Divergent Thinking recognised with Making a Difference Award at the National Learning Disabilities & Autism Awards 2026

We’re proud to share that Divergent Thinking has won the Making a Difference Award (Independent) at the National Learning Disabilities & Autism Awards 2026.

This recognition means a great deal to us.

Divergent Thinking was built from lived experience, and from a belief that neurodivergent people should not have to break themselves to belong. From the beginning, our mission has been to help create fairer, more accessible environments where neurodivergent people can be understood, supported and valued.

Winning this award is a powerful reminder that this work matters.

Why this award means so much

As a neurodivergent-led organisation, our work is deeply personal as well as professional. We know first-hand what it feels like to navigate systems that were never designed with different minds in mind. We also know how transformative it can be when organisations move beyond awareness and start making practical, meaningful change.

That is what Divergent Thinking exists to do.

Through training, strategy, speaking, audits and practical neuroinclusion support, we help organisations create environments that work better for neurodivergent people. That includes improving communication, recruitment, manager confidence, workplace culture and day-to-day inclusion.

This award is not just a celebration of one moment. It reflects a wider shift: more organisations are recognising that neuroinclusion is not a “nice to have”. It is essential to creating workplaces and communities where people can thrive.

A milestone for Divergent Thinking

Like many small mission-led organisations, the journey has involved vision, persistence and a lot of hard work behind the scenes.

Divergent Thinking has grown through a combination of lived experience, evidence-informed practice and a commitment to making neuroinclusion practical. We have always wanted our work to go beyond surface-level awareness and help organisations take action that has a real impact on people’s lives.

To have that approach recognised through the Making a Difference Award feels especially meaningful.

It is also an important moment for neurodivergent-led leadership. Too often, neurodivergent people are spoken about rather than listened to. Too often, inclusion work is shaped without enough input from those with lived experience. We believe things are stronger, more credible and more human when neurodivergent voices are at the centre of the conversation.

Thank you

We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported Divergent Thinking so far.

Thank you to our clients who have trusted us with this work. Thank you to collaborators, advocates and peers who continue to push for change. Thank you to everyone who has helped amplify our message, recommended our work, attended a session, shared an idea or opened a door.

You have all played a part in this journey.

What comes next

We’re incredibly grateful for this recognition, but we also know there is still so much more to do.

Neurodivergent people continue to face barriers in education, employment and everyday life. Too many systems still rely on people masking, overcompensating or fitting themselves into structures that do not meet their needs. Real inclusion requires more than good intentions. It requires understanding, action and a willingness to rethink how things are done.

That is the work we remain committed to.

This award gives us even more motivation to keep building, keep speaking up and keep helping organisations turn neuroinclusion into something real.

If you’d like to learn more about our work, collaborate with us, or explore training or consultancy support, please get in touch through our website.

Thank you for being part of the journey.