This is Me Too – Free Screening Tool for Neurodivergent Adults
At some point all adults have peered into the mirror trying to see behind the curtain of their own face trying to decide if they are like everyone else, or whether in fact there is something significantly different about them. While everybody is an individual with their own particular quirks, sometimes there genuinely is more to it than that. Some 25% of the population has some type of neurodiversity, and for a massive proportion of them that is undiagnosed. There are an estimated 2.5 Million people with undiagnosed neurodiversity, and that represents a huge number of people who could be living much better, happier, and more productive lives if they had some support and understanding for their condition.
Neurodiversity is a term that acknowledges that neurological differences are a natural part of human variation, rather than deviations from a norm and as such is relatively common. The trouble is that it can have an enormous impact on people’s lives, especially if they don’t themselves know what is going on. Common forms for neurodiversity that most people have heard of include Autism, ADHD, and Dyslexia, but there are many other variations as well including dyscalculia, dyspraxia, dysgraphia, Tourettes, and others. The problem with being a minority group is that all the systems in society are aimed at the majority, so if you are failing to conform to something that is not designed for you, if you don’t understand why you are not thriving in that environment it can lead to very low self-esteem and depression. So, a basic diagnosis is extremely important.
Most people don’t know exactly what they should be looking for to try and discover whether they would be considered neurodivergent. So, Empowerment Passport with Support Connect, has developed an online tool that gives you an answer immediately for a number of these conditions. The This Is Me Too! tool is aimed at adults from 16 upwards, and screens for dyslexia, ADHD, autism, dyspraxia, Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), and dyscalculia.
It only takes about 15 – 30 minutes to complete online, and the result is immediate.
You then have the option to enter your email to get further information. In the email you will get confirmation of your result, and a factsheet about your condition. This factsheet contains an introductory explanation about the condition, and includes a short list of the common traits, looking at both the strengths and weaknesses. It also has suggestions around condition management; and links to useful websites and some helpful videoclips. This tool is completely free, and can be found here:
Once an individual has the information about themselves, they then have the opportunity to build on it. This is where the Empowerment Passport becomes invaluable. The Empowerment Passport is a digital document that helps a person who is neurodivergent keep control of their lives. It is a place where they can collate the relevant information about themselves and their condition. This allows the individual to both come to understand themselves better as well as giving them the option of sharing some of this information, confidentially, with others (college, apprenticeship provider, employer, etc).
This double-pronged approach will allow a much wider group of people access to information about themselves which has the potential to be life-changing as well as offering support and personal choice. Once you have a positive indication from your screening, and no longer have to ask yourself the question why am I struggling? The Empowerment Passport gives you a means to changing the odds so that they can now work in your favour as opposed to against you. So sign up to the Empowerment Passport to give yourself the best chance of success.
