D.E.N is an abbreviation of Devoted to Embracing Neurodiversity.
We are a new business, but we are experienced in the field of training.
Our lead instructor is Colin Frost, who has over 20 years of training in a manner of different things, including:
Physical First Aid
Mental Health First Aid
Forklift Truck Training
Management CPC
IOSH Health and Safety and more
Neurodiversity training is a relatively new concept but as people, we have been different since the dawn of time. It is only in recent years people have started to accept the differences and enhance them to help places of work and leisure be more inclusive.
Why do I do this?
Back in my day, you were given the label: Naughty, Stupid, Rubbish, Rude and lots of other unhelpful things.
Nobody ever stopped to find out why the kids in my school were struggling to keep up with those who were deemed to be the clever kids. I would guess back then a diagnosis would have been little to no use either as it would have confirmed what people were already thinking. There is something wrong and no point in trying as they won’t be able to do it anyway.
Unfortunately, this thought process did not change as I went into my working life. You could see a pattern in the type of jobs being completed by certain people. When talking to them and asking why they do the job they do, the answer is either, “ I do not get a chance to try anything else because of my difference”, or “I can’t do anything else because of my difference”.
This is something that has followed people their whole lives and has held them back.
As an instructor in many different fields, my job is to teach a subject to a group but try to individualise it to help everybody understand what is being taught. This could be by changing my language, turning a practical lesson into a theory lesson, turning a theory lesson into a practical one, using different training aids, and much more.
So why do I do this?
It is because I care. Many do not do this and the reason they do not is because it has not been taught. I am not perfect in any way shape or form, but I have developed my skills over the years. In all of my instructor training courses, I have never been taught how to help those who may have Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, ADHD, or any other difference. I had to find a way in which to do this.
A Changing World
At last, the world is changing and we can take neurodiversity training to the masses. It is well documented that neurodiverse employees can really benefit a business and help push it to the next level. In the past the teams of employees were mostly assembled by neurotypical people. This often meant people would see things, interpret things and do things in a similar way. By introducing those that are neurodiverse we can challenge the typical thoughts and see things through totally fresh eyes, giving the team a more unique approach to problem solving, product development, production and more.
By learning about how you can be more inclusive in the workplace and understanding the differences in employees and managers we can start to make changes to put people in the right positions. Just because Mary can not input numbers into a spreadsheet, does not mean she would not excel in using a forklift in the warehouse. Steve does not write emails very well; they often have spelling mistakes and grammatical errors. By introducing software such as Grammarly, it could make him feel more confident and improve the standard of work. (I would like to point out we do not have any affiliation to Grammarly) but like Steve in the story, I struggle with the written word. Grammarly has made me feel confident enough to write blogs and send emails without having people check them.
I do not have an official diagnosis, but I know I have dyslexic traits. I can not tell you how much this has hindered my working life. I have great ideas; I can deliver a great speech but to send an important email can terrify me. Having found that making small adjustments in the workplace can take those fears away, I have decided I want to go on a mission and help others to make their workplaces more inclusive.
We are all different, but we all have a place and a purpose in life. Let’s work together and help everybody find the place that makes them happy and where they feel so comfortable, they can excel. D.E.N is looking forward to working with you to help one person at a time.
D.E.N. Values
At D.E.N our Brand values are what makes us different. Below is a breakdown of the values we have and what each value means. Check out our FRESH look:
Vision Statement
We want every company to be inclusive of every employee. Look at each person as an individual and help to make each person feel safe and excel in their working environment.
Mission Statement
We aim to help educate companies about tapping into a wasted resource which is the neurodiverse brain. We want to show that with small changes within the business, an employee can grow in confidence, gain experience, and become experts in their field just like a person who has a neurotypical brain. Companies can, will, and do benefit from releasing the full potential of their talent pool.
