Sonal Singh

(Presentation & Discussion)

ADHD Coaching

Sally Rogers

(Presentation)

Not Lack of Willpower: Neurodivergence, Shame, and the Roots of Addiction

Addiction in neurodivergent people is frequently misunderstood as impulsivity or poor self-control. This session challenges that narrative. In just 20 minutes, it explores how ADHD, autism, sensory processing differences, and rejection sensitivity - shaped by trauma, chronic masking, and internalised shame - can drive addictive patterns. Attendees are invited to reframe addiction not as failure, but as adaptation, and to consider how neuroaffirming, trauma-informed approaches can reduce harm and improve support.

Ayanwole Boluwatife Joshua

(Presentation & Discussion)

Neurodiversity in Africa: The Lens of Autism in Nigeria

This session underscores how neurodiversity is perceived, viewed, and seen in Africa, particularly regarding the condition "Autism". We will explore the lens of autism in Nigeria, highlighting contrasts with Western perspectives. Unlike the West, Nigeria's context is shaped by cultural narratives, spiritual beliefs, and stigma, often leading to denial and isolation. Western countries benefit from established support systems, specialized education, early diagnosis, and anti-discrimination policies – resources often scarce in Nigeria. We'll examine how traditional views influence autism understanding, the challenges of limited resources and awareness, and the need for context-sensitive support. Bridging Western insights with African realities, we'll discuss pathways to empowerment, inclusive education, and community-driven neurodiversity acceptance in Nigeria and broader Africa.

Middle East Menopause Organisation (Panel)

Donna Howarth, Sophie Smith, Dr Hala Zahreddine Fahs, Anna Kaminski  

When Hormones Meet Neurodivergence: Understanding Women's Cyclical Challenges

Neurodivergent women, especially those with ADHD or AuDHD, experience amplified emotional and cognitive shifts as hormonal cycles fluctuate. This conversation bridges neuroscience and lived experience to reveal why hormone-aware care and self-understanding are vital. Join us to unpack the science, challenge misconceptions, and reclaim the connection between hormones, neurodivergence, and women's wellbeing.

Sherry Maher Erian 

(Presentation)

Dystinct Learners

Demystifying Dyslexia

This session explores the cognitive foundations of dyslexia and how understanding these underlying processes can transform the way educators, parents, and professionals support learners who experience it.

Rosemary May Ritchings 

(Presentation)

Dyspraxia and Healthcare: A Lived Experience Perspective

Dyspraxia is one of the most unknown forms of neurodivergence while also being one of the most common. This session will allow healthcare professionals to increase the quality of care they provide, through the provision of dyspraxic friendly healthcare.  

Sarah Bougary & Najah Mustafa

(Workshop)

MENATA (Middle East North Africa Trauma Alliance)

Trauma Advocacy for Neurodivergent Persons: Moving Beyond the Session.

This workshop explores trauma advocacy as a clinically grounded and ethical extension of trauma-responsive care for neurodivergent individuals. Moving beyond an individualised, symptom-focused model, the session examines how educators, clinicians, and allied professionals can recognise and respond to systemic contributors to trauma across settings such as education, healthcare, family systems, and community environments.

Dr. Shereen Sharaan 

(Presentation)

University of Birmingham Dubai

A Qualitative Exploration of UAE Healthcare Workers Knowledge of Autism and Experiences with Autism Individuals

This session bridges significant gaps between awareness, training, and inclusive practice. By addressing misconceptions and systemic barriers, the UAE can move toward a more compassionate, informed, and equitable healthcare system for autistic individuals and their families.

Dr. Theresa Haskins

(Presentation & Discussion)

Understanding Gifted Neurodivergence: The Reality of Twice-Exceptionality

Many people confuse giftedness with high achievement, but gifted neurodivergence follows an entirely different developmental path. These learners often show exceptional ability in one area and unexpected difficulty in another — not because they are inconsistent, but because their neurodevelopment is uneven. This uneven profile is the reality of twice-exceptionality.

Dominika Pikul (Workshop)

NeuroEdge

Understanding Different Profiles of ADHD in Children: A Neuroscience-Based Perspective

Although ADHD is often described as a single diagnostic category, growing evidence from neuroscience and cognitive research reveals striking variability in its underlying mechanisms. This session explores how differences in attention regulation, impulsivity, and executive functioning reflect distinct neurocognitive profiles rather than one uniform disorder. Focusing on what drives attentional difficulties — from neural network dynamics to motivational and emotional regulation processes — the talk highlights why children with the same diagnosis may show very different developmental trajectories and treatment responses. Emphasis will be placed on translating these insights into clinically meaningful perspectives that support more individualized assessment and intervention planning.

Alissa Fagin (film screening: Synesthesia)

Sound & Color: Depicting the Synesthetic Mind

Sound & Color is a short documentary that follows the process of animating synesthesia artist Sarah Kraning's visual experience of sound. Synesthesia is a neurological phenomenon in which stimulation of one sense involuntarily triggers experiences in another, such as “seeing” sounds as colors. Through its nuanced and emotional exploration of Sarah's mind, the film contemplates neurodiversity, subjective perception, and art's role in transforming personal experience into something universal.

Pasha Marlowe (workshop)