BECG led a working group of planning professionals to deliver the Neurodiversity in Planning – Engagement Toolkit, launched in Spring 2021.
The Toolkit provides seven principles to guide how to make planning consultation accessible to a neurodiverse audience, recognising that we are all affected by the built environment and we should thus all have a stake in how it is managed and developed. The working group sought input from an array of neurodivergent voices and neurodiversity experts in producing the Toolkit.
Neurodiversity is the concept that all humans vary in terms of neurocognition, encompassing conditions such as autism, dyslexia and ADHD, as well as certain acquired types of neurodiversity. Over 15% of the UK’s population is neurodivergent.
Part of the Toolkit’s intention is to start a conversation, so we would very much welcome become part of the discussion. Our panel introduced and discussed the Toolkit, shared their experiences relative to neurodiversity in planning and discussed how we can make planning as accessible as possible.
Chairing the session was Dr Nancy Doyle, Founder of Genius Within – a social enterprise who help neurominorities maximise their potential and work to their strengths. They reviewed and input into the Engagement Toolkit.
Our panel speakers included:
• Nicola Laszlo, Planning Directorate, MHCLG
• Paul Kallee-Grover, MBE, Group Planning Director, The Leith Group
• Jenny Offord, Co-founder of Neurodiversity in Planning