Young people from our ‘Network for Change’ voice and influence groups have contributed to an art exhibition that aims to challenge negative beliefs about neurodiversity and tackle stigmatising stereotypes in our local community.
Neurodivergent young people, including those from the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) participation team’s ‘Impacts’ group, worked with the project team to devise the prompt ‘what being neurodivergent means to me’ and to create an adaptable art session that enabled a greater diversity of neurodivergent young people to take part. This included those who are not in school for a variety of reasons, those who prefer not to communicate verbally and those who find it difficult to leave their homes.
The project was the result of a University of Exeter Engaged Public Research funded collaboration between the Esteem Team, our SEND participation team, Well Image CIC and researchers at the University of Exeter. In collaboration with these other organisations, we worked together creatively respond to concerns raised by marginalised neurodivergent young people in the South West about lack of access to platforms to have their voices heard about topics that matter to them.
The exhibition itself debuted on 20 June 2024 at Positive Light Projects in Exeter. And the launch was marked with an event that brought together the young artists, their communities, and senior leaders to view the art and talk about their experiences.
One of our SEND Network for Change members who contributed to the project said:
“The exhibition was a great thing to be a part of. It felt good to come together with other young people who were like me, so our voices could be heard louder and people took notice. All our experiences are important and should be used to create services that work with us and for us.”
Kellie Knott, our SEND Improvement Director, added:
“It was incredibly powerful to see the young people express themselves in this way, an opportunity for the local area partnership to reflect on the voices which can go unheard, and what we can do to improve how and when we hear them.”
Jo Siney, our Head of Service for Disabled Children’s Service, said:
“Bringing all those pictures together in this exhibition…. Wow!! A wonderful, wonderfully thought provoking exhibition. Every picture, and the words alongside shares a unique perspective that helps me understand a little bit more.. thank you so much for this privilege to see it.”
All the artworks are now available to view on the University of Exeter’s Arts and Culture website.