Ready for October? Our biggest freebie yet is inside!

Hello!

October is one of the biggest months in the neurodiversity calendar. It’s packed full of awareness days, weeks and months including for ADHD, Sensory Processing Disorder, OCD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Dysgraphia and Developmental Language Disorder (DLD).

It’s a brilliant opportunity to raise awareness. But it can also feel overwhelming, especially if you’re the one people look to for ideas, plans, or content.

So this year (just like last year!), we’ve done the heavy lifting for you.

Today I’m talking about:

• Info: What’s inside the new October Toolkit

• Tips: How to use it to spark meaningful conversations

• Recommendations: Who should grab it (plus a paid opportunity!)

🧠 What’s new in this year’s toolkit?

Last year’s toolkit got a lot of love. Let me know if you used it!

But this year we wanted to make it even more useful. So the Differing Minds team rebuilt it and added even more to it! And it’s still FREE!

👉 Download the October Toolkit 2025

Here’s what’s inside:

• 🗓️ A printable calendar of every October neurodiversity awareness date

• 📄 Fact sheets on 7 differences: ADHD, DLD, OCD, dyspraxia, dysgraphia, sensory processing differences, and dyslexia

• ✉️ 7 ready-to-go newsletter inserts

• ⚖️ A clear explainer on intersectionality and neurodiversity

• 🗣️ A team activity pack with 3 discussion-based activities

• 🔁 A mini-guide to 20 social norms we need to rethink

• 🛠️ A how-to guide to help you plan, share, and make the most of October

It’s designed to save you time, spark conversation, and build lasting understanding - whether you’re leading a team, teaching a class, or just trying to raise awareness in your community.

⏳ Why October matters, and why now

October’s awareness weeks can be a springboard. But inclusion isn’t a one-week initiative, it’s a mindset shift.

That’s why we created the toolkit. Not as a box-ticking exercise, but as a starting point for real change. And whilst it’s designed for October, it’s also useful all year round.

There’s never been a more important time for us to focus on our differences because so many people in the world seem to want to squash that out of us. And one of the things that gives me hope is that I’m seeing so many of you wanting to create change too.

It also means I’m getting pretty booked up. I’m already nearly full for October - and November’s filling fast too. If you’re thinking about a talk, workshop, or event, now’s the time to reach out.

🖤 Suicide Prevention Day is tomorrow

We can’t talk about neurodiversity without talking about mental health.

Among other things, neurodivergent people are significantly more likely to experience anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts. Many grow up being misunderstood, unsupported, or made to feel they need to change, and that takes a toll.

Masking can also lead to burnout and mental health challenges as a result of exhausting ourselves trying to fit in.

As we head into October, let’s centre compassion. Let’s make space for difference. Let’s keep people safe.

✅ Practical tips: Using the toolkit

• Use the awareness calendar to plan weekly or daily content

• Drop the inserts into your internal newsletter

• Host a team session using one of the 3 group activities

• Share the explainer on intersectionality in your internal comms

• Use the “20 social norms” guide to start honest conversations about culture

📚 Recommendations and requests

• 🔗 Download the October Toolkit

• 📩 Reach out if you're looking for a speaker, trainer, or event partner this autumn

• 💬 PAID OPPORTUNITY: Have you done reverse mentoring as a neurodivergent person? One of my clients is looking to connect for a paid opportunity. It involves filming a 10 minute video about your experience - reply to this if this sounds like you.

Let’s use October to do more than mark awareness days. Let’s make it a catalyst for real change - in workplaces, schools, and beyond.

Thanks for being here,
Jess

PS Whenever you’re ready, here are some ways I can help:

• Want me to speak or run a workshop in your organisation? Head here to book a chat and make a plan.

• Join the waitlist for our NeuroNavigator® programme and become a certified Neurodiversity Champion. Doors closed for September, next cohort will be January 2026.

• Book a FREE Discovery call to chat through how I can support your workplace, your school or your family.