While many different themes have designated “days” and “weeks,” this one is particularly important to us because it aligns with our core value of ensuring that Motional serves as a tool that supports young people regardless of their geographic, emotional, cultural, or neurodiverse backgrounds. In fact, we celebrate the fact that Motional would not exist without our diverse and neurodiverse team!
Our mission at Motional is to provide tools that support emotional health and wellbeing in schools and communities. As its directors, we proudly acknowledge that neurodiversity is central to everything we do.
Getting Neurospicy with Motional: Adapting and Acting for Neurodiversity
Neurodiversity is more than just a concept; it is a movement advocating for understanding, respect, and inclusion for individuals with a wide range of neurological talents and differences. As we celebrate Neurodiversity Celebration Week (March 17-23, 2025), it’s essential to highlight the innovative ways we are adapting Motional to better support neurodivergent individuals.
Motional is a powerful tool that helps individuals and organisations understand and improve emotional wellbeing. One of its standout features is the ‘Always/Never’ descriptors, which assist users in recognising observable behaviours related to different emotional systems.
Adapting to Neurodiversity
To ensure that Motional’s tools are genuinely inclusive, we have been collaborating with specialist providers across the country to refine our approach. Schools and education centres, including:
- Portfield School
- HeronsBridge Special School
- Woodlands High School
- Hoel Goffa
- Greenhill School
- Ysgol Maes Y Coed
- Ysgol Ty Coch
- Ysgol y Deri
- Tai Education Centre
and many others have been instrumental in helping Motional adapt the “Always/Never” descriptors to better serve diverse neurotypes.
By doing this, we ensure that assessments and emotional wellbeing strategies are meaningful and applicable to neurodivergent individuals.
Lisa James-Smith, Deputy Headteacher at Heronsbridge said of our approach:
" How lucky to have had the opportunity to work alongside a company which is open to, in fact embraces, the lived professional experiences of teachers to explore and modify a wellbeing assessment tool to meet the needs of neurodiverse young people. 'Equity' is a word much quoted but not always acted on. Having spent time with the Motional Team and array of teachers from special schools engaging in professional discussions regarding our diverse learners, I truly feel we have created a system where we can truly identify our pupils to meet their unique needs to build strategies that nurture and support their emotional and social development and wellbeing."
Why This Matters
Traditional social and emotional assessment tools often fail to consider the unique ways neurodivergent individuals process emotions and interactions. Motional’s work in adapting these descriptors ensures that no one is unfairly judged based on neurotypical standards.
How You Can Get Involved
The new neurodiverse descriptors are in the ‘Beta-testing' phase!
Motional invites educators, mental health professionals, and caregivers to join the Superusers group- a community dedicated to testing and refining these updated descriptors. If you’re interested in participating, please click the pink circle on your Motional account.
Moving Forward
By collaborating with neurodiversity specialists, Motional is making significant strides toward creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for neurodivergent individuals. This effort goes beyond simply adjusting an assessment tool; it is about reshaping how we understand and support emotional wellbeing across diverse communities.
As we celebrate Neurodiversity Celebration Week, let’s recognise the organisations and initiatives making real change. Together, we can foster a world in which neurological differences are acknowledged, celebrated, and supported.
Want to learn more about how you can support neurodiversity? Visit www.neurodiversityweek.com .
