The Neurodivergent Experience: Hot Topic — Neurodiversity Celebration Week: Awareness, Accommodation, or PR?

Hosts: Jordan James & Simon Scott
Date: March 20, 2026
Theme: Examining the real impact, intentions, and language behind Neurodiversity Celebration Week, questioning whether it’s genuine progress, mere PR, or missing the mark for neurodivergent individuals.

Episode Overview

In this conversational and unfiltered “hot topic” episode, Jordan and Simon dig deep into the meaning (or lack thereof) behind Neurodiversity Celebration Week. Using their lived experiences, the hosts explore whether such weeks are helpful, superficial, or even a bit patronizing. They challenge the language choices, corporate motives, and the limitations of one-off “celebration” events—ultimately advocating for year-round structural change, meaningful accommodations, and authentic inclusion.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Confusion and Skepticism Around Neurodiversity Celebration Week

• Late Awareness: Both hosts admit they only found out about the week right before recording.
  • “Did you know it was Neurodiversity Week? I didn’t.” — Host 2 (02:59)
  • “As of recording, I only found out a couple of days ago.” — Host 1 (03:07)
• Questioning Necessity and Impact:
  • “Why is there a week for every brain on the planet?” — Host 1 (03:31)
  • “It’s like now we’ll have one week where we all get together and I’m just like, oh my God.” — Host 1 (05:52)

2. Language Matters: Neurodivergent vs. Neurodiverse

• Deep Dive into Terminology:
  • Host 1 explains the origin and proper use of “neurodivergent” versus “neurodiverse,” noting common misapplications and the importance of getting it right.
  • “Neurodiversity includes the predominant neurotype—the neurotypical—neurodivergent is everything else.” — Host 1 (04:00)
  • Expresses irritation over media and organizations not listening to how neurodivergent people want to be talked about:
    • “It is always ‘has autism,’ despite the fact that we have as a community said ‘stop doing that.’” — Host 1 (11:39)
• Notable Quote:
  • “Words do matter. Although I don’t find ‘neurodiverse’ insulting at all … I find ‘has autism’ rather jarring when people say that about me.” — Host 1 (11:02)

3. PR & Tokenism: Is It Just for Show?

• Skeptical of Corporate Motivations:
  • Both hosts liken celebration weeks to performative PR moves rather than systemic change.
  • “Do you think all the people that are neurodivergent who work for these companies actually feel seen? Or are they just paraded out just so they can look good this week...” — Host 1 (05:16)
• Comparison to Other Marginalized Groups:
  • “This has given me the same feeling that I hear when … oh, it’s Black History Month. And you go, oh, that history only counts for this every month.” — Host 2 (06:10)
• Summary of Frustration:
  • “Honestly, I do feel like these things are made by white neurotypicals to make themselves feel better.” — Host 1 (06:29)

4. Celebration, Awareness, Accommodation—Or Something Else?

• Ambivalence About ‘Celebrating’:
  • Both hosts question what exactly they’re supposed to be celebrating when many aspects of their experience are challenging or disabling.
  • “I want to be proud of my differences, but I don’t want to celebrate PDA. PDA fucks me up.” — Host 1 (13:01)
  • “So to be honest, I wouldn’t like to celebrate my RSD or my alexithymia at all.” — Host 2 (13:27)
• Sarcastic Imagery:
  • “If we’re not going with celebration and we’re not going with awareness … I’ve got it: Accommodation Week. We get accommodated for one week! Just the one week.” — Host 1 (15:58)
• Advocating for Accommodations and Systemic Change:
  • “What we need is accommodations, and we need awareness for those accommodations because those accommodations are the law and people don’t seem to be aware of them.” — Host 1 (16:58)

5. Education and Lived Experience

• Education Over Token Weeks:
  • Both hosts agree the focus should be continuous education—highlighting needs and lived experience instead of shallow “awareness.”
  • “Education is another good word. Education Week. Alternative neurotype education week.” — Host 1 (24:16); Host 2 (24:21)
• Visible Accommodations as Part of the Norm:
  • Examples given include better airline communication about hidden disabilities and inclusion of neurodivergent athletes’ stories in sports broadcasts.
  • “Educate people in the moment… Like, if the NBA is on at the moment, what if … it puts your neurotype, like, Luka Doncic, neurodivergent. And this is why.” — Host 2 (18:02)
• Frustration About Bare Minimums:
  • “It’s a HR checklist through the year. Did we do a neurodiversity week?” — Host 2 (26:51)
  • “We shouldn’t have to force organizations to do this. This should just be part of the education within the organization.” — Host 1 (26:56)

6. A Unifying Model: The “Alternative Neurotype”

• Reframing Neurodivergence:
  • Host 1 introduces the concept of “alternative neurotype” as a way to unify the various diagnoses and emphasize both the shared challenges and shared strengths.
  • “The positive things that I can do, neurotypicals can’t do. That’s how it’s different… That for me, that pattern matches because I do want to celebrate having a different brain. I don’t want to celebrate the conditions it leads to, but I want to celebrate the positive sides of it.” — Host 1 (22:57)
  • Both hosts agree that, ideally, celebration weeks would focus on education, authentic understanding, and systemic change rather than fleeting acknowledgment.

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On awareness:

  • “It’s Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2026.” — Host 2 (02:45)
  • “As of recording, I only found out a couple of days ago …” — Host 1 (03:07)

• On tokenism:

  • “Parade them out just for the week.” — Host 1 (07:32)
  • “It’s like we have to have a little bit of representation, but rather than doing it in everyday life, you get seven days. Seven days just for you. Use it wisely.” — Host 2 (06:37)

• On celebration:

  • “Well, what am I celebrating? … Do I have to celebrate my OCD because it can be crippling?” — Host 1 (11:39)
  • “My dyslexia is not to celebrate. My dyspraxia is so annoying. And my freaking ticks as well aren't for celebration.” — Host 1 (13:36)

• On accommodation:

  • “What we need is accommodations, and we need awareness for those accommodations …” — Host 1 (16:58)

• On education:

  • “It’s got to be an education as well as a celebration.” — Host 2 (24:03)
  • “Education week.” — Host 1 (24:16)

• On systemic change:

  • “We shouldn’t have to force organizations to do this. This should just be part of the education within the organization.” — Host 1 (26:56)

Important Segments & Timestamps

• The Politics and Language of Neurodiversity Week: 03:07–08:49
• Tokenism & Corporate PR Critique: 05:27–07:36
• Critique of 'Celebration' and 'Awareness': 11:37–13:58
• Accommodation as the Real Need: 15:58–19:17
• ‘Alternative Neurotype’ Model & Strengths-based Framing: 19:29–24:03
• Why It Shouldn’t Be Just a Week: 24:16–26:51

Closing Thoughts

Both Jordan and Simon conclude that while a dedicated “week” brings some attention to neurodivergence, what matters most is ongoing, authentic change—true accommodations, better education (especially about lived experience), and a rejection of mere PR checkboxes. The “celebration” of diversity should be year-round, rooted in structural understanding and respect for neurodivergent people—not just performative gestures.

Final Question to Listeners:
“Will you be celebrating this week, or have you just learned about it when we have? Let us know in the comments.” — Host 2 (28:08)

Tone: Candid, irreverent, critical-yet-hopeful, prioritizing real experience over platitudes or PR. For Listeners: This episode is especially resonant for anyone skeptical of corporate or institutional inclusion gestures and those seeking true understanding and change for neurodivergent people.