Main International Keynote #2: Emma McNally

Annual tradition of Neurodiversity Pride Day

We are honoured to welcome Emma McNally as one of the two main international keynote speakers for Neurodiversity Pride Day 2026. Each year we invite 2 daring pioneers to share their message with the neurodivergent community. For earlier keynotes, you can watch some of the best ones on the Replay page.

Emma McNally is the CEO of Tourettes Action, a keynote speaker, neurodiversity educator, storyteller and author. Through her leadership, advocacy and public voice, Emma has helped bring greater visibility to Tourette Syndrome, challenge harmful misconceptions, and strengthen the call for better understanding, diagnosis, treatment and support. For the first time, a representative of the Tourettian peoples, are asked for the “main”. Emma is a compassionate hero, and her voice and message, have gotten to be particularly important this year.

Emma’s work speaks strongly to the spirit of Neurodiversity Pride Day: moving away from shame, mockery, isolation and misunderstanding, and toward dignity, recognition, community and care. In a world where many people with Tourette Syndrome and other neurodivergent experiences are still misrepresented or treated as a punchline, Emma’s voice helps remind us that education, compassion and acceptance are not soft ideas – they are necessary forms of social change.

Across her public work, Emma invites people to look beyond stereotypes and to understand the real lives, strengths, challenges and humanity of people with Tourette Syndrome. Her work resonates with the wider purpose of Neurodiversity Pride Day: creating a world where neurodivergent people do not have to hide, shrink themselves, or carry the burden of other people’s ignorance.

This keynote is a annual part of the global Neurodiversity Pride Day programme: a celebration created by and for neurodivergent people, and joined by allies, organisations, schools, workplaces, cities and communities around the world.

Join us for this main keynote with Emma McNally, and be part of a global day of neurodivergent pride, visibility and connection. The spoken language will be English. The talk will premiere on YouTube, and will be shared on this page.