It seems that a disproportionate number of neurodivergent people work in the construction industry. Why might that be? What barriers do they face? And how can they make work better? Neurodiversity in construction: some statistics According to a 2023 survey on neurodiversity in construction by the National Federation of Builders: Neurodiversity in construction: Why might…
Uta Frith no longer thinks that autism is a spectrum. She explained this view in an interview with the TES (the magazine formerly known as the Times Educational Supplement). Let’s examine her argument. Increasing diagnosis and demand The prompt for Frith to abandon her long-held view that autism is a spectrum is that an increasing…
If the government implements all the measures recommended in the Report, it will significantly improve the lives of ADHDers.
However, the report contains itself within a medical or individual model. It repeatedly refers to ‘treating ADHD’ and its recommendations are all about ‘interventions’ with individuals rather than changing systems to remove barriers.
Red in the Spectrum continues our excellent work with the General Federation of Trade Unions (GFTU), running courses on Bargaining and Organising for Neurodiversity at its lovely education centre at Quorn Grange Hotel in Leicestershire.
Red in the Spectrum’s Janine Booth was a guest on the Charity Questions podcast run by the Directory of Social Change (DSC).
Red in the Spectrum has been working with the Fire Brigades Union for a few years now, running courses and helping the union to set up its Disabled and Neurodivergent Members’ forum.
Red in the Spectrum‘s Janine Booth wrote this blog post for the Directory of Social Change, in preparation for speaking at its Charity Management Conference on 6 March. It aims to urge managers in charities to consider the issues around neurodiversity and charities, and to go beyond awareness and make changes. Neurodiversity and charities: How…
In a talk at a railway company’s neurodivergent staff forum in January 2025, Janine Booth of Red in the Spectrum sets out ten challenges to the railway industry on the issue of neurodiversity. You can read the text of a similar talk here. 10 challenges to the railway industry on neurodiversity
Red in the Spectrum is the specialist neurodiversity trainer for trade unions.
But we do more for trade unions and neurodiversity than just training courses!
12% of autistic people have experienced homelessness, compared to just 1-2% of general population – and we think that might be an under-estimate. This is an alarming statistic, and is exacerbated by the housing crisis. The relationship between neurodiversity and homelessness is an important issue for housing agencies, support services and campaigners. Neurodiversity and homelessness:…
Janine Booth and Liz Yeates explore the issues. Neurodiversity and sex work: A new issue? Public discussion around issues such as gender, bodily autonomy and neurodiversity is increasing. But this does not mean that neurodivergent sex workers or clients are new. Sex work has historically included workers from various social demographics. And the sex industry…
This story illustrates the importance of the social model of disability in effectively addressing neurodiversity at work. A postal delivery worker was making repeated mistakes when sorting letters into the sections of the frame used to prepare for delivering them. It got to the stage where management was threatening to discipline, or even sack, him….
Red in the Spectrum’s Janine Booth spoke about Including Autistic People at Work: removing barriers and challenging discrimination at 1-2-1 Enfield’s Autism Inclusion conference in June. You can watch a video of the talk here. This is what Janine said:
In this video, Red in the Spectrum’s Janine Booth talks about Including Autistic People at Work: removing barriers and challenging discrimination. Janine was speaking at One-to-One Enfield‘s Autism Inclusion conference in July. The Autism Inclusion conference included:
The General Federation of Trade Unions (GFTU) has launched its training programme for 2023/24, and for the first time, it includes a trade union neurodiversity course. Red in the Spectrum’s Janine Booth has written and will deliver the course, which is running twice – in January and July 2025 – at GFTU’s spacious and well-equipped…
In this interview – filmed for use in teaching sports and leisure centre workers about neurodiversity – Joe Booth, a young autistic adult, talk with Red in the Spectrum’s Janine Booth (his mum) about his experiences in sports and leisure. You can watch this as a video and/or read the transcript of the interview below. An…
This interview – filmed for use in teaching education workers about neurodiversity – sees Joe Booth, a young autistic adult, talk with Red in the Spectrum’s Janine Booth (his mum) about his experiences as an autistic student – in school and in college – barriers that he experienced, and things that he found useful to…
Red in the Spectrum’s Janine Booth was the keynote speaker at the 2024 Neurodiversity in Rail conference held at Birmingham University on 21 May. Janine is a leading authority on neurodiversity in rail, with a track record including: 25+ years as a London Underground station supervisor founder / trainer at Red in the Spectrum railway…
On Sunday 17 March, Red in the Spectrum hosted the final of our series of ten webinars on neurodiversity at work. The webinar was hosted by Janine Booth, and put the case for there being power in a union. Power in a union Discrimination – inequality – neuro-inclusive recruitment – legal rights – health and…
Neurodiversity and workplace safety The ninth of Red in the Spectrum’s series of webinars on Neurodiversity at Work was about neurodiversity and workplace safety. It took place on Sunday 10 March 2024. The webinar began by asserting two principles of workplace safety: A neuro-inclusive workplace is a safer workplace. A neurodiverse workforce can be a…
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