Overview
A movement to shift culture across our education system with neurodiversity-affirming film-based learning.
Problem
Around 20% of children think, learn or process differently. The reality is a culture and a school system set up to favour the most typical brains, leaving neurodivergent children disempowered across learning, identity, and attainment. For too long the prevailing approach has been to try to make them as close to their more typical peers as possible. This is exacerbated by our big systems, such as the HSE and the Department of Education, being overwhelmed, resulting in significant gaps in support. Even private practitioners are struggling to keep up with demand, with many having to close waiting lists.
Teachers, who play a crucial role in the lives of neurodivergent children, are also disempowered. Most receive minimal training on neurodiversity during their initial teacher education. They are already overloaded, with in-service professional development difficult to access due to huge time constraints, limited course availability, the need for substitute cover, and cost. While there is a shift towards recognising neurodiversity, it is not yet appreciated in practices or culture across health, education, or the workplace.
Information and resources are often siloed, focusing on specific neurotypes like autism, ADHD, or dyspraxia, without acknowledging that it is the rule rather than the exception for these to co-occur. This fragmentation extends to different fields like Occupational Therapy, Psychology, and Special Education, making it hard for parents and teachers to identify and address the unique needs of each child. Additionally, there is a well-known gap between theory and practice, leaving educators uncertain about how to apply research-backed best practices in their busy classrooms, and giving parents no road map for empowering their child at home.
Solution
All Rise is a film-based learning and support platform designed for three key audiences: teachers, parents, and children.
It will provide empowering, accessible, forward-thinking content, including training, workshops, and informal materials. The broader goal is to lift barriers, remove stigma, and promote a neurodiversity-affirming culture across as all aspects of society.
All Rise is tailored to individual needs and is specifically designed for overwhelmed teachers and parents, offering practical strategies and real-life examples that can be implemented in classrooms of up to 30 children, or with your child at home. Addressing the gaps in health services and the need for teacher training, this solution will offer multidisciplinary support that spans neuroscience, occupational therapy, psychology, education, and neurodiversity advocacy.
The concept has been refined through participation in the Ideas Academy, which has helped shape the offering, establish partnerships, plan the pilot phase, and consolidate the fundraising strategy.
Last Updated: August 2024
”It was an incredibly positive experience and provided real value in so many forms. I think my favourites were the concrete business support, the pitching prep and practice, the provision of a pathway to pilot, and the kindness and confidence that came with the creation of an important new network.
Sarah Colgan
Sarah Colgan is the founder of All Rise
