In a pamphlet entitled "Conservatism in Crisis - Rise of the Bureaucratic Class", Kemi Badenoch has written (or at the very least put her name to):
"Being diagnosed as neuro-diverse was once seen as helpful as it meant you could understand your own brain, and so help you to deal with the world. It was an individual focused change. But now it also offers economic advantages and protections. If you have a neurodiversity diagnosis (e.g. anxiety, autism), then that is usually seen as a disability, a category similar to race or biological sex in terms of
discrimination law and general attitudes.
If you are a child, you may well get better treatment or equipment at school – even transport to and from home. If you are in the workforce, you are protected in employment terms from day 1, you can more easily claim for unfair dismissal, and under disability rules you can also require your employer makes ‘reasonable adjustments’ to your job (and you can reveal your disability once you have been employed rather than before).
In short, whereas once psychological and mental health was seen as something that people should work on themselves as individuals, mental health has become something that society, schools and employers have to adapt around."
Any comments?
Jaxjacky
I read it that’s it’s good neuro divergence is now acknowledged and help is available (in theory) rather than dismissed as it was previously. I’m also not sure of the context of the text from the OP, I’ll read that thanks Baggs.
That's what the first sentence says, but read on.
Goodness, the document has the same breathless style as Enid Blyton. Nobody could ever accuse the authors of underuse of superlatives.
Baggs
I don't understand what the problem is. What it says in the OP is true according to some family members of mine who have direct experience of all of it.
Do people think KB is complaining about this, or – as the last paragraph could be interpreted to mean – that the system described in the first to paragraphs is a bad thing?
That's not how how I read it.
Re KB as PM, I tend to agree with LizzieDrip's supposition that even if she is elected leader of the Tory Party, the party as a whole will have another leadership battle before the next general election anyway. Seems all they're good at at the moment.
The problem is that it's not true. Neurodivergent children and adults get very little in the way of extra funding as children and, as adults, are more likely to be unemployed than others with disabilities. Anybody with a neurodivergent child or grandchild (or even neurodivergent themself) will tell you about the struggle to get any recognition of the condition and, probably even more important, how to get any fair support in school and the workplace.
PS. Autism isn't a mental health condition, so shouldn't be lumped together with anxiety (even though some autistic people have anxiety).
I quite like her- she is going to keep the Tories out of power for a long time, maybe forever.
I read it that’s it’s good neuro divergence is now acknowledged and help is available (in theory) rather than dismissed as it was previously. I’m also not sure of the context of the text from the OP, I’ll read that thanks Baggs.
Baggs
Do you have a link to the pamphlet that's being quoted, gs?
I see you found it. For those who haven't found it yet, it's here:
cdn.prod.website-files.com/66e290977b0f17041797e6ae/66fb3a4aa6d5bf17f7481ed1_Conservatism%20in%20Crisis.pdf
Sorry, I mean to post the link, but forgot.
Over the years I’ve worked with many neurodiverse students.
Prior to the 1980s and the work of Mary Warnock and others in the field, school children with no diagnosis were just considered, odd, difficult and sometimes unable to access education. Thank goodness the unique abilities of many neurodiverse people is now recognised. It doesn’t take much research to see that the world has benefited, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs to name two.
Allira
Anyone who diverges from the approved narrative seems to be misinterpreted, Baggs 😀
Yup.
KB's directness of speech is what a lot of people like about her. They are tired of political pussy-footing around.
Anyone who diverges from the approved narrative seems to be misinterpreted, Baggs 😀
However, is she saying that is a good thing, that neurodiversity is more recognised now and that, as a society, we are more aware and are adapting and accepting? As a politician, she has to be more careful that her words are not open to misinterpretation.
These were my first thoughts too, allira.
Not sure her being more carefulwith her choice of words will help though. Seems to me anything a conservative says nowadays is immediately misinterpreted, often deliberately.
