Meet our neurodivergent staff and students
Barbara Abramowicz
Healthcare science
alumna
"I have ADHD and Middlesex University changed my life. Everything turned in a positive way when I reached out to the support services, right from the first phone call when I spoke to somebody who encouraged me to apply and helped me with setting up my support. I received 1:1 support, mentoring, study skills and a lot of equipment. Last year I graduated and was fortunate enough to secure a job at an NHS trust. I'm currently working as an audiologist and could not have achieved this without the support I received at Middlesex. The university experience has been life-changing for me, Middlesex helped me conquer this success!”
Phil Barter
Academic Director, Middlesex University Mauritius
“I am the Academic Director, Middlesex University Mauritius, formerly Deputy Dean for the Faculty of Health, Social Care and Education, with a PhD, and I am dyslexic. I am keen on showing that dyslexia is not a barrier to success.”
Tamsin Bicknell
Consultant Midwife at Homerton Hospital, Advanced Professional Practice MSc
“I have ADHD and love the creativity, innovation and ability to see things differently that this brings to my practise as a midwife and leader in the NHS. There are challenges too, but finding the right kind of role for my unique brain within my profession has allowed me to flourish; as have practising kindness and understanding towards myself.”
Niki Duncan
Midwifery Education Fellow
“I am an autistic and ADHD Midwifery Lecturer and Midwife. I am keen to share my diagnosis with you so that you can see that you are not alone, if you too are neurodivergent. I am keen for us to generate a greater understanding of all types of neurodivergence and the possibilities for even better inclusivity."
Emilie Edwards
Senior Lecturer in Midwifery
“I am an autistic lecturer and midwife and I want to disrupt the outdated narrative around neurodiversity by engaging in innovative and collaborative conversations and projects.”
Jack Evans
Cybersecurity Student
“I never let my dyslexia get in the way of accomplishing great things and decided to embrace this different way of learning. This has made me a stronger and more empathetic person."
Alice Hartley
Student, trainee mental health worker
"I am an autistic TMHW. One of the things I am hoping to do in the future is to interview various individuals on the neurodivergent spectrum to show society how different we all are to each other. I also want to show how neurodivergent individuals are more than able to contribute to society when rightfully accommodated."
Adrian Jugdoyal
DoP/Senior Lecturer in
Mental Health Nursing
“I am an Autistic and Dyslexic lecturer and nurse. I would want equity for all those identifying as neurodivergent to allow them to reach their maximum potential in all aspects of their life without societal and organisational barriers.”
Rose Kiernan
Creative Technology MSc
“I have ASD and ADHD and I love my neurodivergent brain and how my brain works and how I see the world, I am able to think outside the box and I love how passionate I am as well as having a strong sense of justice, as a Games design graduate at MDX my creativity with my neurodivergency helped a lot!”
Robert McDonough
Occupational Health & Wellbeing Manager
“Having dyslexia has helped me to appreciate that we all have different strengths and needs, which is essential in my role because it gives me an insight into how important it is to put the right support for colleagues with support needs.”
Yvonne McInanny
Midwifery Alumna
“I have dyslexia and I couldn’t have achieved my dream to become a midwife without the support from the university and my personal tutor.”
Nathan
Graphic design student
“I believe that my autism aids my creativity by allowing me to view the world in a different way. I sometimes struggle socially, but find it easy to engage with others through my art.”
Esther Olatunji
President of Neurodiverse Brains
“There is no 'right' way of thinking, learning, and communicating. Our brains are wired differently and that's okay.”
Jacob Pepper
Networks & Social Action Manager
“I’m dyslexic and dyspraxic and grew up assuming that the things that I was good at were despite my Neurodiversity but as I got older and started to research, I realised that they were because of it. It feels cheesy to say but I’m really proud to be neurodiverse.”
Christiana Rose
Events and Development Support Officer
“I am an Event Coordinator with dyspraxia and I want to disrupt the outdated narrative around neurodiversity, by showing that my disability is not limiting - in fact, the way I think and plan, means I get to be creative and work visually. Thanks to Middlesex University’s onus on accessible education, my self-development has been incredible. I am in the final year of a law degree, whilst balancing work and a young family. I have represented the university in mediation competitions in London and Ireland. I have also had the privilege of learning from unbelievably inspiring experts in the legal field, planning events externally at prestigious venues (barristers chambers and Inns of Court!) and organised important events on campus, which contribute towards the future. I am proud of how I work in a coordination role, when my condition is all about a lack of coordination!”
David Wheeler
Associate Lecturer in Studio & Digital Production
“A slow reader, I struggled, but worked super-hard at school and did OK. Energetic, enthusiastic and full of visual ideas because of my ADHD, I went on to become a successful TV director at the BBC, where I juggled many varied priorities and created high-impact films such as Top Gear.”