Neurodiverse Voices Connect LAUNCH

---

---

Andreia Costa, 14 July 2026

On Thursday 2 July, I had the privilege of launching Neurodiverse Voices Connect CIC at St Hugh’s College, University of Oxford.

Even as I write this, I’m not quite sure I have the words to describe what the day meant to me. After more than two years of dreaming, planning, learning, and working towards this moment, seeing a room full of people who shared a commitment to improving the lives of neurodivergent people was incredibly moving.

The launch wasn’t simply about introducing a new Community Interest Company. It was about bringing together researchers, healthcare professionals, educators, employers, community organisations, parents, carers, neurodivergent people, and allies to begin building a community founded on collaboration, inclusion, and lived experience.

The theme of the day, “Nothing About Us, Without Us,” captured everything that Neurodiverse Voices Connect stands for. I believe that the best research, services, and support can only be developed when neurodivergent people are genuine partners in shaping them.

Sharing my story

The morning began with a conversation between myself and Professor Clare Mackay, who kindly invited me to share the journey that led to Neurodiverse Voices Connect.

Speaking so openly was both emotional and empowering. I reflected on my Portuguese roots, my career in research, and most importantly, my journey as Melody’s mum.

Melody, who is autistic and has a speech and language delay, has changed the way I see the world. She inspired me to learn more about neurodivergence, challenge my own assumptions, and think differently about what meaningful inclusion really looks like.

In 2024, that journey led me to create the NDV Podcast, with the aim of raising awareness and understanding of neurodivergence by giving people the opportunity to tell their own stories. What started as a podcast has since evolved into something much bigger—a growing community built on love, support, kindness, connection, and collaboration.

Launching Neurodiverse Voices Connect as a Community Interest Company felt like the natural next step. My vision is to create meaningful connections between lived experience, research, and practice, ensuring that neurodivergent voices help shape the conversations and decisions that affect their lives.

Introducing an incredible Advisory Board

One of the parts of the morning I was most excited about was introducing our Advisory Board.

When building Neurodiverse Voices Connect, I knew I wanted to surround myself with people who brought different perspectives, experiences, and expertise. Our Advisory Board reflects exactly that, with members representing research, clinical psychology, education, business, advocacy, wellbeing, faith, parenting, community partnerships, and lived experience.

I was delighted to introduce:

• Saleh Elmasri – Business and Community Partnerships
• Mandy Richardson – Education and Lived Experience
• Dr Alex Lau-Zhu – Clinical Psychology and Research
• Kay Louise Aldred – Education, Faith and Community
• Leandra Hamblin – Neurodivergent Advocate and Parent
• Dr Jiedi Lei – Clinical Psychology and Research

Although they couldn’t be with us on the day, I also want to acknowledge Alex Richardson, Kerri Dempster, and Denise Chung, who complete our Advisory Board.

I feel incredibly fortunate to have such a knowledgeable, passionate, and supportive group of people helping to guide Neurodiverse Voices Connect as we grow.

Bringing research and lived experience together

One of my ambitions for Neurodiverse Voices Connect has always been to help bridge the gap between research and the neurodivergent community.

Too often, these worlds feel disconnected. Yet both have so much to learn from one another.

Our research showcase demonstrated exactly why these conversations matter. We heard fascinating presentations covering topics including media use in autistic young people, pain perception, period pain in autistic women, social anxiety in young people with ADHD, character strengths, body-focused repetitive behaviours, and mental imagery and trauma in autistic young people.

I am incredibly grateful to Erica Boardman, Kenny Chiu, Alice Quinton, Dr Eri Ichijo, Kirralise Hansford, Dr Jiedi Lei, and Professor Clare Mackay for sharing their work and for demonstrating such a strong commitment to research that genuinely seeks to improve people’s lives.

The power of lived experience

As inspiring as the research presentations were, lived experience remained at the heart of the day.

Listening to Dionysios Kyropoulos, Holly Haines, Donna Jewell, and Jamie Douglas share their personal journeys was one of the most powerful parts of the event.

Together, they spoke about experiences of autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and dyspraxia, reminding us that there is no single neurodivergent story. Every experience is different, shaped by unique strengths, challenges, and opportunities.

At the same time, many common themes emerged—barriers to support, misunderstandings, the importance of acceptance, and the need to create spaces where neurodivergent people feel genuinely heard.

Their courage, honesty, and passion perfectly reflected what “Nothing About Us, Without Us” truly means.

A conversation about creating change

We finished the morning with a panel discussion, expertly chaired by Dr Jiedi Lei, bringing together perspectives from research, healthcare, employment, community organisations, and lived experience.

The conversation explored topics including equality versus equity, supporting people while they wait for assessment and services, making research more inclusive through meaningful adjustments, and the importance of community support.

What struck me most was the willingness of everyone on the panel to listen to one another. Real change happens when different perspectives come together, and that is exactly what I hope Neurodiverse Voices Connect will continue to encourage.

My sincere thanks go to Gloria Azcona, Nick Hanson-James, Dr Eri Ichijo, Cheryl Thornton, and Dr Jiedi Lei for leading such a thoughtful and inspiring discussion.

Thank you

There are so many people I want to thank for helping make this day possible.

Firstly, thank you to St Hugh’s College, University of Oxford, for hosting our launch event and providing such a beautiful venue.

Thank you to Opera Café for the fantastic catering, and to Zizimut for producing our wonderful branded lanyards.

I would also like to thank SENtipede, Oxford Hub, and Autism Champions for supporting Neurodiverse Voices Connect and helping us share our vision with the wider community. A particular thank you to Sycamore OBM for the vital support they provided with the Companies House registration of Neurodiverse Voices Connect, and to Holly Davies, who joined us at the launch event.

A special thank you goes to Leandra Hamblin, Donna Jewell, and Dee Nic Sitric. Your encouragement, advice, belief, and friendship have meant more than you probably realise, and I am incredibly grateful to have you alongside me on this journey.

To everyone who attended the launch event, thank you. Your conversations, questions, enthusiasm, and willingness to connect made the day feel exactly as I had hoped it would—a welcoming community where everyone belonged.

Finally, I want to thank my family.

Having you there to celebrate this milestone with me meant everything.

And to my partner—thank you. Over the past two years, you haven’t simply supported my vision; you’ve embraced it as your own, joining Neurodiverse Voices Connect as a Company Director and standing beside me through every challenge and every success.

On the day itself, you took on the role of timekeeper, and you did an outstanding job. Thanks to your organisation and gentle reminders, we managed to keep the event running to time without losing the warmth and energy of the conversations. It may not have been the most visible role, but it was absolutely essential, and I couldn’t have done it without you.

As I left the venue that afternoon, I felt incredibly proud—not because the launch was over, but because it marked the beginning of something much bigger.

Neurodiverse Voices Connect started with a simple belief: that neurodivergent voices deserve to be heard, valued, and included.

After seeing everyone come together on 2 July, I am more convinced than ever that, together, we can build a future where lived experience and research work hand in hand to create meaningful, lasting change.

This is only the beginning, and I can’t wait to see where this journey takes us.

Nothing About Us, Without Us.