We’re currently in the process of establishing a neurodiversity network for staff and students here at the University of Surrey.

With the aim to launch them in the new academic year, please feel free to contact us at staffNDnetwork@surrey.ac.uk or studentNDnetwork@surrey.ac.uk if you’d like to get involved with the steering committee for the appropriate network.

You can find our initial network outline below.

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If you are a student or staff member at Surrey and identify as neurodivergent or want to learn how to be an ally to neurodivergent people, please feel free to join us by filling out our sign up form

To support the neurodivergent community at Surrey, we are setting up a neurodiversity network with two strands: one for staff and one for students. They are separate to ensure that there is anonymity for members who belong to either network and better serve the specific needs of each group.

The staff network is for postgraduate researchers (PGRs), early career researchers (ECRs) and all other staff members who are neurodivergent.

The student network is for foundation year, undergraduate, and postgraduate taught (PGT) students who are neurodivergent.

You can also join the network as an ally to learn more about neurodiversity.

About neurodiversity

Neurodiversity is the concept that describes the ‘variability of human cognition and the uniqueness of each human mind’. Rather than being a term to divide us into categories, neurodiversity describes us all in that the planet has a neurodiverse population and that is something that should be embraced.

Neurodivergent conditions include (but are not limited to) autistic spectrum conditions (including Asperger’s Syndrome), ADHD, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, dyslexia, dyspraxia, Acquired Brain Injury, SpLDs and Tourette’s syndrome.

Living with a neurocognitive style that is outside the ‘norm’ can be disabling and requires additional support. Through these networks, we hope to provide support and raise awareness around how neurodivergent people can be supported at Surrey as well as celebrating our strengths!

What we do

The overall aims of the network are to:

• Provide day to day peer support for neurodivergent students and staff based on our shared experiences and signpost neurodivergent people to relevant services when needed

• Host accessible social events in-person and online for neurodivergent people within each network to connect

• Create a sense of belonging, celebrating the joys and successes that neurodiversity can bring

• Be a contact for people to send any comments/concerns to regarding neurodiversity support and accessibility at the university

• Host forums to gather feedback from staff and students on how we can be better supported as neurodivergent individuals at the university

• Hold events about neurodiversity to raise awareness and acceptance of neurodivergent conditions and how we can be best supported

• Provide direction to relevant resources for those wishing to know more about how they can support neurodivergent students and colleagues

Share your experience

You can anonymously share your experience of being neurodivergent at Surrey by filling out this form.

Alternatively, if you would like to share your story, thoughts, or perspective more publicly to share with the wider community on the Neurodiversity at Surrey blog, please email us or use this form.