Updates, announcements, and community happenings from NeuroKind.
The latest headlines in neurodivergence, mental health, and community care.
Edward Kang, a 17-year-old high school senior, created RetinaMind — a tool that can diagnose autism and ADHD using retinal images. Currently there are no physical tests for these conditions, and Kang hopes his innovation will enable earlier diagnoses and improved quality of life.
Read more →Organisations from across Scotland gathered in Edinburgh to explore greater collaboration across the neurodivergent community. The discussion focused on shared challenges, fragmentation in services, and opportunities for coordinated policy engagement to improve outcomes for individuals and families.
Read more →Irish charity ShoutOut launched NeuroQueer, a resource providing practical tools, myth-busting, and personal stories reflecting the queer neurodivergent experience. Research shows neurodivergent people are statistically more likely to be queer, and the resource aims to address the unique challenges at this intersection.
Read more →Health officials outlined plans to create an NHS diagnosis pathway for ADHD and autism in adults by 2027, with a fully integrated all-age neurodivergent pathway by 2029. The £2.8m proposal also includes earlier identification, reasonable adjustments, and better support for families and carers.
Read more →Around 30–50% of autistic people also have ADHD, yet the two conditions were only allowed to be diagnosed together since 2013. Known as AuDHD, this dual diagnosis often involves contradictory traits — autism craves routine while ADHD seeks novelty — and requires tailored support that addresses both.
Read more →A study of over 900 neurodivergent adults found most prefer identity-first language like "autistic person" over "person with autism." Terms like "disorder" were widely disliked for implying something broken. The researchers emphasise that respectful language starts with listening to community preferences.
Read more →Researchers at the Child Mind Institute found that autism and ADHD share underlying brain connectivity patterns and genetic activity, regardless of formal diagnosis. The findings support a dimensional approach — treating neurodevelopmental conditions along a spectrum rather than as separate categories.
Read more →New research published in JAMA found that in British Columbia, Canada, ADHD diagnoses among female adolescents and young adults have surpassed males for the first time on record. The study analysed health data from over 2.7 million patients spanning 2003 to 2023.
Read more →A three-year study of over 1,200 patients found that autistic and ADHD individuals in eating disorder services experience greater psychological distress and poorer functioning — especially those with both conditions (AuDHD). Researchers urge screening for neurodivergence to enable person-centred care.
Read more →The Welsh Government extended its Neurodivergence Improvement Programme to March 2027 with an additional £13.7m investment. Priorities include eliminating three-year waiting times for children's neurodevelopmental assessments and developing an adult ADHD task force to improve services.
Read more →Up to 70% of neurodivergent children experience significant mental health problems, yet current support often fails them. The Centre for Mental Health's briefing argues that support should be a reasonable adjustment — not a treatment for difference — and calls for sensory-informed, play-based approaches.
Read more →💗 Let's all be kind