What happened during Neurodiversity Pride Day 2020?

Neurodiversity Pride Day 2020: Celebrate your own way – Embracing Neurodivergent Strength in a Digital World

The 2020 edition of Neurodiversity Pride Day was a groundbreaking celebration, held almost entirely online due to the global pandemic. Despite the challenges, this third annual event became the largest online Pride celebration for neurodivergent communities ever held in one country, with over 2,000 participants and a media reach of 40,000 people. This digital edition set the stage for an inclusive, safe, and empowering environment, allowing neurodivergent individuals and allies to connect, celebrate, and amplify their voices.

Expanding International Reach

This year’s Neurodiversity Pride Day saw a notable expansion in international participation, as approximately 15% of attendees hailed from countries like the USA, UK, Belgium, France, and Finland. Many of these participants were connected through international neurodivergent organizations and networks, while others joined via the influence of global speakers featured at the event. The substantial part of Dutch participants came from collaborations with partners like NVA (Dutch Autism Association) and Impuls & Woortblind, who helped spread awareness of the event. Social media engagement also played a crucial role, with 15% of attendees discovering the event online and others coming through the contributions of speakers, volunteers, and ambassadors.

Welcoming new names

On request of the community, additional ‘nicknames’ were accepted for Neurodiversity Pride celebrations. While “ND Pride” was allready in use since 2019, now in 2020 also “Neurodivergent Pride Day” would also become a officially accepted alternative for the traditional name of the day. People can use the name they feel most comfortable.

A Broad Digital Program of Activities

The 2020 edition of Neurodiversity Pride Day offered a vibrant and diverse online program that provided something for everyone, from interactive discussions to creative showcases. 80% of planned activities, were quickly converted into ‘online / digital’ events, due to the pandemic. Participants attended an average of two activities each, engaging deeply in the content and community provided. Here’s a closer look at some of the standout activities:

• Growth Through Adversity Talks: Attended by 100+ participants, this series of talks explored themes of resilience, personal growth, and thriving as a neurodivergent individual. Despite a minor delay, these talks were well-received, highlighting the strength and adaptability of the community.
• Neurodiversiteitsrede (Neurodiversity Keynote of the year): With 75 attendees watching it live, this annual address by Dr Nico Baken focused on envisioning a future where all neurotypes are valued.
• Pride Framers: Over 115 participants created their own Pride frames, sharing messages of support and visibility on social media. These frames allowed neurodivergent individuals to express pride in their identities and encouraged a ripple effect of positivity and awareness across online platforms.
• Divergent Interviews: The most popular activity of the day for dutch participants, these interviews featured neurodivergent individuals sharing their unique stories, experiences, and perspectives.
• The Brainy App Showcase: Attended by over 1000 people, and downloaded by 100+ the new Brainy app was a major highlight, installing it during the event. This app provided a brainstrength journal for neurodivergent people to track their brain powers, access resources, and celebrate their patterns in a secret diary.
• Neuro Education Academy Courses: Approximately 200 people showed interest in the courses offered by the Neuro Education Academy, designed to provide practical knowledge and support for neurodivergent individuals navigating various aspects of life.
• Pride Collages: Participants collaborated on digital collages, adding personal statements, images, and colors to create a shared work of art symbolizing the diversity and beauty of neurodivergent experiences.
• Together Meetup-Maker Beta Testing: The event also featured beta testing for the Together Meetup-Maker, an innovative invitation maker tool aimed at helping neurodivergent individuals find and connect with others who share similar interests or experiences.
• Workshops and Webinars: A series of smaller digital workshops and webinars offered additional spaces for learning, connection, and exploration. Topics ranged from self-acceptance to building resilience, and although held later in the day, these sessions were appreciated by attendees seeking deeper engagement.

Ongoing Events and Programs Beyond Pride Day

In addition to the main event on June 18, several follow-up activities were organized to extend the celebration of Neurodiversity Pride Day:

• Embrace Your Uniqueness Workshop: Held in Den Bosch by ADHD Café, this workshop encouraged participants to embrace their neurodivergent identities with pride and self-compassion.
• Growth & Resilience Webinar: This popular session was offered again in July, allowing additional participants to benefit from insights on overcoming challenges and building strength as a neurodivergent person.
• New Neuro Education Academy Courses: Over the weeks following Pride Day, additional free courses were released, providing ongoing support and resources for neurodivergent individuals.

An Outpouring of Community Support and Visibility

The response to Neurodiversity Pride Day 2020 was overwhelmingly positive. This digital edition allowed a wide range of neurodivergent voices to be heard, with many participants expressing appreciation for the opportunity to connect, share, and celebrate without the need to mask or conform to neurotypical expectations. It was also the first edition, where multiple countries joined in, or organized events. Social media played a key role, with many neurodivergent individuals using their platforms to express pride and solidarity with others. These acts of visibility inspired hope, encouraged self-expression, and reinforced the mission of Neurodiversity Pride Day: to create a world that values the contributions of all neurotypes.

Looking to the Future

The success of the 2020 edition reinforced the importance of Neurodiversity Pride Day and set the stage for future growth. Despite the challenges of a fully digital format, the ND Pride team demonstrated that neurodivergent pride can thrive in virtual spaces, reaching a broad and engaged audience. Plans are already underway for Neurodiversity Pride Day 2021, with hopes for an even larger turnout. Due to Corona pandemic, we will aim to create the largest ever (worldwide), Pride celebration in VR. And we will not just have one day to celebrate, but grow towards 3 days of celebration, while Neurodiversity Pride Day itself, will remain the center point and point of gravity. 

With the ongoing support of partners, volunteers, and the neurodivergent community, Neurodiversity Pride Day continues to work toward a future where all neurotypes are respected, appreciated, and celebrated. Every edition of Neurodiversity Pride Day brings us closer to a world where neurodivergent individuals can feel proud of who they are, and where their unique perspectives are seen as strengths that contribute to a richer, more diverse society.

Keynotes

The annual keynote of the year, was shared by Dr Nico Baken, and was called “Neurodiversity, stars in our brains, distant galaxies”. This was also the first year we used a promotional video about the day. 

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