Neurodiversity Celebration Week:
8 Ideas for Activities in Schools

Neurodiversity Week 2025 is just around the corner….

Neurodiversity Celebration Week was started by Siena Castellon, an autistic teenager who also has ADHD, dyslexia, and dyspraxia. This year (March 17th- 23rd) will be the seventh annual Neurodiversity Celebration Week since it began in 2018!

Siena started the awareness week with the aim of challenging stereotypes and misconceptions about neurological differences, promote inclusive environments and recognise the many talents of neurodivergent individuals.

To celebrate, we’ve produced some Neurodiversity Celebration Week colouring posters which are great for young people of a variety of ages and can be used as part of wall displays or mindfulness clubs.

8 Ideas for Celebrating Neurodiversity Week in Primary and Secondary Schools

1. Student entrepreneur fair or rainbow cupcake sale – host a lunchtime event and raise money for a charity championing neurodiversity.

2. Facts and myths board – divide a display board into a ‘facts’ and ‘myth’ section about ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, Tourette’s (or any other form of neurodivergence) and ask pupils to pin statements on either side to create a display.
   
3. Build your own character strengths profile – VIA Institute on Character is a non-profit organisation offering a free online tool that allows students to uncover their strengths. Students could use the report generated to make a poster illustrating their attributes and also think about what helps them to learn. Suitable for ages 8 – 17 https://www.viacharacter.org
   
4. Neurodivergent guest speakers – invite people in the local community to host a workshop or present an assembly.
   
5. Video messages of support – suggest to your neurodivergent pupil alumni that they might like to send in video or voice messages of support to current students. Current neurodivergent older students (or school staff) may also like to send in their messages for younger pupils.
   
6. Dress in rainbow colours, wear something sparkly or wear footwear of their choice to represent how we all think differently and all minds deserve to shine.
   
7. Book club – choose a class book to read that has a neurodivergent main character e.g. Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief.
   
8. Origami umbrellas – students can follow the video below to create their own. You could ask them to also write down one stereotype about neurodiversity to avoid making. Create a wall display with the results. Watch the video here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hp9Zn89xG_Y

Don’t forget to take a look at the fantastic resources on the Neurodiversity Celebration Week website.

What are the most commonly used symbols for neurodiversity?

• The infinity symbol represents the infinite variations of neurocognitive functioning. The rainbow colours signify the diversity of the neurodivergent community.

• Umbrellas represent the fact that “neurodiversity” is an umbrella term for a wide range of neurological differences.

You may see a puzzle piece symbol being displayed – particularly to represent autism. However, many autistic people prefer this not to be used as it implies people are a problem to be fixed.

What are the most commonly used symbols for neurodivergent differences?

• Autism – a rainbow infinity symbol, ribbon or colour blue
• ADHD – a butterfly
• Dyslexia – the letters “p” “q” “b” and “d” together
• Dyspraxia, Tourette’s, DLD, dyscalculia and other conditions – don’t have officially recognised symbols, but the sunflower motif represents hidden disabilities and a rainbow infinity symbol is often used. Some people also use teal ribbons.