Celebrating Neurodiversity and Hidden Disabilities: A Message from the EDIB Team

This month, I had the privilege of delivering assemblies alongside Sajid Latif to our Secondary students on the important topic of neurodiversity and hidden disabilities. This subject is particularly close to my heart and is a key focus within our EDIB (Equality, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging) framework.

The assembly aimed to introduce and educate students about the diversity of human brains and the many different ways we think, learn, and interact with the world. A central message of the session was to celebrate our differences and embrace the fact that the world would be much duller if we were all the same. We also emphasised that unkindness has no place in our school community or in society as a whole, reinforcing the timeless "golden rule" shared across cultures: treat others as you wish to be treated.

At BIS Abu Dhabi, our core values of Kindness, Respect, and Honesty are integral to everything we do, and this assembly was a powerful reminder of the importance of these principles in fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for all.

Looking ahead, the EDIB team and I will continue to lead monthly assemblies exploring key themes such as race, gender, privilege, equality, neurodiversity, and disabilities. These sessions are designed to raise awareness, promote understanding, and create a more inclusive school community.

Stay tuned for more EDIB initiatives, including parent workshops and action groups, as we work together to build a more inclusive future for everyone.

Katherine Harvey
Head of Year 11 & whole school EDIB champion

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