About Project INC

This resource was written by Jamie Williams (director at Spectrum First Education), Professor Lorna Hamilton and Dr Stephanie Petty at York St John University in 2025.

It delivers the essential findings from an action research project supported by the Institute for Social Justice.

INC is a participatory project, designed by, with, and for, neurodivergent people in a university setting. Many of the learnings will be applicable across schools, workplaces, and wellbeing settings.

Learn more

Introduction Banner at the Nurodiversity in Education Conference

Who is INC-sights for?

‘INC-sights’ is a community resource for anybody working in education or employment settings who wants to find out more about inclusive and affirming practices.

We will explore the many places, systems, and people that impact the wellbeing and success of a neurodivergent person as they navigate their day. Each bite-size section highlights key themes and considerations you can adapt thoughtfully within your own context(s).

All recommendations come from the latest research and are informed by experts in lived experience, academic scholars, and clinical practitioners. This multidisciplinary approach means you can trust you will find something for you.

If you are looking to develop your neuroinclusive practice, you could consider signposting to INC-sights to inform and support induction and organisational learning.

For personal and organisational learning use only. Not licensed for third-party commercial training delivery. INC-sights is a non-profit community resource based on Project INC’s research, summarising key insights and themes from the INC project and is designed to support reflection and informed discussion. INC-sights is not an accredited training programme, and it does not reproduce proprietary training materials, facilitator scripts, or commercial course content. If you would like structured training or consultancy, this can be commissioned separately with companies, including Spectrum First Education. Project INC was funded by YSJ/The Institute for Social Justice, in partnership with Spectrum First Education through a Community Partnership Grant. The INC-sights resource is funded by York St John University/The Institute for Social Justice.

Overview of the INC-sights resource

Each section will combine presented insights, audio clips, and animated video resources. They are not ordered, allowing you to choose the order in which you interact, but the first one is a mini-outline of the resource and how it will work.

You and your environment

Why neurodiversity matters to you, and how small positive changes can make a big difference in any environment.

Neurodiversity: what and where is it?

The neurodiversity paradigm and the neurodiversity umbrella, compassionate pedagogy and approaches, and neurodiversity affirming practice. Unpicking stereotypes. Jargon busting.

Small changes to make a big difference

Key tips for you to apply from the active model of belonging.

“Attitudinal shifts can be as important as physical changes. Adjustability and flexibility are absolutely key. Because people’s needs will be dynamic; they will change depending on the time of day and what sort of day they’re having.”

"Can I belong here?"

An inclusive ethos of co-production and collaboration. An active model of belonging. Sensory habitats. Flow states.

“Belonging means I can see neurodivergent strengths being recognised and valued.”

"Talk to me, believe me"

Diverse communication profiles and the double empathy problem. Universal design to benefit everybody.

“It’s about asking you what you need. Sometimes it takes effort and quite a lot of vulnerability to communicate.”

See the person and sharing responsibility

The legacy of the past. Masking, hidden homework, ‘cost-benefit decision making’, and rejection sensitivity.

“Unsuitable environments mean I am not ‘performing’. There is a hidden curriculum disadvantaging some people more than others.”

"Getting it wrong" - FAQs

Common concerns. Why trying is better than not trying. Neuronormative defaults.