ALT Online Seminar Autism and neurodiversity are terms that are gaining traction in everyday conversation. The recognition of the diversity of neurological being represents a paradigm shift. Discussions around this topic have traditionally been orchestrated in a few countries in the West. This is a problem because it cuts us off from relevant world history, human context and opportunities.  How do Neurodivergent Therapists Engage with Social Justice? Anna Maria Joseph Vocabularies of inclusion: How Autistic voices in India are reframing personhood. Shubha Ranganathan The event is free of charge however, participants must register. Date: 23rd July 2024 Time: 1700 hours - 1830 hours (Indian Standard Time)/12.30pm - 2.00pm (UK Time)  Registration link https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=ofZoiROsL0e4mfcxbkOfQ2R-n7SIUR9Pj2px-QrEZi1UMFkzOFVUMk5aVlY4MkxVSzNPVUxWTUhUUy4u

ALT How do Neurodivergent Therapists Engage with Social Justice? In this talk, I will explore the unique position of neurodivergent therapists in the mental health landscape in India, based on anecdotes from lived experiences, supported by research literature. As faces of representation, neurodivergent therapists challenge misconceptions about neurodivergent people and the roles that they occupy in society. By tapping into personal and community knowledge, they redefine conventional therapy norms and the therapist-client relationship. However, despite the valuable contributions that they bring to the mental health space, they face ableism and barriers to the workplace like neurodivergent people in other industries. These obstacles hinder their ability to fully leverage their expertise as mental health professionals. Therefore, the talk will examine their role as champions of social justice, as well as the marginalisation they experience, which requires ensuring pathways that allow them

ALT The last few years have seen a discernible explosion of media content on autism, including documentaries, short animation films, Netflix series, to name a few. With the increased consumption of such media content, both autistic and non-autistic individuals are considering what it means to be neurodivergent. In India, the terms ‘neurodiversity’ and ‘neurodivergence’ have seen much greater circulation in mainstream media, whether in the context of multinational organizations acknowledging the potential of neurodiverse talent, or of hospitality establishments engaging in aggressive recruitment of persons with disabilities, or of mental health services celebrating neurodiversity. Returning to autism, media depictions have increasingly had to deal with the thorny issue of representation, that is, the question of whether autism depictions are accurate representations of lived experiences. Given that autism self-advocacy in India is just picking up momentum, with autistic voices actively sp