New Neurodiversity Charter aims to build a more inclusive borough
Kingston's Neurodiversity Charter outlines the beliefs and actions that organisations can adopt to promote neurodiversity. This is to create a welcome and supportive environment for neurodivergent people.
The charter comes directly from the All-Age Autism and ADHD Strategy, which was co-produced with more than 240 people including neurodivergent Experts by Experience, partners and community groups across Kingston.
Healthwatch Kingston played a key role in shaping the strategy, contributing vital feedback from local people with lived experience of autism and ADHD. These insights—alongside those shared by residents, carers, and other community organisations—helped identify the most urgent challenges and informed the priorities set out in the final plan. By amplifying local voices and highlighting real-life experiences, Healthwatch Kingston helped ensure the strategy reflects what matters most to the people it’s designed to support.
In Kingston, there are estimated to be:
- 1,700 autistic children and adults
- 8,500 children and adults with ADHD.
However, these numbers are likely to be higher due to the challenges of getting a diagnosis
Neurodivergent people often face:
- social and communication barriers
- challenges to gaining and maintaining employment and financial stability
- challenges accessing the support services they need in a timely manner.
A neuroinclusive organisation understands that people think and work in different ways. This helps with the challenges some people face and values the things they are good at.
Councillor Sabah Hamed, Kingston Council’s Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care and Public Health said: “When we developed the strategy, we heard clearly from Experts by Experience that inclusion starts with listening and acting together. This charter takes those voices forward. It gives organisations a simple, meaningful way to show their commitment and work with us to make Kingston a place where neurodivergent people feel supported.”
Why the charter matters
Neurodivergent adults, young people and children told us they continue to face barriers when accessing services, workplaces and community spaces. The charter brings this feedback into a clear set of belief principles and actions that organisations can adopt, including accessible communication, reasonable adjustments, and working with neurodivergent people to shape better services and environments.
Join the All Age Learning Disability Partnership Board
The All Age Learning Disability Partnership board is a platform for people with learning disabilities to talk about what is important to them.
Professionals, service providers, people with learning disabilities, their carers and advocates all work together to improve services for people with learning disabilities.
