A lack of access to the arts due to barriers, systems, organisations or what people place in front of Neurodivergent people can be devastating. But to be multiply marginalised by attitudes to disability, race, gender or age, unfortunately outside the scope of this project, means Neurodivergent people are often excluded on multiple levels.
For me reading peoples comments, stories and experiences of what can only be called systemic discrimination over many years has been heart-breaking and challenging. The wider life distress and impact on a person due to an unfulfilled creative career which many seem to have experienced seems unnecessarily cruel when answers are easily sought with an empathic and questioning will.
Personally, I have experienced many of the barriers outlined in this report which have had an adverse effect on both my mental health and progress. To be reminded of some is traumatic and triggering but we urgently need to see authentic understanding and change so this needs to be said. I hope you will be moved to initiate contact with Neurodivergent people of all cultures in your creative landscapes. If not obvious, safely seek them out and enable them to start that change tackling the barriers outlined here.
Unfortunately and ironically when we say we're being ignored we're often still ignored and this needs to change as where the ‘expertise’ lays need to be recognised and respected. Some artists have voiced concerns concerning choice of positioning within the arts. I feel like them that a Neurodivergent creative shouldn't have to define as a disabled artist or to join disability arts to get the support and recognition they need if they don't want to. There needs to be ‘positioning options’ available to be chosen by Neurodivergent creatives who wish to break away from ‘traditionalism’ and why not, others have.
There are also issues within the Neurodivergent community that desperately need sorting. I'm firmly against any form of Neuro-monoculture, Neuro-monopoly, Neuro-Privilige or Neuro-Elitism from outside or within which should be called out when seen. Organisations need to be especially aware of each Neurodivergent cultures politics, language and history, which may be especially relevant within Autistic cultures.
Real change needs involvement not just inclusion and to not be born out of pity or distress, but from a sense of natural justice. Neurodivergent people are not lesser or broken but innately human and creative. Without even our limited engagement the world would not be as rich as it is but let's have more so we can shine and all benefit from what we can bring.
By the way, this needs acting upon urgently as anything less now could be seen as perpetuating the status quo of exclusion and we all know exclusion is discriminatory.
Jon Adams,
Artistic director of Flow Observatorium.
June, 2021.
Image courtesy of Cat Researchers (Satirical Autism Research)