NeuroNoir founder Akua Daniella: How she’s celebrating difference this Autism Acceptance Month
The founder of NeuroNoir, Akua Daniella, opens up about what inspired her to create the community and how she’s celebrating Autism Acceptance Month.
When London-born Akua Daniella (she/her) started NeuroNoir, she never imagined it would blow up online. First started as a community for Black neurodivergent women and LGBTQ+ people in London, NeuroNoir has now transformed into a UK-wide community spanning from Manchester to Essex.
In this interview with Akua Daniella, she reflects on her journey during Autism Acceptance Month and what inspired her to make this much-needed community.
What inspired you to create a community?
I would say my experience of undiagnosed autism, feeling like I didn’t know how to build a community and find my people. NeuroNoir was essentially meeting that gap for a lot of people who might find clubs overwhelming or mainstream social spaces overstimulating.
Also, I wanted to provide a space that is not only neurodivergent friendly, but also a space where we can be ourselves and be free not to mask.
Could you share a memorable story that happened during an event?
Most recently, we had the London Sapphic Sip and Paint Event, which was very stressful to plan. When the attendees walked in, I was very worried and wanted to ensure we had something for them to do as we were still setting up. However, they all came together, and we didn’t have to do any icebreakers; it was like they already knew each other. I felt like that was a healing moment because sometimes I place pressure on myself or the volunteers to get conversations flowing, but it made me realise that we started to facilitate a space where people could just be themselves.
“For me, celebrating difference is about healing our inner child.”
What does celebrating difference mean to you?
For me, celebrating difference is about healing our inner child. Growing up as the awkward, dark-skinned, autistic person, I felt like I didn’t fit in (even in my family). Having a space where people who grew up feeling like this world wasn’t made for them is essential; a space where they could feel accepted and feel like their voices are heard. Acknowledging difference is not necessarily a bad thing, sometimes it can be a really beautiful thing that can completely change a lot of perceptions.
What can we do as a community to improve acceptance towards autism and diversity?
We need open spaces and actively allowing more diverse voices to be heard, whether in the council or other industries. For example, in the workplace, a lot of neurodivergent people of colour struggle due to stereotypes about our race, whether it’s being a Black woman and being perceived as “aggressive” or “rude” for expressing our opinions, whereas people from privileged backgrounds don’t suffer from the same labels.
I feel like the owner should be placed upon the employers to be responsible for actively creating spaces for neurodivergent people. For instance, many employers resort to tick-based training, where as soon as a neurodivergent person is employed, they don’t know what to do with them. It becomes a nightmare for neurodivergent people. A lot of neurodivergent people struggle to find a workplace that is inclusive and feels safe for them.
How are you celebrating autism acceptance month this year?
Allowing myself to rest and my mind to wander.
I feel like my brain has been on go mode for a long time, and it’s made me move on autopilot. This month, I’ve slowed down and listened to my body. A lot of my work for NeuroNoir is advocacy and community building, giving my all to people, and I tend to neglect myself.
For example, I’ve been intentionally going for walks in nature lately, and it sounds like a small thing to an average person, but it’s a very big thing for someone who works from home and struggles with executive functioning. There’s a lake by my house, and I was curious to go down a different path, which led to an adventure. That’s an example of allowing my brain to wander. Anything that is in my interest, I had the habit of ignoring due to prioritising everyone else, but now I’ve been trying to explore and give myself room to wander.
Interested in attending a NeuroNoir event? You can find out what NeuroNoir events are happening in cities near you on their Instagram or website.
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