Could you be a Young Neurodiversity Champion?
We are looking for 10-15 young neurodiversity champions to help drive change in New Zealand's education system.
Did you know that between 10% and 20% of New Zealand’s young people are considered ‘neurodiverse’? Some of these young people may be gifted, have ASD, ADHD, dyslexia, processing issues or other diagnoses - or a combination of these. Altogether, that’s approximately 160,000 - 320,000 neurodiverse young people across Aotearoa.
Neurodiverse young people have brains wired to think, learn, perceive and feel the world differently from ‘neurotypical’ people around them - they really are 'born this way'. However, despite initiatives such as the Government’s 2019-2025 Learning Support Action Plan, the reality on the ground is that our mainstream education system does nowhere near enough to identify these young people and give them the specialist learning support they need to achieve. Far too many drop out, disengage, mask their differences, suffer poor mental health, and fail to achieve their amazing potential.
As a non-profit supporting neurodiverse young people, we are backing our rangatahi to drive the change they want to see.
In 2023, we are bringing 10-15 young neurodiverse New Zealanders together to form our Young Neurodiversity Champions (YNC) and to collectively share their stories, advocate for change, and work together to pave the way forward for future generations.
Share this opportunity with the young people in your life!
You can help by spreading word of this opportunity with the young neurodiverse people in your life. If you know of young people aged between 15 and 22 who identify as neurodiverse, have strong communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively as part of a diverse group, and have the time and energy to contribute to the cause, let them know that we want to hear from them!
Applications to be a Young Neurodiversity Champions are now open and will close at 2pm on Sunday 9 January 2023.
If you have any questions, please get in touch with us at champions@nzcge.co.nz. Someone from our team will be in touch.
We look forward to introducing our Young Neurodiversity Champions to you in 2023!
Ngā mihi nui,
Justine Munro | CEO
New Zealand Centre for Gifted Education
021 537 790 | www.nzcge.nz | justine.munro@nzcge.co.nz
Whāngai ka tupu ka puawai.
That which is nurtured, blossoms then grows.