Accessible Learning Foundation - ALF

Did you know that 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem of some kind each year in England? For those who are neurodivergent, including conditions like autism, ADHD, and dyslexia, the risk is even higher. They are more likely to face severe anxiety and depression, and tragically, they have a higher risk of su***de.

It’s crucial to understand and support those around us, creating an environment where everyone’s mental health is taken seriously.

💬 Share your story
💙 Offer support
🧠 Embrace differences

📢 Join the Campaign to Reintroduce the Neurodivergent Conditions Bill! 📢

As many of you have seen across social media, there is a growing campaign to get the Neurodivergent Conditions (Screening and Teacher Training) Bill reintroduced to Parliament. This vital bill aims to ensure every child is screened for neurodiverse conditions at a young age and that teachers receive enhanced training to support neurodivergent children.

For this bill to succeed, we need to make our voices heard. Here’s how you can help:

Find out who your local MP is:
👉 Visit: https://members.parliament.uk/FindYourMP

Send your local MP an email or letter:
✉️ Explain why this bill is personally important to you and urge them to reintroduce it to Parliament.

Use our template letter:
📝 We’ve made it easy for you! Find our template letter here: https://www.accessiblelearningfoundation.org/post/template-letter-to-your-local-mp

Send it to your local MP:
📬 Personalise the template and send your letter or email to your MP.

Spread the word:
🌍 Share this campaign on your social media to maximise our impact!

Your voice can make a real difference. Let’s ensure every neurodivergent child receives the support they need. Thank you to everyone who has already joined the cause—together, we can make this happen!

🧠✨ Busting Myths About Neurodivergence! ✨🧠

At ALF, we’re here to break down misconceptions and promote understanding about neurodivergent individuals. In this post, we debunk common myths and shine a light on the truth.

Follow us for more insights and join the conversation! 💬⬇️

🌟 Exciting News! 🌟 Our Director, Sarah, has just written an insightful article for the . In it, she delves into the crucial importance of early identification of neurodivergent conditions and supporting neurodivergent individuals in schools, prisons, and workplaces.

🔗 Check out the article here: https://www.teachingtimes.com/accessible-learning-foundation-championing-neurodiversity-equality/

As we approach the end of the school year, families will be celebrating school achievements. This we wanted to celebrate neurodivergent children who although work so hard can be seldon recognised at end of year ceremonies.

Neurodivergent children experience a range of emotions that come with peers being honored for being the “best” and the “most” and achieving the “highest”. Infact Dr. William Dodson states that "it is estimated that those with ADHD receive 20,000 more negative messages by age 12 than those without the condition.”

We heard about a neurodivergent support group hosting an annual ADHD Honour Roll, with achievements such as "no school avoidance", "not losing any posessions", "finding a new passion" being listed.

There is so much to celebrate in being neurodivergent. Our message is all successes are worthy of recognition and celebration, no matter where that celebration takes place.

What do you celebrate in your children?

This we wanted to help spread awareness of Learning Disability Week 2024 and the brilliant work is doing! This year’s theme, “Do You See Me?” emphasises the importance of seeing, hearing, and valuing people with learning disabilities.

Let’s:

- Celebrate the achievements of those with learning disabilities
- Challenge the barriers they face
- Promote respect and understanding

Every voice matters, every person counts. Together, we can create a more inclusive world. 🌍❤️

Learn more and get involved at https://www.mencap.org.uk/learningdisabilityweek

This we're thrilled to share this incredible Neurodiversity Co-occurrence Map created by the wonderful Amanda Kirby 🌟 This visual representation highlights the common neurodivergent conditions and associated strengths that often co-occur. It’s a powerful reminder of the complexity but also the strengths of neurodiversity.

Understanding the overlap between conditions like ADHD, Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC), Dyslexia, and more is crucial for providing effective support. This map shows the importance of early identification and tailored interventions to help neurodivergent individuals thrive.

At the Accessible Learning Foundation, we are passionate about identifying and supporting neurodivergent people by looking at the ‘whole’ person. That’s why we’ve chosen to implement the Do-IT Profiler in schools free of charge. The Do-IT Profiler is designed to identify multiple neurodivergent traits, ensuring we have a better opportunity to help them unlock their full potential.

Please let us know what you think about the Co-occurrence map.

ALF's June update

Monthly Newsletter June 2024 May saw ALF announce their partnership with the Do-IT Profiler-a screener that identifies all neurodivergent traits, a visit to HMP Highpoint and SASC approve an updated definition of dyslexia.

🎉 Exciting News! 🎉

We are thrilled to announce the launch of our brand new website: www.accessiblelearningfoundation.org! 🌐✨

Check out our site to learn more about our mission, the team, and how we plan on supporting neurodivergent people.

Have any questions or want to get involved? Reach out to us via our contact page—we’d love to hear from you! 💬

We are thrilled to announce that we have chosen the Do-it Profiler as our screener of choice to provide to schools free of charge.

The Do-it Profiler is an evidence-based tool that provides a more inclusive approach by screening across a range of neurocognitive traits, taking a learner-centered approach focusing not only on challenges but considering strengths as well. As neurodivergent conditions so often co-occur we wanted a screener that could identify all traits- and the amazing has developed just this.

As part of this initiative, teachers in the first wave of schools will receive e-learning on using the profiler effectively, ensuring better support for identified children. Parents will also receive tips on how to help their child at home.

