Neurodiversity documentaries

As I wrote in a recent post, it frustrates me that there’s a hierarchy of awareness when it comes to neurodiversity. Few are unaware of autism, ADHD and dyslexia, yet many remain unaware of dyspraxia, dyscalculia and Tourette’s.

A terrific set of neurodiversity documentaries made for the BBC by Chris Packham – someone I idolise – is indicative.

The subjects? Autism (Chris himself is autistic), ADHD and dyslexia. These were insightful, sensitive films, well received by critics and audiences alike.

It gave me great delight to discover this week, then, that ITV has commissioned 72 Films to make a documentary about Tourette’s. Ironically, this is being presented by another hero of mine – Freddie Flintoff, the all-rounder who became the face of English cricket in the 2000s.

This matters.

Freddie is an icon. He’ll bring the topic of neurodiversity to an audience that those of us trying our best on the web simply can’t reach.

That the focus this time is Tourette’s gives me great encouragement. Hopefully it won’t be too long before dyspraxia and dyscalculia get their moments in the national television spotlight.

A step – or maybe a stumble, if you’re dyspraxic – in the right direction.

Our society is on a journey. I appreciate that. It won’t happen overnight, but let’s hope in 10 years’ time the lesser-known forms of neurodiversity trip off the tongue as readily as ADHD.