Where our neurodiversity story started: supporting neurodivergent individuals
Our story started over 12 years ago when we set up Aim Assessments, delivering study needs assessments for students in higher education under a fund called the ‘Disabled Students Allowance’ (DSA).
People were naturally curious about the funding and what exactly we did. When we explained that it was funding for supporting neurodivergent individuals. This included students in higher education with a neurodivergence, mental health condition or disability. We were often asked why this funding isn’t available in schools and found that many people knew a child who needed support but couldn’t access it.
We also discovered that the university students we supported believed they would have benefited from this support through their GCSEs and A-levels. We regularly heard that they felt it would have made a huge difference to their education.
Fast forward 12 years.
Changes to the disabled students’ allowance
Through Aim Assessments, we have been incredibly privileged to be a part of so many students’ stories and experiences. We feel proud of the difference we’ve made supporting neurodivergent individuals. The last couple of years have been a time for reflection, as DSA assessments have undergone significant changes.
These changes helped us decide it was time to move on from the world of DSA and Aim Assessments.
Government changes to the fund, and our passion to ensure that every individual has their unique story heard meant that it was no longer a space where we could have the greatest impact.
We wanted more people to benefit from our experience and knowledge of neurodivergence and mental and physical health conditions. Our goal was to share everything we’d learned about what works and what doesn’t when supporting neurodivergent individuals. We wanted to help them excel by offering more holistic support for adults and young people aged 14 and over.
Aim Forward was born.
- With a passion for neurodiversity.
- With a passion for helping individuals find solutions to shape their future.
- With a passion for making a real difference.
Changes we’ve seen in neurodiversity
Looking back, we don’t think we could have set up Aim Forward 12 years ago. The world wasn’t ready for it. Very few people were talking openly about mental health or neurodiversity. We’ve watched in awe over the last 12 years as our understanding of mental health and neurodiversity gained momentum in the UK. We are well ahead of many other countries (in fact we could argue that the DSA is world-leading), but we still have a long way to go.
At Aim Forward, we’re an optimistic bunch, and we watch with admiration as the world around us changes. From our daughter’s primary school, with an excellent SENCo making adjustments for all its students (so that a formal diagnosis isn’t needed, and all students benefit), to the increasing numbers of people becoming comfortable with self-diagnosing, sharing and celebrating their neurodivergence. We welcome the increasing acceptance of mental health and wellbeing as something to nurture, and the changes in flexible working that are materialising in the workplace. We feel proud of the next generation entering the workplace and fighting for their rights. Not everyone gets it right all the time, but overall, it paints a picture of a more inclusive world and fills us with hope.
We’re proud that we’ve been a small part of that transformation too. Inspiring and supporting neurodivergent individuals with strategies and technologies that work for them is what gets us out of bed in the morning. We help to open their eyes to different ways of working and help them understand what adjustments they can expect as a result of their neurodivergence or mental health condition.
So now is the time for Aim Forward. The next step in our journey.
Why Aim Forward?
At Aim Forward, we’re in our element when we’re supporting neurodivergent individuals and people with mental health issues. We live for that moment when someone shares with you what makes them tick, opening up for the first time. Together we craft new strategies that work. New lightbulb moments. New recipes for success. Both personally and professionally, many of us have seen the difference it makes when an individual’s story is acknowledged in their support strategies for learning, working and beyond.
For some people, sharing their story comes naturally. For others, it can feel like a vulnerability. However it happens, we know that we can make the most difference when individuals feel comfortable and empowered to share their neurodivergence or mental health condition with us to unlock new ways of working.
This is what is at the heart of Aim Forward. Designing a service that puts the individual at the centre of the process. It’s not just about saying the words, it’s about meaning them too.
Find out how we’ve helped our clients thrive with our approach to needs assessments.
If you’re looking to find solutions to shape your future, get in touch to find out how we can help today.