Newsletter #1 – Spring 2024
The first newsletter of the Police National Dyslexia Association! We have been an official association now for over 11 weeks and, in that time, we have: Grown to over 400 members nationwide Supported several individuals with queries around reasonable adjustments, diagnosis, and more Selected our committee members, which will be released soon!
A Message from the PNDA Chair, PS Maria Canning
Upcoming Events
Research has shown that there can be a link between neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism and ADHD and mental health. Lived experience had also shown that individuals
with Dyslexia can struggle with confidence and self esteem. Maria Canning – “Being neurodivergent is not always easy and has – at times in my life – brought challenges as well as strength, I find a lot of solace in getting outdoors and hiking or kayaking.” Have you ever hiked any of the three peaks? Or have you always wanted to?
A Message from the PNDA Vice Chair, PS Chris Walton-Tate
I hope you don’t mind the intrusion of a sudden newsletter landing in your inbox from us. As this is the very first one, it works as a sort of ‘proof of concept’ for what we want to do moving forwards and I hope you continue to remain a subscriber to the newsletter, as we aim to share with you the good work that we are doing, as well as support and information that could well help you.It’s been a whirlwind since our amazing launch in the House of Lords and New Scotland Yard, an event which will stick with me forever – I certainly felt like I had impostor syndrome being around such amazing people and hearing some very emotional stories and journeys. I am very mindful that, with such a launch, the momentum of what we have set out to do needs to continue. I have been slacking a bit, given my own journey in re-joining the Police, but I am now settled and ready to crack on!In the coming months, I will be embarking on a research project, which is still in its early days of planning. The basic premise of this will be to contact our PNDA SPOCs and relevant neurodiversity representatives across all police organisations nationwide and generate a working picture of exactly how these organisations respond to / support their neurodiverse colleagues. From this, I will be able to see which organisations excel in support and which ones could do with some guidance, I will also be able to see what works well and what doesn’t, so I can take this to create recommendations, which I hope to use to try and standardise a fully appropriate and supportive response to neurodiversity across the nation.If you do have any information you’d like to share with me to assist, please contact me – chris.walton-tate@pnda.org.uk as I would love to hear from you!