the arts curriculum at state schools more accessible and rewarding for dyslexic and dyspraxic children.

A brain scan is used in the collage to symbolise Qona's role as a neurodiversity champion. She continues to practice as a jeweller and designs from her jewellery-making also feature.

Dyslexic and dyspraxic brains have the potential to be exceptionally creative.

Professor Sara Rankin
Professor of Leukocyte and Stem Cell Biology, Imperial College London

Sara only discovered she had the learning differences, dyslexia and dyspraxia in her forties, which explained why she struggled at school. She developed strategies like mnemonics, colour and visual aids to help her learn and ultimately succeed in her academic studies.

Her creative thinking and ability to link disparate ideas have been key assets in her scientific career, which is increasingly multidisciplinary. Sara has worked with physicists, engineers, material scientists and artists. Her current research involves identifying innovative drug combinations that help the body to regenerate after injuries, such as bone fractures or heart attacks.

Sara has established 2eMPower, delivering interdisciplinary workshops for 14-18 year olds with learning differences.

The collage features images of the bone marrow cells Sara works with.

Non-linear thinking helps me link disparate ideas, and work across disciplines in the sciences and the arts.

Dez Mendoza
Imperial College London

Dez is a nonbinary autistic poet and researcher, and library staff member. They are also a neurodiversity advocate and educator, and Co-chair of ABLE, Imperial's staff disability network.

Immersed in the language of insects, Dez creates poetry which describes their lived autistic experience and explores how they navigate an alienating world primarily designed for the neurotypical mind. Their work evolves through a series of creative processes: performance, making and unmaking, appropriation and assimilation, exploring the interaction between sound, image and text. Through their poetic practice, Dez disrupts the familiar and in doing so, is liberated from neurotypical modes of thinking, allowing them to (re)construct the 'self' through the language of insects. It is an act of nonconformity.

Performing poetry, singing, creating art and photographing insects are ways in which Dez expresses and communicates their autistic joy. Dez's poetry can be heard at the Archive of the Now and work can be seen @ninerrors.

The kaleidoscope pattern features elements of Dez's poetry and silhouettes of moths.

I have always been a non-conformist; I have never tried to fit in to the world but am continually curious and seek to make sense of a world which does not fit me. Autism enables me to be an independent and critical thinker; it opens the door to unique perspectives and creativity.

Dr Audrey de Nazelle
Senior Lecturer, Imperial College London

Audrey's work explores the relationship between urban design and health, with a particular focus on active travel and air pollution. At the intersection of environmental sciences, health behaviour, transportation, and urban planning, her research explores both people's motivations and the impacts of their choices. She works with urban planners and policymakers to help them create healthy cities, streets and neighbourhoods.

As cities are complex and diverse, Audrey believes we need brains that grasp that complexity, see the big picture and connect the dots to help move us towards more sustainable and healthy solutions.

Echoes of the city appear in the artwork. Patterns illustrate air pollution, but also envisage an ideal world of sustainable transport and green spaces.

It takes all sorts of minds to progress.

Luisa Charles
Design-Engineering Student, Imperial College London/ Royal College of Art

Working at the intersections of art and science, Luisa looks for unconventional solutions to complex problems. As part of the Global Innovation Design joint Master's degree between Imperial College London and the Royal College of Art, she is working with Imperial's Robot Intelligences lab on a surface water drone which will be used to monitor water quality in wetland habitats.

The drone, 'Float', is an unmanned surface vehicle that measures water quality data in real time. It is designed to be built by unskilled Citizen Scientists out of low cost and easily accessible materials. Developed alongside members of Colombo City's wetland communities, Float enables participation in a wider system of wetland management, putting the power to improve conditions into the hands of those most affected by them.

Luisa was diagnosed at age six with dyspraxia, and later with ADHD. She feels that being diagnosed early in her life enabled her to find her own ways of doing things, building her confidence and encouraging her creativity.

The prototype drone appears in the collage, which also shows elements from coding and 3D drawing.

Once you give yourself permission to do things your own way, your neurodiversity becomes an asset - not a setback.

Dr Khalil Thirlaway
Science Communicator, Natural History Museum

Trained as an immunologist, Khalil now works as a science communicator, helping museum audiences to build relationships with science and nature. Khalil feels his approach is shaped by his ADHD and dyspraxia. He is happiest when learning new media, playing with new ideas and forging connections with people,

Khalil finds unconventional and creative ways to engage audiences, from making wildlife crime podcasts and curating exhibitions to Dungeons & Dragons live streams and comedy rap songs about ants.

