Admin Versus Neurodiversity - a two-session session
This session was called by Mikey BRett to discuss the challenges of doing admin as a neurodivergent person. Neurodiversity can include ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia, PTSD, ASD and many other differences in thinking, memory, information & sensory processing and executive function.
The Satuday session focussed on the issues and barriers was followed by a second session on Monday focussed on practical next steps.
SATURDAY:
Admin Versus Neurodiversity
ATTENDEES:
Beatrice, Beth, Bethany, Kat, Kate, Kavina, Linn, Margarita, Matt, Mikey, Rosemary
BARRIERS
. Dyspraxia - I.T. is not easy to use, handwriting is hard to read
. Reliant on support workers. Supporting your support
. Access to Work Scheme has issues and problems - people facing reduction in support
. KNowledge of systems - it feels like things are hidden
. Burden of proof
. Accountability to self only
. Access Clash
. DDN-only spaces don’t always translate to / result in / break through to the “mainstream”
. Impersonal nature of AI or technological support systems
. Overload of emails / messages / information. How to prioritise?
. Overwhelm / anticipation
. Feeling like a burden
. Not feeling “disabled enough”
. Deadlines - this has been flagged as a huge barrier.
EXISTING SYSTEMS
. Access to Work scheme - there is a lack of knowledge around this and how it relates to self-employed people and neurodivergent people
. Arts Admin - run homework club, support groups - not disability / ND specific
. Employement rights & Equality Act 2012. Employed rights are different to self-employed rights.
. ADvocating for yourself
. Access Rider / access passport / access Document
. Community
HELPFUL THINGS CONDUCIVE TO DOING ADMIN
. Non-home space to work in / dedicated workplace / dedicated work space in the home
. Moving around - using speech to text dictation to “write” while on the move
. Visual + Spatial over text-based note-taking / information
. Highlight the relevant - make key info in an email BOLD etc
. Setting goals / aims / checkpoints. Both long- and short-term, has the right time-frame
. Asking for - and accepting - help
HOW DO I…?
. Prioritise?
. Structure?
. Create segments?
. Get Access to Work?
. Find a support worker?
. Find the RIGHT support worker?
. KNow when I’m done?
. LEarn to admin?
. GEt it doen BEFORE the deadline?
. Set realistic goals?
. KNow when I need help?
. START???
ACTIONS
. Teaching “how to admin”
. Setting up a “homework club” - immediate and impactful
. Go to aforementioned “homework club”
. Templates resource - ND-friendly
. Approach ACE etc to offer training
. Approach ACE etc to reform access support
. Keep meeting each other
ALSO!
. Admin support at Siobhan Davies Studios
. Arts Admin
. Cryptic Arts
. Jen IRons talk: “Epic Fail”
. Action Hero: “No Drama”
. Access All Areas
. Attitude is Everything
. Mind the Gap
. Triple C
MONDAY
Admin Versus Neurodiversity 2: What Next??
ATENDEES
Annie, Beth, Edalia, Kezia, Mary, Michael, Midge, Mikey, Phelim, Red, Zoe
WHAT NEXT??
. Connect with Flo + Fleur from ZooCo about possible space to work in
. Keep Phelim updated
. Research/contact Unstuck Theatre
WHAT DO WE NEED?
. Space to work in - is the the NT/SBC or a co-working / office space? - ZooCo at Stanley Arts in Nprwood. - Happiness at Work in Wapping.
. Organisation - someone(s) to oversee this. - An eventbrite type thing to post it on. - An email address to reach out to? - How regularly is this? Every 2 weeks to start with?
. Online/in-person? - London - Manchester - Hybrid online with a zoom etc running on a laptop so those people are also in the room.
SKILL SHARING/TRAINING
. Keep it admin-focussed
. Sharing REsources
. Repeat trainings / refreshers
. Tips and tricks - hacking your brain - hacking the system
STRUCTURE
. Soft-structure to organise the time
. “Thinking Time” NAncy Kline - “Time to Think”, “More Time To Thnk”, “The Promise That Changes Everything” (books)
. Check-ins
. How to structure Breaks?
. Closing words/practice?
. Be open to changing the structure
. Accountability - checking in with a buddy?
THINKING TIME
. NAncy Kline
. Thinking Environments - 5 minutes to think and talk. - 2 minutes to appreciate. - Interest in where the thoughts go next
. Permission to think and talk - finding the point like a whirlpool spiralling to the nub of the idea.
ALSO!
. Go go done - Matilda - soft structure
. Ink Pots in Sevenoaks
. D&D Whatsapp Community to organise & resource share - keep it admin-focussed!
