Borders
Neurodiversity
Support for
Young People



March 2023



It Takes All Kinds of Minds’ (ITAKOM) conference







On 13th and 14th March 2023, the ‘It Takes All Kinds of Minds’ (ITAKOM) conference about Neurodiversity welcomed over 1,000 to Scotland's capital, both in person and virtually from 24 countries. Delegates who made this event a success came with varying perspectives including educators, neurodivergent individuals, academics, and care sector professionals.






Photo - Delegates from the Scottish Borders



Hosted at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre, 52 leading professionals travelled to the city to deliver a series of 50 education sessions and round table discussions with the united purpose of bringing together different perspectives, enabling us to better understand neurodiversity and work together towards our vision of a society where all forms of neurodiversity are embraced, and no mind is left behind.


The Harris Trust funded individuals from Scottish Borders High Schools, Council, NHS Borders, Third Sector and Parents of neurodivergent young people to attend ITAKOM. Feedback was hugely positive and we hope that this event will spark ideas within organisations in the Scottish Borders and contribute to a cultural change in attitudes towards 'difference'. Some comments from our delegates:



"Neurodivergent panel members consistently emphasised that it requires very little money to make those adjustments; reducing sensory overload, providing breakout spaces and increasing societal understanding. It’s definitely time to ditch long-held misconceptions about Autism and ADHD in particular. Dated understanding is not only unhelpful, but in many cases harmful and can hinder people getting the support they need".



Kirstin Murray - Meeting of Minds



" We will continue to develop the Neurodiversity group
in Eyemouth High School"



"Greater awareness of 'masking' will definitely be something I consider when seeing a young person in clinic and I'll be more open minded to a possiblity of neurodivergence as an explanation for anxiety/ meltdowns"



Dr Ketteridge, Consultant Paediatrician





Professor Sue Fletcher-Watson, Organiser of ITAKOM with Jane and Katie Macdonell, Leagh Douglas and Kirstin Johnston