He is open about his neurodiversity, finding this helps to build bridges with others and work together more effectively. Recently he learned it had also inspired someone else with ADHD to feel that the label didn't need to hold them back.

The kaleidoscope design features embroidery recalling Khalil's Palestinian heritage and lightning bolts for the way he describes his thought process, as ideas coming and going quickly like forked lightning.

I'm open about my ADHD, as it helps to establish a dynamic that gets the best out of everyone.

Ruth Humphries
Explainer Team, Science Museum

Explainers run the Science Museum's interactive galleries. As a skilled science communicator, Ruth performs demos, workshops and experiments that help to engage visitors of all ages with the exhibits. She aims to spark wonder and curiosity, opening up new horizons.

Outside work Ruth volunteers at an equine therapy centre, where she runs sessions for children and young people.

The artwork shows a silhouette of Ruth at work in the space section of the Wonderlab, with the Moon behind her. She is also shown on her horse.

Caroline Stokes
Marketing Manager, Science Museum

Promoting the museum's offer means thinking outside the box to engage new audiences and showcase the variety of things visitors can do. Working on the campaign for a new interactive gallery, Technicians: The David Sainsbury Gallery gave Caroline the chance to challenge herself and bring her passion to inspire the next generation to the fore.

The gallery will highlight the hidden yet vital careers of technicians from the creative arts, manufacturing, health science and renewable energy sectors. Caroline hopes it will encourage young people to consider the huge range of career options they might not otherwise have thought of.

For Caroline, her dyslexia is like a super-power. Seeing the world in a way others may not helps her solve problems. Having felt in the past that she needed to hide her dyslexia, she now wants to help others accept and celebrate what makes them different.

In the artwork, she is shown in a light bulb, symbolising her creative thinking. Floral designs allude to her love of gardening, and speech bubbles represent the theme of communication, that is central to her job.

Dyslexia is a super-power, not something to be ashamed of.

Natasha Trotman
Visiting Lecturer, RCA and Freelancer, V&A

Intersectional inclusion is central to Natasha's practice.

An international equalities designer and researcher, her work explores extending the frontiers of knowledge around mental difference, non-typical bodyminds, ways of being and marginalised experiences. Natasha seeks to reframe mainstream notions of equality, equity, diversity, access and inclusion through an intersectional design lens, spanning multi-modal interactions, place-shaping, investigative play, and policy design for varied audiences, participants, and organisations.

Natasha has exhibited widely and created workshops at cultural organisations including the V&A, National Gallery and Tate Modern, and worked as a Research Associate at the Royal College of Art's Helen Hamlyn Centre and Wellcome Trust (Wellcome Hub) on Research project Design and The Mind.

She is currently an artist in residence at Somerset House's studio 48, a consultant for Wellcome and a Design Expert Specialist for the Design Council. Natasha has been selected as a 10×10 emerging artist by the British Council, named on the Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 list of the most influential disabled people in the UK and recently nominated for a Genius Within Stereotype Buster award 2022.

The collage features Natasha's self-portrait, and globes which evoke the discovery of different worlds and experiences.

We can create a symphony by combining our unique differences to create meaningful, sustainable exchanges and experiences in the world.

Dr Pavani Cherukupally
Research Associate, Imperial College London

Growing up in Hyderabad, Pavani became concerned about the impact of water pollution. It led her to develop a sponge-based technology for cleaning water, used to remove contaminants after oil spills, clean wastewater and for bacterial disinfection. A coating of nanoparticles attracts the surface charges of molecules such as bacteria or crude oil, pulling them out of the water and onto the surface of the sponge and leaving behind clean water. She hopes the technology will be used to treat polluted Indian rivers and help to ensure people around the world have access to safe water.

Dyslexia meant she had to persevere to achieve her goals. Despite the challenges she faced, Pavani was one of only six people from her village who went to university. Now she is raising awareness of what people with dyslexia can achieve with the right support.

The collage includes elements of water and oil, and technical drawings of the sponge.

With the right support, it's never too late for people with dyslexia to make impactful contributions to society.

Samuel D Loveless
Composer and Student, Royal College of Music

Samuel is a composer, improviser and performance artist. His music challenges traditional approaches to composition, exploring the relationship between performer, space and audience. As someone with dyslexia, accessibility and inclusivity are important to him, and feature as central themes in his work.

Neurodiversity affects Samuel's day-to-day life, from professional and personal communication, to reading speeds, and sense of time (as he puts it, "the inability to see the difference between 10 minutes and 10 hours"). However, he sees the challenges as wholly outweighed by the 'gift' of how he sees the world. For Samuel, there is beauty everywhere and intrigue in the most mundane objects. He describes it as experiencing the world as a beautiful abstract painting.

