Neurodiversity& Disability

Lived Experience

I make no secret of the fact that all my work is informed by my lived experience of
neurodiversity and disability because it’s time that somebody did! Otherwise, how on earth will things change and the world appreciate the talents of those with an alternative outlook? I am a Proud Dyslexic/Dyspraxic, gifted with a brain that prizes systems/global big picture/international overview thinking. In my work, this has been a huge advantage, as I’m able to identify and connect the disparate parts of a problem and generate solutions that utilise novel combinations of otherwise not united factors to go a step beyond single disciplinary or sectoral approaches. I also live with other impairments and chronic illness.

My lived experience and bringing it to bear on development problem-solving has led to my completing assignments on disability in the development sector (see Global Public Health & Disability), and membership of several professional groups on neurodivergence and disability, including the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) Disability, Intersectionality and Eco-social Futures Working Group, and University College London (UCL)’s Global Disability Innovation Hub‘s Expert Bench. I have written blogs and given interviews on ecoableism, and on the lived experience of disability and striving to overcome the barriers that society imposes on disabled people that hinder personal and professional progress. Below is a selection of examples.

Green Economy Coalition, Ecobleism Blog here

Dyspraxia Foundation Interview here

Fundraiser for stroke survivors, interview for Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland (CHSS) here

Stroke fundraiser local television clip, That’s TV Lothian here

Amnesty International, Disabled People’s Human Rights Network, panel speaker, summary blog by Natasha Trotman here

Interview for womens’ portrait series on disabled women and creativity with artist Barbara Hulme here

I was also a child carer to a parent with severe head injuries (frontal lobe) so my interest in neurological/psychological health and the biopsychosocial factors that drive human cognition, affect, feelings and behaviour, is thus informed by lived experience since the age of one.

I am a huge champion of talented individuals from challenging and tough backgrounds, and value the diversity of perspective, experience, resilience, determination, adaptability, tenacity, flexibility and creative problem-solving skills that we bring to our professional work. I prioritise hiring up- and-coming young researchers and thinkers living with neurodiversity, disability and/or chronic illness for all Research Assistant roles to assist with the projects I work on as far as possible from within the local community in Edinburgh or international networks.

Impression of Cathy in musical mode by Barbara Hulme (2024)