Some changes can quietly change history, this month, the Church of England took a step that deserves far more attention than it has received.
Its General Synod recognised neurodivergent people as a blessing to the Church and wider society and backed that recognition with practical commitments: neurodivergent-led training, Neurodiversity Champions in every diocese, and a commitment to remove barriers rather than expecting people to change to fit existing systems. (churchofengland.org)
For the Institute of Neurodiversity, this is a story about systems and the steps that are taken to effect lasting change.
The Church of England is one of the world’s oldest continuously operating institutions. Its history stretches back almost 1,400 years. Institutions of that age do not change quickly. Their traditions, structures and language have often evolved over centuries. That is precisely why this moment matters.
When an institution with such deep roots changes the way it understands human difference, it signals that society’s understanding of neurodiversity is evolving.
For generations, many systems have been built around the assumption that difference should be corrected, accommodated or managed. Increasingly, a different understanding is emerging.
The question is no longer:
“How do we help people fit our systems?”
It is becoming:
“How do we design systems that enable every person to contribute and flourish?”
This is a noteworthy different philosophy of human systems.
Perhaps equally significant was the leadership behind the decision. Archbishop Dame Sarah Mullally, the first woman to hold this position, has spoken openly about being dyslexic and about being underestimated during her education. Addressing the General Synod, she said that neurodiversity is “not a problem to be solved… it is a gift.”
Lived experience more often than not brings perspectives that institutions have previously overlooked. At ION, we believe the most meaningful progress happens when systems begin to question their own assumptions rather than asking individuals to change who they are.
That is why moments like this deserve attention because they show that even institutions shaped over centuries are capable of learning, adapting and evolving.
The Church of England’s decision will not transform society and systems on its own but history is shaped by moments when influential institutions begin to see people differently. Each of those moments makes it a little easier for others to follow.
As we look across the world, we are seeing more organisations, governments, businesses, universities and public institutions beginning to rethink long-held assumptions about human difference.
Each decision may appear small in isolation but together, they point towards something much larger. They remind us that systems are created by people and what people create, people can redesign.
At ION, we will continue to shine a light on these moments because they help us understand how human systems are evolving.
The Church of England has taken an important step.
The question now is not whether systems can change.
The question is: which institution will be next?
Read the full story on LinkedIn, as published by the Church of England: General Synod backs new network of neurodiversity champions | The Church of England