The collage includes shapes of musical instruments and notation.

I'm 'odd', 'strange' and 'different', and I love it.

Dr Katie Gaudion
Senior Research Associate, The Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design, Royal College of Art

Katie has spent over 16 years working on design projects with autistic and neurodivergent people exploring ways to improve their environment. She has worked in a wide variety of settings, from supported living accommodation to schools and hospitals. An important focus of her work is to explore creative ways to meaningfully involve neurodivergent people in the design process.

Based in the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design, Katie's work has broadened the Centre's methods and practices to consider hidden disabilities and neurodivergence (such as autism and mental health) for the first time. Katie is neurodivergent herself, and believes neurodivergence can offer unique perspectives and ideas for innovation that are often excluded from mainstream ways of thinking. As such Katie's research aims to encourage neurodivergent people, whose unique ideas for innovation can be easily overlooked, to take more of a leading role on design projects.

The collage features shapes drawn from Katie's sensory textile props and floral shapes which reflect her love of gardening.

Neurodivergent people have unique ideas for innovation.

Professor Jo-Anne Bichard
Professor of Accessible Design, Royal College of Art

Jo-Anne specialises in inclusive design of public toilets. She co-leads The Public Toilets Research Unit at the RCA's Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design, and set up TINKLE (Toilets Innovation and New Knowledge Exchange) with the aim of creating better toilets for all. Her expertise is helping to make sure people have access to safe, comfortable and accessible toilet provision.

Having left school with no qualifications, Jo-Anne was diagnosed with autism in 2021. She feels it's important for successful neurodiverse women to be more visible.

Jo-Anne is an avid collector, and items from her collections feature in the collage design, including snow-globes and lobsters, along with - of course - toilets.

It's important for people to see neurodiversity in successful women.

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Kaleidoscopic Minds - Thinking Differently

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Azarra Amoy (b. 1989) How do you see the world? Is it different to how others see it? We all have unique ways of thinking and connecting with the world around us. Our brains work differently and Neurodiversity relates to the different ways we process information.

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Neurodiversity as a competitive advantage

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Neurodiversity as a competitive advantage

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The Problem

Many people with neurological conditions such as autism spectrum disorder, dyspraxia, and dyslexia have extraordinary skills, including in pattern recognition, memory, and mathematics. But the neurodiverse population remains largely untapped.

The Cause

Conventional recruitment and career-development methods (for example, job interviews) and the belief that scalable work processes require absolute conformity to standardized approaches screen out neurodiverse people who could be valuable employees.

The Solution

A growing number of companies-among them SAP, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Microsoft, Willis Towers Watson, and EY-have reformed HR practices to capitalize on the talents of neurodiverse people. In the process, they are becoming better able to fully leverage the skills of all workers.

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Neurodiversity Is a Competitive Advantage

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Many people with neurological conditions such as autism spectrum disorder and dyslexia have extraordinary skills, including in pattern recognition, memory, and mathematics. Yet they often struggle to fit the profiles sought by employers.

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This backs up my comment on how immersive art involving some kind of problem solving, is what we neurodiverse people need.

"hidden superpowers"

dynamic and innovative decision making

retaining detailed factual knowledge

identifying trends, patterns, irregularites

ETC

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The Power of Thinking Differently: Neurodiversity and Problem Solving – NALA

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"escape rooms align with the cognitive preferences of individuals with autism"

They involve virtual puzzles, problem solving and methodolgy which is something that can sooth a neurodiverse person.

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Escape Rooms and Autism | Omescape - Escape Rooms and VR

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Escape rooms are built on puzzles, problem solving and methodology, and these are all things that people with autism generally have an interest in.

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A client called "rona" created a safe environment at her own wedding due to her autism and the grooms ADHD. She scheduled break times and had a quiet room for sensory overload de-stress time.

ear plugs were provided

outdoor meal with familiar foods

include games to remove social pressures

These are all things her guests mentioned when she asked them for there catering needs.

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Events That Work for a Neurodiverse Audience - Attendable

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So how can you make sure your event is accessible and inclusive for a neurodiverse audience? Listening is always the first thing on our list when we are asked this question. We suggest seeking input and feedback from neurodiverse people right away, from the start of the planning process right through to evaluation.

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Here it talks about all sides of the neurodivergent spectrum in relation to the tour and taylor herself.

It mentions how taylors music and community is a hot spot for ND people and "encompasses a wide range of experiences".

