Neurodiversity isn’t a challenge to be fixed — it’s a strength to be embraced. In our latest Te Uru Amokura | Springboard Trust webinar, three passionate leaders came together to explore how inclusive leadership can unlock the potential of neurodiverse individuals in schools and workplaces.
“We need to celebrate our different brains and the strengths they bring. Inclusion doesn’t happen by accident — it’s by design.” – Amy Deperrois
Our panel includes:
- Amy Deperrois – Head of Organisational Development at 2degrees, championing inclusive leadership and human-centered design.
- Belinda Johnston – Principal of Somerville School, leading New Zealand’s largest specialist school with a deeply relational approach.
- Serena Driver – SPELD NZ educator and advocate, blending professional expertise with lived experience as a parent of a neurodiverse learner.
What we covered:
- Inclusive leadership in action: How leaders can foster belonging, wellbeing, and innovation by knowing their people deeply.
- Unique strengths of neurodiverse individuals: From creative problem-solving to pattern recognition, neurodiverse minds bring fresh perspectives that drive progress.
- Barriers to participation: We unpacked the visible and invisible hurdles that neurodiverse learners and staff face – and how to dismantle them.
- Practical strategies for change: From team charters and user manuals to multimodal communication and tailored job descriptions, our panellists shared tools that work.
“Neurodiversity is not something to be fixed. It’s simply another way of seeing and processing the world.” – Serena Driver
Key takeaways:
- Relationships are everything: Knowing your people — learners, staff, whānau — is the foundation of inclusive leadership.
- Design for difference: Inclusion doesn’t happen by accident. It requires intentional design, psychological safety, and trust.
- Knowledge, engagement, action: Serena’s powerful framework reminds us that understanding neurodiversity is just the beginning — we must act on it.
“If you lead for neurodiversity, you’ll be leading for everybody.” – Belinda Johnston