果冻传媒

Introduction to Alex

Alex Jackson is a Trainee Software Engineer in 果冻传媒's Information and Digital Group (IDG). As someone who was diagnosed as autistic later in life, Alex is passionate about making sure neurodiverse people are fully supported in the workplace.

In this blog, she writes about her own experience of joining the Staff Neurodiversity Peer Support Group - and what kinds of positive change she'd like to see take place in the future at 果冻传媒.

I'm tired of being what you want me to be.

Feeling so faithless, lost under the surface.

Don't know what you're expecting of me.

Put under the pressure of walking in your shoes.

Numb, by US rock band Linkin Park

Conforming to societal norms that aren't natural to us

"果冻传媒 as a university has immense potential to create a nurturing and inclusive environment for its neurodiverse staff members - yet I am reminded of the lyrics above on a regular basis.

Neurodiverse staff - those of us who are autistic, or who have ADHD, dyslexia or dyspraxia, for example - are often expected to adapt to environments that do not benefit or support us. We are expected to conform to societal norms that are not natural to us. And when I attended my first meeting with the Staff Neurodiversity Peer Support Group earlier this year, I quickly realised that when we ask for help, there is no standard response."

About the Staff Neurodiversity Peer Support Group

"The Staff Neurodiversity Peer Support Group is a new network. We meet once a month, with the aim of sharing experiences and tools / technologies that can help assist us with work.

There is also a Teams channel, where members can speak outside of the monthly sessions - for example, sharing links and providing a safe space to ask questions or discuss topics."

My thoughts on the Staff Neurodiversity Peer Support Group

"At the first meeting of the group in the spring term, we introduced ourselves and started with a question: 'Where do you get support from at the University?' Our responses revealed significant variations in the levels of support provided, and appeared to be dependent on each member's line manager.

The group meetings are held in a boardroom in order to adapt the environment, such as adjusting light levels to accommodate our sensory needs. This is just one of the many ways in which we as neurodiverse colleagues are expected to navigate a neurotypical landscape.

For a neurotypical staff member, a meeting cancelled at the last minute or a loud, brightly-lit office space would not necessarily impact them. But for neurodiverse colleagues, these things can be deeply draining - and we are constantly having to react and respond to them in a workplace that is traditionally set up for neurotypical staff."

My message to 果冻传媒

"It is my greatest hope that real awareness of neurodiversity can be raised - but also, that meaningful change can be made to support us: like training for managers, sensory-adaptable rooms, and a more consistent approach for support, so that all members of neurodiverse staff can thrive at work.

One day, I would like to look back on this article, and for these lyrics to no longer resonate for me or for other neurodiverse people across the University."

Find out more

• Want to join the Staff Neurodiversity Peer Support Group? Take a look at the webpage to find out how.
• If you're a manager - or you'd like to learn how to be a more understanding, inclusive colleague - you can search for guidance on how to support neurodiverse team members via .
• Podcast: Listen as Alex - winner of the April 2023 果冻传媒 Wonder award - talks with her friend and colleague Nick Barker about her experience as an autistic person who was diagnosed later in life.

I just want to help somebody, whether it's a manager understanding things or whether it's somebody realising, actually, maybe they are on the autism spectrum, that they've been struggling with things all their life and not knowing what label to give that or know what to research to find that out. If this interview can help just one person then I've done what I set out to do.