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The Neurodiversity Spectrum as Taylor Swift Eras

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Taylor Swift’s musical journey is marked by distinct eras, each with its own unique style and story. Similarly, the neurodiversity spectrum encompasses a wide range of experiences and traits. As a late-diagnosed ADHD and autistic

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Taylor swift and the neurodivergent community

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Taylor swift and the neurodivergent community

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"masterful use of immersive 8D audio"

"cause relaxation, stress relief, positive feelings and improved focus, especially for neurodivergent brains"

This supports my views on how the atmosphere of a large concert (spectacle) can be soothing and help me release brain fog.

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Is Taylor Swift Autistic? Who cares? But here’s why we uniquely relate to her music.

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The irresistible relatability of Taylor Swift lyrics for autistic, neurospicy and otherwise neurodivergent Swifties

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I emailed Darkfield production team to understand some of the measures and understandings they have for neurodivergent audience members.

Linseigh wrote back that they take measures for physically disabled people mainly, but for someone with ADHD or audtism, the only thing they can do is answer questions asked before the show for anyone with worries and as Linseigh says "it helps for audiences to experience the show a second time, as it may offer a bit more narrative clarity amoungst the stimuli".

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Joyzine - New Independent Music & Culture: Doing it for the love since 2003

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Making Gigs More Accessible for Neurodivergent People: Chloe’s Experience with Public Service Broadcasting - Joyzine

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My neurodivergence isn’t something I talk very publicly about, and certainly was never something I thought that I could bring into my journalistic world. I was diagnosed with Autism at 19, and though I’d been attending gigs for many years prior, rarely did I realise just how many barriers there were to neurodivergent individuals accessing

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ADHD Blog

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This ADHD coaching approach works with your life goals and strengths, and manages characteristics that hold you back so you can reach your full potential.

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I can find intimate shows a little trickier as I go a bit more noticed and can be selected by the actor or person performing. I am easily seen as my own individual.

If, lets say I am doing an escape room with a guide, I am asked a question out of the very few people with me, I immediately face fear from my fear of criticism. This puts me on edge and not be fully engulfed in the experience because it is all I can think about.

What I do love about something more intimate, is if there isnt a guide, it means i can take my time of anything. For example a museum, not necessarily intimate, I like to look at certain things and go at my own pace and discover. The moment a guide is introduced I start to find myself panicking that they wont give me time to look and take in what i want and that they wont show me certain things that have caught my eye.

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I find that I experience large stage shows more intensely with all the visually striking art, lights and sound especially when the music is circling around the room and i feel engulfed.

I love the fact I am lost in a sea of people and can't be noticed as an individual. I am part of a larger pool and go unnoticed.

I get engulfed in the atmosphere and most people will want alcohol and say they need a good drink when they are at a festival or concert but I get high of the atmosphere of the feeling. This is because the feeling of the music makes me feel relaxed and focused with no brain fog.

The negatives may be the waiting around, the end of the show and the unsatisfaction of not being close enough to feel that sense of I came to X show and touched X.

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This article perfectly describes how some with the disorder need content stimulation and a change in topic.

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Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder. This means there are differences in the ADHD brain that affect a child's development. ADHD does not influence intelligence. It does, however, affect a person's ability to regulate attention and emotions, and it results in hyperactivity and impulsivity as well as organization problems.

While it is classified as a condition, more recent thinking views it as a form of neurodiversity. People with ADHD brain's process information differently, but that represents a normal variation rather than a disorder that needs to be 'cured.' This neurodiversity perspective emphasizes recognizing these differences and valuing strengths instead of focusing solely on challenges or deficits.

Rather than trying to change ADHD traits to fit into a neurotypical world, this perspective stresses the importance of accommodations and support to help people thrive.

At a Glance

There are important differences between ADHD brains vs. non-ADHD brains. These differences-including those related to brain structure, function, and chemistry-explain many ADHD traits, such as inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. While such traits create challenges that often require extra support, it's important to remember that these differences are considered variations, not deficits. Understanding these unique characteristics (and what causes them) can help you better advocate for the accommodations and resources you or your child might need to succeed in different settings and situations.

Differences in the ADHD Brain

ADHD has come under a lot of scrutiny over the past few decades, contributing to public misperceptions and stigma. In the past, some naysayers questioned if it was real or said a lack of motivation, willpower, or bad parenting caused it. Then, there was the explosion of stories suggesting that ADHD was overdiagnosed and overmedicated.

None of which is true, of course, but if you or your child has ADHD, you can feel vulnerable to these types of comments.

Knowing that there are biological differences in the ADHD brain-compared to the brain of a person who does not have ADHD-can be validating for someone dealing with the condition, as it provides additional evidence of the realities of ADHD.

The differences can be divided into three areas: structure, function, and chemistry.