Happens on GN too 🙃
I did a search of the title in the OP. This came up (which I'm about to read):
conservativehome.com/2024/09/30/kemi-badenoch-conservatism-is-in-crisis-and-we-need-to-be-serious-about-getting-it-back-on-track/
She's right about conservatism being in crisis. Just look at the last 14 years!
Plenty of others feel the same from what I'm seeing in the media.
In short, whereas once psychological and mental health was seen as something that people should work on themselves as individuals, mental health has become something that society, schools and employers have to adapt around.
However, is she saying that is a good thing, that neurodiversity is more recognised now and that, as a society, we are more aware and are adapting and accepting?
As a politician, she has to be more careful that her words are not open to misinterpretation.
LizzieDrip
Badenoch’s idea that being neurodivergent is something people should ‘work on themselves’ is utterly disgraceful. It’s like going back to the days when people suffering from clinical depression were told to ‘pull their socks up’.
Society has moved on; apparently Ms Badenoch hasn’t.
"What is wrong with you? Pull yourself together!"
My DD works with neurodiverse children, she would be horrified.
Don't worry, GrannyGravy13, if she does become Tory leader, that should finish the party off completely. They won't win an election.
The Party would probably split into sensible conservatives (small 'c') and the right-wing extremists.
Anyone who has any experience of neurodiversity will be horrified by this "rubbish" but sadly some people who live in fear of being "disadvantaged" if the genuine needs of others are accommodated, will probably agree. It's yet another example of appealing to the worst in people. Badenoch will probably be elected.
Do you have a link to the pamphlet that's being quoted, gs?
I don't understand what the problem is. What it says in the OP is true according to some family members of mine who have direct experience of all of it.
Do people think KB is complaining about this, or – as the last paragraph could be interpreted to mean – that the system described in the first to paragraphs is a bad thing?
That's not how how I read it.
Re KB as PM, I tend to agree with LizzieDrip's supposition that even if she is elected leader of the Tory Party, the party as a whole will have another leadership battle before the next general election anyway. Seems all they're good at at the moment.
nanna8
Tell me she isn’t going to ever, ever be PM. Please. I don’t know anything about the woman but anyone with these views needs to disappear from politics, quickly. Disgraceful.
I wish I could promise that.
LizzieDrip I really hope so, but honestly I have given up trying to second guess the Conservatives.
(I cannot call them my party at the moment)
I don’t think she’ll ever be PM. Even if she wins the current leadership contest, the Tories will change their leader before the next election. Badenoch / Jenrick will just be a ‘holding’ leader - and they probably know it.
The Tories will bide their time and, based on how things are going, decide who is needed to lead them into the election. It’s what they do!
Tell me she isn’t going to ever, ever be PM. Please. I don’t know anything about the woman but anyone with these views needs to disappear from politics, quickly. Disgraceful.
Badenoch’s idea that being neurodivergent is something people should ‘work on themselves’ is utterly disgraceful. It’s like going back to the days when people suffering from clinical depression were told to ‘pull their socks up’.
Society has moved on; apparently Ms Badenoch hasn’t.
All I have to say, is: kemi better get used to neurodiversity because it ain’t going away. 🤦🏼♀️
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I have a 15yr old GS with autism and an 11yr old GD with dyslexia and autism. Being professionally diagnosed then given an EHCP (Educational Health Care Plan) it has ensured that they have been able to receive an education tailored to their needs and giving them the best chance to fulfil their potential as independent adults. They both go to special schools and due to the distance involved my GS has transport to and from school. My GD is dropped off and collected from school by family. KM appears to be making the point that those with neuro diverse issues should be coping on their own but in today's society are mollycoddled and are a drain on finances and resources within their community. What do the Tories plan to do then? Remove all help both practical, emotional and financial from all those who through no fault of their own have a lifelong condition to cope with? It saddens me to think that a candidate for a Party leader signs her name to this drivel.
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