"Beyond labels lie the infinite possibilities of what truly is." (Anonymous)

Last year I was diagnosed with ADHD and Borderline Autism/ Aspergers. I wasn’t after a label but I had the desire to have a better understanding of how my brain worked and some answers to some of my internalised struggles and externalised quirks. 

The diagnoses came as a huge relief for me, and made sense for my mother. She had told me that as a child my deepest pain was trying to ensure that I “fit in”. And, that as a baby, sensory stimulation always calmed me. This journey has come with its highs and lows, and all have been areas of growth that help me to explore different ways of thinking and being that I probably wouldn’t have considered before. 

Yesterday, I came across a post on social media by an ADHD 'influencer,' advocating for entertainment venues bars, clubs and restaurants provide plastic straws for specific groups of individuals with neurodivergence and mobility impairments. Their point, was that bendable plastic straws would enable these individuals to drink with autonomy. Whilst I value autonomy, I can't ignore the long-term environmental impact of such decisions. It leads me to question the justification for maintaining the status quo (or reverting to type) because finding alternative solutions might be challenging, time-consuming, or costly. The disconnect lies in overlooking the potential long-term detriments of neglecting this approach. The consequences may not be immediately apparent, but their full extent could impact in future generations.

This realisation emphasises the importance of diversity, extending beyond gender, ethnicity and sexual orientation, though they remain crucial. It involves embracing the intersectionality of all our identities, not merely as research subjects or participants in focus groups, but as equals around the table, reshaping challenges, and brainstorming solutions from an intersectional perspective. Surely this must motivate us to embrace the full spectrum of our identities? Recognising the richness that lies in the intersectionality of our experiences and backgrounds can only be a good thing, right? This also requires equitable representation and ownership stakes in the resulting innovations, especially when we choose to face the dark truth that many of us reside in countries built on the colonisation of knowledge, wisdom, and technologies from Indigenous and marginalised communities. It goes beyond immediate gains and is rooted in a long-term perspective, recognising that anything less would be shortsighted. We have to face up to the fact that we are part of the problem and that maintaining the status quo or making dangerous compromises will have a profoundly negative impact on future generations.

My adult diagnoses have offered me huge insights into my own unique way of experiencing the world and a deeper understanding of the questions that I should be asking of those currently involved in the innovation process. As a designer of immersive experiences, I now realise that I create spaces that invite others to temporarily experience and perceive the world as I do - with heightened awareness, of the environment, stimuli, energy, and people, both offline and in virtual realms.

This is my innate way of being.

It hasn’t been learnt, or is as a result of watching a talk, reading a book, having a conversation or going on a course. This is just the way that I am, and I am no longer ashamed of my beautiful quirks. 

As I continue on this journey, I will increasingly advocating for empathy, inclusion, and understanding in the development and scaling of emerging technologies. By challenging the status quo and not taking what seems to be “the easy way out” maybe we can truly begin to create futures (because there is more than one) that fosters genuine connections and empowers each individual to thrive in their authentic selves.