DANDA – the Developmental Adult Neuro-Diversity Association has been set up for people with Dyspraxia, Asperger’s Syndrome, AD(H)D and other related conditions such as dyslexia and dyscalculia.

It became a registered charity in December2003 - No 1101323. It is run by adults with one or more of these conditions, thus following the Madrid declaration of 2001, which stated that no decisions about the disabled should be taken without their active involvement -'Nothing about us without us'.

DANDA has grown out of the Dyspraxia Foundation Adult Support Group, as it became clear that most people connected to the Group did not have dyspraxia alone. Most, in fact, had AD(H)D (Attention Deficit (Hyperactivity) Disorder, Asperger’s Syndrome or dyslexia as well. It was the norm rather than the exception.

Dyspraxia will remain one of the main priorities as there are very few groups catering for the needs of adults with this condition. However, more and more people wanted to know more about the other conditions they had, especially those with Asperger’s and AD(H)D. Many dyspraxics in fact joined groups for adults with Asperger’s Syndrome, but very few are run by Asperger’s adults themselves in the UK; and there are very few established AD(H)D groups, just for adults, here, either.

• We have groups for people with these conditions.

• We have a newsletter.

• We have leaflets on neuro-diversity and DANDA itself.

• The web site is being expanded and updated.

• We organise conferences for adults with neuro-diversity and professionals. (See 2008 conference info)

• We will encourage research and also increase awareness of these conditions in the workplace and amongst advocacy agencies and those dealing with the Disabled.

1) To help adults with Developmental dyspraxia, ADHD, Asperger’s Syndrome and related conditions reach their full potential by providing and improving emotional and practical support, particularly for those conditions for which there has been less provision – such as dyspraxia

2) To raise awareness and understanding of these conditions in adulthood, particularly their assessment, their effects, their treatment and the inter-relationship between the different conditions

3) To establish networks of groups to help adults with these conditions get involved in activities for interaction, mutual support, and education, provided that the activities shall be charitable What is Neuro-Diversity•

The term Neuro-Diversity was first coined in the USA in the nineties on a computer list for people with Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome. Internet searches on the term tend to direct you to sites dealing with these conditions. It was also used by dyslexics on one of their lists in the USA. Unlike most names for ‘medical’ conditions, it was not chosen by the professionals.

However, many have now adopted it. Neuro-Diversity refers to the spectrum of neurological profiles describing how effective an individual is in processing information. This information comes in many forms, including written and spoken language, sounds, visual images, light, temperature, touch, texture and taste – as well as movement and co-ordination signals form the brain.

The processing of all these things includes not only receiving and interpreting, but also transmitting, concentrating and storing. For most people, i.e. the Neuro-Typical (NT), the cognitive profile is relatively smooth, with little variation in effectiveness of information processing.

This is in line with their general level of intellectual and reasoning ability. In contrast, a minority of people, i.e. the Neuro-Divergent (ND) have a cognitive profile which shows significant peaks and troughs, denoting significant disparity between the best and worst of their information processing.

The processing differences are present from birth, and are independent of any basic physical malfunctions, for example of eyes, ears or limbs. It is thought that 10% of the population is significantly ND, with many more having some degree of neuro-diversity. The norms of ‘easy’ and ‘difficult’ tend not to work for NDs, and in many cases are actually reversed.

For some, complex mathematical analysis is ‘a walk in the park’, where an actual walk in the park can be a nightmare.

What conditions does Neuro-Diversity include

• The conditions currently considered part of Neuro-Diversity are Dyspraxia, Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, AD (H)D, Asperger’s Syndrome, Autism and Tourette’s syndrome, as well as other conditions such as Semantic Pragmatic Disorder and Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). What problems can be caused by to lack of Awareness

• Over and above the difficulties that can be caused by Neuro-Diversity itself, there are a number of issues that arise as a result of a lack of awareness of Neuro-Diversity by NDs themselves, and by society at large. Many NDs, even as adults, are not aware of the condition, let alone that they have it.

