News
All the latest from S4Nd.

Get information about the latest S4Nd activity plus neurodiversity related links, developments and news stories.
Society for Neurodiversity AGM 2023
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 1st Annual General Meeting of the Society for Neurodiversity will be held at VAC, Resource Centre, 8 Hall Street, Halifax, HX1 5AY. In addition, this is a hybrid meeting – as well as being held at VAC, it will also be delivered online via Zoom at 5.00pm on Tuesday 21st March to transact the following business:
Have your say to influence change in adult Autism and ADHD services
We are currently working on highlighting the barriers people face accessing neurodevelopmental diagnostic assessments (Autism and ADHD).
Navigating the healthcare system can be a lot of work for individuals and their families and is often fraught with pitfalls. In reality, patients are not presenting their case to a GP or health professional, commissioners and service providers also have influence over whether referrals are made and accepted.
Growing Pains: A S4Nd update from CEO, Angie Balmer
Back in August 2019 I invited several autistic and otherwise neurodivergent people, their families and friends and our allies to meet with me. I wanted to know if they thought there was a need to establish an organisation that could help neurodivergent people in Calderdale and surrounding areas.

Simple Template Letter Helps Autistic People Claim Benefits
Working in conjunction with the NHS in Calderdale and the Sheffield Autism and Neurodevelopment Service, the Society for Neurodiversity (S4Nd), has produced a template letter that is set to help hundreds of Autistic people make claims for benefits. The letter is now available to all GPs, which in turn will make it simpler and easier for Autistic people to obtain the proof of diagnosis they need to access a range of benefits.

People still being denied “Right to choose” their service provider for diagnostic assessments
At S4Nd, we’re currently working hard on our ongoing campaign to raise awareness of how “Patient Choice” is still not being applied to Neurodevelopmental diagnostic assessments. Here’s our latest press release, which went out to a selection of national and regional media. We’re also sharing it on social media as it contains links to our newly published guide for individuals to use if they encounter similar problems. Here’s the release in full:

Community Spirit Awards 2021
Following our win in the Breakthrough of the Year category in the Calderdale Community Spirit Awards 2020 (hosted by Community Foundation for Calderdale), we are extremely proud to have been shortlisted again in 2021 – this time in the Best New Charity category!