Language and terminology around neurodivergence is constantly evolving and can be confusing. We would advocate using the terminology that feels comfortable to you but have outlined below some of the terminology currently being used by many of the organisations supporting neurodivergent adults.

Neurodiversity describes the range of thinking, learning and processing occurring naturally within a population. The concept is aligned with the social movement of biodiversity. Neurovariance refers to the natural variation of brain and neurological functioning among people.

Neurotype refers to a type of neurocognitive make-up of a person. Neurotypical and neurodivergent are neurotypes.

Neurodivergence refers to having a brain that works differently from (what a society decides is) a ‘typical’ person’s brain functioning. A neurodivergent person refers to someone whose brain works in way that is considered different from a socially constructed ‘typical’ or ‘norm’.

Neurotypical refers to someone whose brain functioning is considered as being within socially constructed ‘norms’.

Neurominority Community: A population of neurodivergent people sharing the same form of neurodivergence.

Neuro-inclusivity refers to conscious and intentional action to create environments and practices that accommodate all types of information processing, learning and communication preferences, including those of neurodivergent people.

Neuro-affirming practice foregrounds neurodivergent strengths and assets. It recognises that difficulties and barriers are often created by our environments, not the person, and invites us all to actively challenge the stigma and discrimination faced by neurodivergent people.

Processing your application:

• Once we receive your application, a PSU advisor will email you within 3 weeks to arrange an initial appointment with you. This is a confidential, impartial and no-commitment PSU appointment to understand your situation better.  If during this appointment the PSU advisor concludes that a specialist neurodivergence assessment is indicated they will refer you on for this.
• The assessments are carried out by an external organisation (currently Genius Within).  They should contact you by email within two weeks of our referral.
• You will need to register onto their secure online portal through which information (such as your assessment report) will be shared with you and us confidentially. 
• Please tick the consent box on the platform so that we receive a copy of your report once you have seen it. 
• If you do not respond to Genius Within within one month to book your appointment they will assume you do not want to proceed and cancel the referral.
• If you have not received contact within the above timelines please email us at Neurodiversity.PSULondon@nhs.net so we can look into this.

Assessment appointment (virtual)

• Your specialist neurodivergence assessment will be with an educational or occupational psychologist at Genius Within.
• The appointment will be virtual and take up to around 3 hours. 
• Please do not book your appointment for a time when you know you may not have slept - eg an on-call night shift. The assessment cannot proceed if you have not slept or are acutely unwell as the results may be invalid.
• If you have accessibilty needs please inform the assessor so they can accommodate this.
• You will receive preparatory information beforehand and need to return this in good time before the assessment can go ahead. 
• You will be told at the end of your appointment if the findings are consistent with neurodivergence and you should have a chance to ask questions afterwards.
• You can contact your assessor for a follow-up conversation if you have any outstanding questions about their findings once you've received their written report.

Confidentiality

Disclosure about your neurodivergence is a matter of personal and private choice. You can decide who to share information with, what information you want to share, how to do it and when and should not be put under pressure to do so.

To know about the range of support options available to you in training and work certain people need to be informed however.

Informing those responsible for your training and/or employment

Workplace support & adjustments: Your employer is responsible for this. You would usually need to inform your named 'manager'. Depending on your placement this may be an actual manager, your Educational Supervisor (ES), your Clinical Supervisor (CS) or occasionally your Training Programme Director (TPD). If you are not sure please ask your CS or TPD.

Human Resources (HR): If you want future employers to know about your neurodivergence you will usually need to inform them in advance of starting in a new post. This is particularly relevant if you may need adjustments to be put in place when you change Trust or employer. Pre-employment checks are one way of employers becoming aware of your needs but it can help if you also make contact directly 6-8 weeks before starting in a new post.

Occupational Health (OH): If your manager does not know what adjustments may help after speaking with you they can seek an OH appointment via your employer. Once they receive the OH recommendations they must consider these and if any cannot be put in place they should share the reasons for this with you. If you do not share your OH report with your manager they may not know what recommendations have been made and may therefore not take the necessary steps to consider the adjustments.

Training adjustments: Your TPDs and ES (and in some cases your Associate Dean) are often the best people to contact to discuss neurodivergence related accommodations and adjustments. Directors of Medical Education (DME's) and Medical Education Managers (MEMs) also have repsonsibility in Trusts to support you in your training when in secondary care placements and are a useful source of local advice and support.

Informing Exam Boards

You must contact your exam board in good time if you would like to access adjustments. Your employer, Training Programme or the PSU cannot do this on your behalf. The exam board may want further information such as a copy of the specialist recommendations so we suggest contacting well in advance and within their stated timeframes.

Informing the PSU

Once we receive you assessment report we will usually fund additional coaching and inform you of this within three weeks. If you would like to explore additional support options available to you via the PSU or externally or have any questions about next steps please contact your PSU advisor directly and arrange a follow-up.

If you are unable to contact them you can email us at Neurodiversity.PSULondon@nhs.net