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About The Neurodivergent Truth

This project is a large‑scale, collaborative exploration of what it truly feels like to be neurodivergent in Essex today.

We’re inviting adults aged 18 and over who currently live in Essex, or have lived here previously, to share their experiences. You’re welcome to take part whether you have a formal diagnosis of Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia or Tourette’s, or you recognise yourself in neurodivergent traits and co‑occurring experiences such as OCD, Hypermobility or Fibromyalgia.

We would like to learn all about your experiences with:

  • Work

  • Education

  • Mental health

  • Physical health

  • Housing

  • Drugs and alcohol use

  • Friendships and relationships

  • Community and belonging

  • Any other topics you feel would be important to highlight


We hope to highlight:

  • What life is like for you day-to-day

  • What has helped or supported you

  • What you have found difficult or challenging

  • What you think needs to change


Being neurodivergent in a neurotypical world can mean having to overcome many barriers and inequalities, but it also comes with developing unique skills, insights and creative ways of thinking. We want to show the full picture, the strengths as well as the struggles. This project is designed to be flexible, responsive and adaptable, and will evolve as we learn more and as more people take part.

Why This Project Exists

Too often, decisions about neurodivergent people are made without neurodivergent people being involved. We want to change that. Your experiences are not just stories, they are expertise and they deserve to be heard.

What you share will be used to help:

  • Design practical resources to help organisations and services better support neurodivergent staff

  • Improve understanding in schools, colleges, and universities

  • Promote more neurodivergent-informed care within health and social services

  • Increase empathy and understanding in the wider community

  • Advocate for more inclusive, respectful approaches towards neurodivergent people


The project is self-funded by SUMMIT and is fully independent, so no outside organisations can influence the outcomes and we will not profit financially from your story. It is also being led by neurodivergent staff, as we know what it’s like to move through systems that weren’t built for us. We intend to make all findings and resources created from this work available publicly and free to access, so everyone can benefit.

How You Can Take Part

There is no right level of involvement, you can take part in a way that feels comfortable for you. Anything you choose to contribute is valuable.

Ways to get involved:

  • Take part once to share your story

  • Stay involved longer term

  • Help shape decisions and co-produce resources

  • Dip in and out


Ways to tell us your story include:

  • Fill in an online questionnaire

  • Have an informal chat with us in person, online on Teams or Zoom, or over the phone

  • Message us using the contact form on this page


You are always in control of what you share:

  • You choose what to talk about

  • You choose how you take part

  • You can pause or stop at any time, there will never be any pressure to continue


Everything you share will be:

  • Treated with care

  • Kept anonymous

  • Never linked to your real name

Get in touch.

If you live in Essex, you can use the form on this page to tell us your story. You are welcome to remain anonymous if that feels more comfortable.

By sharing your experience, you are helping to build a more inclusive, understanding, and compassionate community. It also helps us identify where support is missing and deliver services that better reflect local needs.

 

We may include carefully anonymised quotes in our future reports or documents to help us evidence the need for change. Everything you share will be handled sensitively, respectfully, and ethically.

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