Simon Nichols, the visionary behind "It's Time 2 Thrive," engages in a heartfelt conversation with Kirsty van den Bulk on The Wise Why. Together, they delve into the nuances of neurodiversity and neurodivergence, sharing their journeys of acceptance and understanding of their unique cognitive styles. This personal touch will resonate with our audience of HR professionals, managers, and employees interested in DEI initiatives. Kirsty openly shares her discomfort with the term and talks about empowering her daughter to accept her neurodiversity. In contrast, Simon shares how he normalises neurodiversity and neurodivergence in the workplace. The conversation covers personal experiences and debunks common myths surrounding neurodiverse conditions. They discuss the difference between "neurodiversity" and "neurodiverse." Neurodiversity refers to all forms of human neurological variation, while "neurodiverse" pertains to individuals who think differently due to specific diagnoses. Simon shares his experience with discovering his ADHD diagnosis at the age of 47 and how it provided clarity and understanding about past life challenges and strengths. Kirsty, who has dyslexia and dyspraxia, talks about her struggles and triumphs living with these conditions. She emphasises the importance of tools like AI for assistance and highlights the need for personalised strategies. The conversation addresses common misconceptions about ADHD, including stereotypes about its origins, such as diet or video games. It emphasises its impact beyond mere disorganisation and how, when appropriately understood, it can foster unique abilities in focus and creativity. The discussion also touches on the importance of "Thrive," founded by Simon, amidst personal mental health battles to help others one person at a time. The organisation educates workplaces about making reasonable adjustments for neurodivergent employees and collaborates with Babcock to lead their innovative Aware webinar & champion workshop. Insights offered include the importance of language and how it shapes how we view ourselves within society's labels, the need for understanding individual thinking patterns and embracing diverse cognitive styles within professional environments, and the value of tools like Grammarly as aids but not replacements for personal judgment or learning efforts such as grammar education later in life. The episode underscores the transformative potential of support systems tailored towards diverse minds, personally and corporately. As DEI initiatives gain momentum across industries, companies must prioritise inclusivity through education programs like those offered by Thrive, which is a testament to progressiveness and practical application in today's workforce landscape. This emphasis on the positive impact of DEI initiatives will inspire our audience.

Chapters:

00:21 Open - Feedback

01:13 Personal Journeys

02:00 Get Rid of Myths

06:13 It is not a Disorder

08:13 Superpower Debate

10:06 Thrive Training

12:49 Accepting Help

16:44 Artistic Spelling

20:00 It's Time to Thrive

25:31 Babcock & Coca Cola

27:23 Advocating Neurodiversity

34:04 Read my Blog https://kvdb.co.uk/content-marketing/dyspraxia-and-dyslexia-my-journey/

37:01 Close

Contact Simon: https://itstime2thrive.co.uk/Contact Kirsty: www.kvdb.co.uk