There is a very low level of awareness among the medical profession in relation to adults. Many NDs have got themselves into a pattern (consciously or unconsciously) of masking or over-compensating for their difficulties from birth, and may find it hard to be assertive.

As a result of having to deal with their conditions in a world not willing to accommodate them, the ND can have mental health problems, including anxiety, depression and low self-esteem, and some can end up with drug/alcohol abuse which may also mask their condition. Many have problems realising their (often considerable) potential.

For example, the workplace is designed around the needs/features of the Neuro-Typical, e.g. open plan offices without screens to reduce distractions, and an expectation of organisational/administrative skills and an ability to multi-task.

The sooner the associated conditions are diagnosed and people given the necessary support and opportunities, the more likely it will be that they can lead fulfilled lives.

Manifestations of Neuro-Diversity: The following list of manifestations is offered as a ‘first stab’. It is hoped that future versions of this will be available on the DANDA website and included in leaflets.

Please let us know if there is anything you consider misleading or missing.

Not everyone has all of the following problems and some NDs can excel in some of these areas.

The ND often finds the tasks of daily life such as reading, writing, driving, household chores, cooking, grooming and organising personal finances difficult.

Coping with work and other people can also be hard. There are usually a combination of problems including:

Perception - receiving and interpreting of information from the senses:
• Difficulties with reading and spelling.
• Difficulties interpreting visual images, tracking and relocating from one place to another
• Difficulties with numbers, arithmetic and geometry
• Often only able to interpret language literally and thus trouble with metaphors
• General and/or specific over (or under) sensitivity to light, touch, taste, pain and sound
• Trouble judging time, distance, space and speed

Communication - Transmitting information to others:
• Difficulty constructing communication in your head
• Problems planning and writing essays and sequencing of ideas
• Problems being succinct or giving sufficient information.
• Brain working at a greater speed than mouth or hand, e.g. handwriting and typing - the hands can’t keep up with the brain
• Speaking too loudly or softly
• Not having control of pitch and tone
• Difficulties with pronunciation

Gross and Fine Motor Skills - Transmitting brain signals to effect movement:
• Problems with team sports
• Tendency to bump into things
• Poor hand-eye co-ordination
• Slow and/or untidy hand-writing
• Difficulties with craftwork
• Problems with driving
• Tendency to drop things (“butterfingers”)
• Involuntary movements (e.g. tics)
• Failure to limit motion to the intended part of the body (e.g. hips gyrate when hand whisking.

Memory - Storage of information (exacerbates problems with other information processing):
• Problems following instructions
• Problems remembering sequences
• Problems following discussion, especially in a group
• Short-term memory problems/forgetfulness
• Difficulties with concentration/attention control - can find it hard to concentrate or hard not to hyper-focus (be totally absorbed/preoccupied)

Organisational Skills:
• Difficulty prioritising
• Poor time management
• Problems with planning
• Problems with delegating
• Ineffective multi-tasking
• Untidy (self and environment)

Social Skills/Behavioural Problems:
• Timidity/aggressiveness, due to lack of confidence and self esteem
• Communicating misleading body language
• Problems interpreting body language of others
• Difficulty working out the unwritten ‘rules’ in work or a social setting
• Inappropriate/spontaneous comments
• Difficulty listening, especially in groups
• Phobias and obsessive/compulsive behaviour
• Impulsive and/or erratic behaviour/outbursts
• Easily frustrated, difficulty controlling impatience, argumentative/defiant

Associated Physical Implications/Risks
(The following points may not be direct manifestations of ND conditions. However, they have either been noticed as occurring more frequently with NDs or would appear to be logical consequences of the direct manifestations. They are not offered as being the result of extensive scientific research, but rather as possibilities that NDs and their medical advisors should be aware of.)
• Intolerance of certain foods
• Allergies
• Eczema
• Asthma
• Glue Ear
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Leaky gut
• Bone diseases
• Diabetes
• Misinterpretation of the pain sensation (increased or decreased, thus masking the seriousness of a condition)
• Epilepsy and migraines made more frequent due to sensitivity to light.

For more information please send an email to: mary.colley@danda.org.uk