This is the third column from Neurodivergent Friends in Thanet (NDFT) featuring interviews with the group’s directors, each highlighting their contributions to fostering Neurodivergence inclusivity in the local community.
Concluding our series of intimate conversations with the Co-Directors of Neurodivergent Friends in Thanet (NDFT), we meet Louis Palfrey, whose innovative spirit and creative passion is driving NDFT towards new horizons.
As a late-discovered autistic individual with a background in music, sound design and community engagement, Louis shares insights into the transformative power of NDFT, his journey towards self-discovery, and his aspirations for a more inclusive future in Thanet. Louis’ story encapsulates the essence of NDFT’s mission: to empower, connect, and celebrate the Neurodivergent community in all its diversity.
Q: Who the heck are you?
A: I’m a late-discovered Autistic person who makes music and edits sound for films, podcasts and arty things. I sometimes run workshops where I teach other people how to make similar stuff, and sometimes perform at weird gigs.
I like to experiment, play, explore, discuss, and teach others how to do the same. I’m passionate about inclusion, lived experience and creating communities for marginalised people.
I’m originally from a seaside town in Essex but I moved to Thanet over ten years ago for university and never left. I started off in Margate but moved to Ramsgate late last year. In 2022 I became a Co-Director of NDFT.
Q: Why NDFT? What led you to join in as a Director?
A: I had been talking to some of my fellow Neurodivergent friends for a while about doing ‘something’ for other ND people in the area.
When I discovered NDFT and the work it was committed to, it just made sense to get involved to help steer and shape the organisation rather than try to start something else on my own.
Joining forces and collaborating with other passionate people with similar goals is always better than competing.
Q: Where do you see NDFT in 3 years-time? What kind of impact do you want the CIC to have on the local community?
A: We will be the ‘go-to’ organisation in the area for anything related to ND adults, whether that’s consultation, training, or programming events and public activities.
We will raise awareness about neurodiversity and celebrate the power ND individuals can have in shaping our lives – as well as the lives of others – when we come together.
Q: Challenges and Strength: What do you think is our biggest challenge and strength, as an organisation?
A: Challenge: the fact that we are all Neurodivergent, and sometimes our needs and communication styles can conflict and clash.
Strength: ALSO the fact that we are all Neurodivergent! We’re all different, and yet we just ‘get it’.
We challenge each other in THE MOST supportive ways.
Q: What message would you like to send to individuals who are Neurodivergent or questioning, and may be seeking support or connection?
A: There are more of us out there than you might think!
Finding your community and talking things through with them is extremely validating. Shared experiences unite us, allowing for mutual support and understanding.
The diversity of our brains and ways of processing and communicating ensures that we avoid becoming too much of an echo chamber.
Q: What advice would you give to someone who wants to support the Neurodivergent community but doesn’t know where to start?
A: Get your information from Neurodivergent sources. Understand the social model of disability. Ask us questions, don’t make assumptions and definitely don’t prescribe solutions based on what works for you or other people.
If you want to support an individual, ask THAT individual what they need. If you want to support a group of people, ask THAT group what they need – and be prepared for conflicting answers!
Q: What is a significant lesson you have learned through your work with NDFT?
A: That despite what my anxious and Autistic brain has been led to believe throughout my entire working adult life, being adaptable and flexible IS entirely possible, as long as you are working with supportive collaborators in a non-competitive and person-centred environment.
Q: How do you hope NDFT will impact the lives of Neurodivergent individuals?
A: For our impact to empower Neurodivergent people to own their identities and take up positive space in a society that wasn’t designed with us in mind.
“A Year of Neurodivergent Connection” is ahead…
Neurodivergent Friends CIC (NDFT) is thrilled to announce that they have successfully reached their target and fully funded their crowdfunding campaign on Spacehive!
After a couple of years primarily working on a volunteering basis and DIY solutions, this will help NDFT team to solidify their foundations.
This campaign will fund a whole year of activities, including NDFT’s famous monthly social meetup, a new monthly coffee morning, and other exciting events, to continue growing sustainable support for the growing Neurodivergent community of Thanet.
Their first meetup of the season is just around the corner! Local Neurodivergent adults (whether diagnosed, self-diagnoses or still questioning) are warmly invited to book their spot and join them for this new meetup, held in Broadstairs.
Don’t miss out—secure your place today! Book here: https://tinyurl.com/NDFT-Sept24MU
About Neurodivergent Friends in Thanet: https://linktr.ee/neurodivergentfriendsthanet
Sounds like another one of these emerging new fangled conditions(Sic) like ADHD and LB….Z All very self indulgent to me! Growing up in the 40’s and 50’s they never existed, and homosexualism did not occur until well into the 60’s! It doesn’t really matter unless they make it compulsory.
I think if you actually had friends and weren’t a weirdo, you’d know that these things have existed for all of humanity. Get offline, go and touch some grass, speak to humans. You can learn a lot.
Dumpton, do you really believe that autism, ADHD and homosexuality did not exist until very recently?
Some conditions that have been well-publicised in recent years do seem to be diagnosed a little too often. There was (is?) controversy about the ways in which ADHD was diagnosed i.e. allegedly that could happen via a telephone call. And (I’m sure someone will correct me if this has now changed) the questionnaire on which remote diagnosis was based was available on the internet. I tried it out with friends and family – I got a high score, my friend got a high score and so did several members of my family … Well I do sometimes feel that I ‘think differently’ and I do find life overly complicated sometimes but, well, isn’t that more to do with our complex & often ridiculous world rather than individual brains? I haven’t exactly got a dog in the fight, I probably should learn more.
However … as M.M. Rees says … ‘homosexualism (sic) did not occur until well into the ’60s’!! Really? Poor old Oscar Wilde, locked up for being someone who didn’t even exist!
“Homosexualism” is the word Dumpton used. I used the word “homosexuality”in my response to his comment.
Seems to me some people have had a humour bypass carried out! Here’s something else, most people displaying inattention at school in my day during the 40’s and 50’s, would have got a clip round the ear at the least, or a good thrashing with a slipper, or a cane at the most! Perhaps bringing back corporal punishment in schools would cure ADHD, as did my fathers trousers belt. And I was born homophobic, don’t judge!
Nobody is “born homophobic”.