Campaign 'Put all brains to work'
24 October 2023
Far too many people with a brain disorder, neurodiverse brain or psychological variation have to stop working or are unable to find work. All the while they can and want to work. We make room for all brain variants in the workplace. What does that require? A bit of awareness, attention and understanding go a long way. Looking at talent and thinking in terms possibilities will take us even further.
That is why Utrecht University, UMC Utrecht and Utrecht University of Applied Sciences are participating in the ‘Put all brains to work!’ programme of the Dutch Brain Foundation (Hersenstichting) and Unlimited Thinkers (Onbeperkte Denkers). Together with several other organizations extra attention will be given to working with a brain disorder, neurodiversity or psychological variation for a year.
On Tuesday 28 November, two meetings took place at the Utrecht Science Park
Event Meeting UMC Utrecht | ‘Diversity in brains in the workplace’ with Floortje Scheepers
On Tuesday 28 november 2023, the meeting ‘Diversity in brains in the workplace’ with Floortje Scheepers and Onbeperkte Denkers (Unlimited Thinkers) took place. The opening by Margriet Schneider (chair of the board of directors of UMC Utrecht), in which she emphasised the importance of diversity and inclusion in the workplace, was followed by an inspiring lecture by Floortje Scheepers (professor of GGZ innovation and head of the Psychiatry department). She discussed the psyche and how we have come to look at people dealing with psychological dysregulation in the past decades, how it relates to work and what work can mean in this context. You can find a recording of the meeting here.
Event Meeting Hogeschool Utrecht | Lunch meeting neurodiversity with Saskia Schepers
On Tuesday 28 november 2023, a lunch meeting on neurodiversity took place. The event was kicked off with an extensive lunch. The hall was filled with about 100 attendees who enjoyed the food and drinks. During the meeting on neurodiversity, employees and students from the Hogeschool Utrecht had the opportunity to learn more about the topic. There was also room to ask questions to a panel of experts and experts by experience. Finally, attendees were able to speed-date with each other. In this way, everyone was able to discuss the topic with each other. You read a retrospective here (in Dutch).
Getting started!
What can you do? Inclusivity is a matter of doing! But how do you tackle it? Solutions often don’t have to be very complicated. Get started yourself and take a look at the platform: www.zetallehersenenaanhetwerk.nl. Discover (unconscious) prejudices, experience overstimulation, see opportunities, get inspired and make a difference. Together we can turn thresholds into crosswalks!💪