I remember attending an accident and emergency department once with someone who was neurodivergent. I had the opportunity to observe what was happening both from the point of view of that neurodivergent person and the extremely busy and hard working NHS staff. The potential for overload and great resilience was the common thread for them.

Accident and emergency departments are a sensorily interesting place. A lot of thought has clearly been put into creating a calm and pleasant, if not welcoming, environment. When it’s empty. Once you add people and trolleys dashing past, raised voices, beeps, phones ringing, people bumping into you, and a smell of something like antiseptic sweeping through the atmosphere… Well, it’s no longer calm. It can be very overwhelming. My neurodivergent companion was desperately trying to avoid, if not escape, all the overstimulation as the diligent reception staff, by necessity had to pay attention to all of it. All of them had to try and cope against some very steep odds.

I was with a person with neurodiversity who I was working with. They had a potential fracture and a phenomenally high pain threshold. The possibility of a fracture was of little concern. Especially when compared with the potential of a stranger needing to touch them for a physical examination.

I tried to explain these concerns and a heightened state of anxiety to the reception staff who showed great compassion that extended to every single person in the building. I was worried that a probable fracture would be leaving the building unseen attached to the overwhelmed person it belonged to. Unfortunately, at the time, there was no quiet space available for such circumstances. Luckily, the reception staff had received excellent training in understanding neurodiversity and were able to work around the disadvantages the building had. If we were to wait outside where it was calmer, they would come and find us when help became available.

It all could have gone so differently and not have worked out so well. I remain grateful to this day that everyone involved was able to rise to the occasion. Training and understanding can be easier to manage than some environments.

If your organisation would like some support or training with your neuro-inclusivity please get in touch! You can email us on info@3sc.org.