ADHD vs. Non-ADHD Brain Structure

For many years, research showed there were clear structural differences in the ADHD brain. The largest review ever of ADHD patient brain scans was carried out at Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre and published in 2018.

Researchers reported that people with ADHD had smaller brain volume in five subcortical areas, and their total brain size was smaller, too. These differences were greater in children and less in adults.

Parts of the ADHD brain mature at a slower pace (approximately one to three years) and never reach the maturity of a person who does not have ADHD.

Another interesting finding was that the amygdala and hippocampus are smaller in the brains of people with ADHD. These areas are responsible for emotional processing and impulsivity and had previously not been definitively connected to ADHD.﻿﻿

ADHD vs. Non-ADHD Brain Function

There are several types of brain imaging techniques that allow researchers to study how the ADHD brain operates and functions. These include:

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

Positron emission tomography (PET)

Single-photon emission computer tomography (SPECT)

There are alterations in blood flow to various areas of the brains in people with ADHD compared to people who do not have ADHD, including decreased blood flow to certain prefrontal areas. Decreased blood flow indicates decreased brain activity.

The prefrontal area of the brain houses the executive functions, which are responsible for many tasks, including planning, organizing, paying attention, remembering, and emotional reactions.

Evidence also suggests that ADHD may be related to dysfunctional brain connectivity. Research using resting-state MRIs suggests that individuals with ADHD may have increased functional connectivity in certain regions of the brain.

Research has found that children with ADHD do not have the same connections between the frontal cortex of the brain and the visual processing area. This suggests that the ADHD brain processes information differently than a non-ADHD brain.

ADHD vs. Non-ADHD Brain Chemistry

The brain is a busy communication network where messages are relayed from one neuron (brain cell) to the next. There is a gap between neurons, which is called a synapse. In order for the message to be passed along, the synapse needs to be filled with a neurotransmitter. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers, and each one is responsible for different functions.

The key neurotransmitters for ADHD are dopamine and noradrenaline. In the ADHD brain, there is dysregulation of the dopamine system. For example, there is either too little dopamine, not enough receptors for it, or the dopamine is not being used efficiently.

Stimulant medications help ADHD because they encourage more dopamine to be produced or keep dopamine in the synapses longer.

How Is ADHD Diagnosed?

Brain scans cannot be used to diagnose ADHD. There is no objective test to diagnose ADHD. The diagnosis of ADHD requires a full evaluation by a qualified doctor, psychologist, or psychiatrist. Diagnosis includes:

An in-depth interview with the patient

A review of school reports and medical history

Tests to measure attention, distractibility, and memory

While PET and fMRI scans can be useful for research, they really only give an insight into how the brain is functioning at the moment the test was performed. Brain scans do not take into account how the brain operates in different situations, unlike a clinical test during a detailed interview.

In addition, the scan data that has been studied is generally based on group averages and may not apply to any particular individual. The results have not been normed, which is when large quantities of data are gathered and compared.

ADHD is diagnosed as a neurodevelopmental condition, but it is important to remember that it represents a normal variation in brain structure, function, and chemistry. These differences can create challenges in your life, but that doesn't mean that they are something that needs to be "cured." ADHD also comes with strengths.

Understanding the underlying causes of your ADHD traits can be validating--and give you a place to start when it comes to managing some of the challenges you'll experience living in a society designed for neurotypical brains. Getting an accurate diagnosis is a great place to start. Depending on your unique experience, you may find that medications, therapy, ADHD coaching, accommodations, and social support can help.

By Jacqueline Sinfield
Jacqueline Sinfield is an ADHD coach, and the author of "Untapped Brilliance, How to Reach Your Full Potential As An Adult With ADHD."

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How the ADHD Brain Biologically Differs From the Non-ADHD Brain

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There are biological differences in the ADHD brain compared to a brain of a person who does not have ADHD. Learn how an ADHD brain differs from a non-ADHD brain.

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Not wrong, just different: ADHD as innovators | Rebecca Hession | TEDxFortWayne

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Experiences of criticism in adults with ADHD: A qualitative study

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People with ADHD are at high risk of receiving criticism from others, yet criticism has not been well researched in this population. This study aimed to provide a rich understanding of what experiences adults with ADHD traits have with criticism. As…

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Interesting paper on woman with ADHD, featuring personal experinces 

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Interesting paper on woman with ADHD, featuring personal experinces 

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I find this experience to be a very intimate one. Some rooms will only inhabit one person or 5.

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Intersection Boxes Prague Architecture - e-architect

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Intersection: Intimacy and Spectacle, new Prague architectural design by Israeli architect Oren Sagiv - Intersection Boxes, Czech architecture