Three keynote speakers have been lined up to share their lived experiences during a free business event focussed on health, wellbeing and neurodiversity in the workplace.
The Connects Network event takes place at the Denise Coates Foundation Building at Keele University tomorrow (20 November), starting at 9.30am.
Loui’s Kitchen co-founder Steph Talbot will be sharing an insight into the challenges her family have faced when seeking employment opportunities for her grandson Loui, who has autism. The family-run café based in The Westlands, Newcastle-under-Lyme, was set up to provide a place of work for Loui.
Steph will be joined by businesswoman Jodie Steele who will be drawing on her lived experience with Functional Neurological Disorder and ADHD and talking about her online platform Alchemy Souls Travel, which is dedicated to empowering neurodivergent and wellness-focused travellers.
The third speaker is Helen Roger, a training officer at Community and Volunteer Services Cheshire East, who will explore working with VCFSE organisations to understand their unique needs and provide them with support to achieve their objectives.
Steph, pictured above, said: “Talking about neurodiversity at Connects Network isn’t just about sharing Loui’s story and successes, it’s an opportunity to reach a wider community.
“To encourage others to take steps that help more people thrive in inclusive workplaces and spark a conversation that turns understanding into action across different organisations.”
Jodie added: “I’m excited to speak at Connects at Keele to help share the reality of high performance from the inside – the pace and the cost, and the turning points where success and health collide.
“I’ll be talking about how I learned to work with my wiring, not against it, and how redefining success on my own terms helped me regain balance. Most importantly, I want to help colleagues and workplaces understand how supporting people who think differently allows everyone to thrive.”
Booking information can be found via Eventbrite here.