We are excited to embark on this journey and look forward to helping more schools in the future! 🌟

🌟 We are thrilled to announce that Julian Hosking has joined the ALF team as a trustee! 🌟


Julian brings a wealth of experience in the criminal justice system, serving as a Senior Manager for Family and Relationships for HMPPS. His expertise lies in developing and implementing embedded Family and Significant Other policies and provisions nationally for Prisons. This includes leading peer mentor support programmes and contributing to responses to critical reviews like Lord Farmer’s.



With a background in the programmes and partnership team within RCSG, Julian has championed complex projects and teams, including co-commissioning for health and wellbeing. His operational experience across various prisons as part of senior leadership teams will be a massive help to ALF achieving it’s goals.



Welcome aboard, Julian! We’re excited to have you on the team as we continue our mission to support neurodivergent people in prisons. 👏👏👏

This Mental Health Awareness Week, we want to shine a spotlight on the increased mental health challenges faced by many neurodivergent individuals.

Research by the incredible shows there are higher rates of conditions like depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues co-occurring with neurodevelopmental differences such as autism, ADHD, and dyspraxia.

The statistics are concerning - nearly 30% of children with ADHD also have an anxiety disorder. Children as young as 3-4 with dyspraxia show elevated anxiety levels compared to their peers. Autism has also been linked to an increased risk of anxiety, eating disorders, mood disorders, OCD, and more.

At ALF, we recognise these challenges and want to increase support for neurodivergent people to protect their mental well-being.

Let us know how do you look after your mental wellbeing?

🌟 This , we're shining a spotlight on the research by theblackdyspraxic and Charles Freeman, highlighting the impact of socioeconomic status (SES) on the lives of neurodivergent individuals. Their findings reveal a worrying truth: SES plays a crucial role in shaping the educational and employment outcomes of neurodivergent individuals.

🌟 At ALF, we're deeply committed to leveling the playing field and breaking down the barriers that limit the success of many neurodivergent people.

🌟 Join us in supporting this cause and ensuring that every individual, regardless of their neurodivergent condition or socioeconomic status, has the best chance possible of achieving their full potential. Please show your support by emailing us at [email protected] or signing up to our monthly newsletter at the bottom of our website www.accessiblelearningfoundation.org

Brilliant research by Chance UK reveals the shocking statistic that 97% of children excluded from primary school had a special educational need or disability (SEND).

This is simply unacceptable and major reform is needed to ensure all SEND pupils get the support they need and deserve to reach their full potential.

We, at ALF, are committed to helping schools have the tools and resources so that every neurodivergent child is identified and supported from a young age.

This we’d like to take the time to thank everyone for their support over the last week.

Our founder Matt Hancock ran the TCS London Marathon in support of us, and has raised over £8000. There’s still time to donate, so be sure to use the link below if you still can.

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/Matt-ALF?utm_term=j7YNGq2JX

Matt also partnered with Dan Harris from Neurodiversity in Business to bring key stakeholders into Parliament to see him introduce his 10 Minute Rule Bill - The Neurodivergent Conditions (Screening and Teacher Training) Bill.

The bill got a fantastic reception and is now off for its second reading on the 21st June. At ALF we’re so thankful for all the support we’ve had for this bill, and we’re always looking for more contributions and thoughts. If you have any questions or thoughts on the bill, leave them in the comments below.

Today’s the day that our founder Matt Hancock introduces his 10 Minute Rule Bill on neurodivergent conditions screening to Parliament.

This bill will ensure screening for conditions such as dyslexia, ADHD & autism is in every primary school, ensuring they are identified earlier.

Our founder Matt Hancock is running the TCS London Marathon for us this Sunday.

Please support him by donating, using this link👇

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/Matt-ALF?utm_term=j7YNGq2JX

Our founder Matt, chatted with Dyslexia Life Hacks about his & the work the Accessible Learning Foundation is doing to promote early identification in schools, prisons & the workplace.
👇🏻

https://dyslexialifehacks.com/episode-76-matt-hancock/

Episode 76 - Having Dyslexia and Being in the Government of the United Kingdom with Matt Hancock MP - Dyslexia Life Hacks In this podcast episode, Matt Hancock, known as the UK's Secretary of State for Health and Social Care during COVID-19, shares his experiences as a proud dyslexic in government. He discusses how dyslexic strengths, such as big-picture thinking and communication, aided his rise to senior government p...

Today we celebrate as part of .

Individuals with Autism still face huge stigma for simply being who they are, and we at ALF want to change this with earlier identification that enables faster support.

What a wonderful week it has been celebrating the strengths of neurodivergent conditions.

Once conditions are identified strengths can be realised and challenges supported. At ALF we believe early identification is the key to everyone thriving and achieving their potential.

Final day of , and today we’re honouring Tourette’s.

Did you know it is estimated that TS affects one child in every hundred & more than 300,000 children & adults in the UK live with the condition?

What other strengths do you see in Tourette’s?

Fourth day of , and today we’re honouring Dyspraxia.

Did you know, it affects 6% of the population and there are believed to be one to two children affected in every class of 30 children.

What other strengths do you see in dyspraxia?

Second day of , and today we’re honouring ADHD.

Did you know that in the UK, the prevalence of ADHD in adults is estimated at 3% to 4%?

What other strengths do you see in ADHD?👇

To celebrate , each day we will be celebrating a different neurodivergent condition.

Today we are honouring dyslexia. Did you know that 1 in 5 people are dyslexic, and that it is still often poorly understood. However, with identification and the right support, the strengths and talents of dyslexic people can really shine through. We’ve picked out some of the key ones below 👇

How many more can you think of?

We’d like to say a massive thank you to all our panelists today!

Matt Hancock, Revolving Doors, ADHD Liberty, Dyslexia in Adults & Neurodiversity in Business, you were all amazing.