The Donaldson Trust

Day

Tuesday 10 February

Time slot

11:00-12:15

Room

Tinto room
Wheelchair accessible

Contact

Stephen Caulfield
01506 841 934

Topics

Health & social care Leadership Equalities & human rights

Overall aim

• Highlighting the importance of ensuring a foundation of good wellbeing as the first step in delivering positive outcomes for neurodivergent people.
• Showcasing The Donaldson Trust’s practice frameworks.
• Opportunities to hear directly from neurodivergent people we support and practitioners on the benefits of the Trust’s humanistic approach to wellbeing for neurodivergent people; and how these link to the ‘Synergy’ and ‘SPELL’ approaches in service provision.
• Acknowledging the need to drive attitudinal shifts (alongside good practices) via engagement with political-governmental stakeholders and wider society.
• The session will include opportunities to network, ‘break-outs’ to reflect on what you have heard and to share examples of neuro-inclusive practices at your own organisation.

Description

The Donaldson Trust envisages a society in which neurodivergent people and families are understood, accepted, treated fairly and valued. Our work is built on an understanding that neurodiversity is not a medical construct; instead, it intersects with culture, mind, identity, and socio-political actions.

In that context, we exist to strengthen the wider public understanding of neurodiversity, develop excellence in practice and to help neurodivergent people and families find their voice.

We work in education and skills development, offering wellbeing-focused services for neurodivergent people. Our services deliver individualised support by embedding low arousal and wellbeing principles, enabling those we support to reduce anxiety and develop agency.

Our session will focus in on two areas:

• How our practice frameworks support wellbeing for neurodivergent people
• Exploring how the Trust’s practice frameworks promote dignity, autonomy and agency – whilst demonstrating creativity within systems that may offer limited choices and inflexible pathways. This enables co-produced, individualised support and meaningful outcomes for neurodivergent people. Overall, this approach allows us to identify and address systemic barriers that impact the delivery of quality services.
• How we look to drive attitudinal shifts in society through our external political engagement and in ‘Connect’, our training, advice and consultancy work
• Exploring how the Trust and its partners help to shape a more inclusive society for neurodivergent people in Scotland.

Who is the event aimed at?

Directors, Managers, Trustees

Who is speaking at this event?

Prof. Richard Mills - Head of Research, Evaluation and Clinical Support - AT-Autism
Louise Storie - Head of 'Connect', The Donaldson Trust
Sam King - Director of Services, The Donaldson Trust
Stephen Caulfield - Policy Lead, The Donaldson Trust

Voices of lived experience and service practitioner participants will be announced closer to the event.