The Neurodivergent Infinity Network of Educators has been in existence in one form or another for over a decade in Durham.
2020 marked our exciting inaugural year as a global advocacy network, when we welcomed members from Scotland, England and the United States to our network of Autistic and otherwise Neurodivergent educators!
Since 2020, we have continued to expand our reach and established collaborative planning relationships and/or active ongoing partnerships across Canada and around the world because Neurodivergent realities exist everywhere! Working together is essential for sustainable, human rights based change in Education and beyond!
These include:
Autistic Collaboration Trust
Autistic Realms
Morénike Giwa Onaiwu, Advocacy Without Borders
Aiden Lee
Autistics Unmasked
Lyric Rivera, Neurodivergent Rebel
Quinn Dexter, Autistamatic
Existential Autist
Scottish Ethnic Minority Autistics
Sikhs for Autism
Autism Understanding Scotland
Sabrina Guerra, Non-Speaking Advocate for Change
NeuroPride Ireland
Autistic Realms
Official affiliate of Autistic Self-Advocacy Network
We are so grateful to for all you do in your own local communities, and of course, in our shared spaces in community with us.
Our story lives within each of our members, past and present, who have come to the realization at some point in their lives, that their own authentic lived reality is different from those living "neurotypical" lives. Different, not less.
In addition to being Neurodivergent ourselves, many of us are also parents of Neurodivergent children.
We are educators, leaders and advocates from across the Durham Region and beyond.
Welcome to this part of our journey, as we continue to make history together!
2025
NINE is formally accepted as an affiliate of ASAN, the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network (March)
Ausome Carers' network, a satellite network of NINE , arranges session for families and carers related to Disability Rights by ARCH Disability Law
NINE leadership team develops and implements Professional Development Sessions for over 200 school and school-board based staff on March 31 PD Day
Neurodivergent Changemakers Sessions Continue (April--Wenn Lawson; May--Kieran Rose)
2024
Ausome Carers' Network expansion
Neurodivergent Leadership Collective Established (in partnership with OPC)
Autistic Pride Day Ceremony
Neuroaffirmative Practice Audit Data Collection (details coming soon!)
Launch of Neurodivergent Changemakers Series (Anne Borden King, Karen Muriuki)
2023
New Logo launch!
Autistic Pride Day Flag Raising ceremony at Durham District School Board!
Featured in Ontario Principal Council's magazine, 'The Register':
"Reframing Normal: Embracing Autistic Truths fosters trajectory shifts for Neuro-Inclusive Schools' by Karen A. Timm (page 20)
Partnership with Scottish Ethnic Minority Autistics!
Partnership with Sabrina Guerra, Non-Speaking Advocate for Change!
Expansion of Ausome Human Club!
Establishment of "In the Loop" Neurodiversity Education Pilot Project in partnership with DDSB@Home!
In the works: Intersectional Infinity 2023!!
2022
In 2022 to focus on developing exciting new partnerships with global educators and allies who seek to learn from and with Neurodivergent Educators in order to "know better to do better".
Some Highlights from 2022:
Intersectional Infinity Summit:
Access Information from Summit here or access our YouTube channel to catch many of the recorded sessions!
Launching of our NINE Youtube Channel!
Webinar for Ontario Principals' Council on Neurodiversity Essentials
2021
In 2021-2022, NINE developed many exciting new partnerships!
These include: Aiden Lee, Ask Autistics, Autistamatic, Autism Canada, the Autistic Collaboration Trust, Existential Autist and Morenike Giwa Onaiwu!
2021:
NINE joined the Affinity Networks of DDSB, provided professional development for DDSB@Home and schools across the Durham region.
Professional Development Provided to schools "Reframing Autistic Realities Through Education"
Consultation Provided to Administrators, Teachers, families
Critical Friend Dialogues, ongoing EquiTea sessions and feedback provided to inform system decisions about Critically Conscious Book Talks
DDSB Equity Team includes "#ActuallyAutistic Toolkit for Educators and Other Allies" in April Equity Update
2SLGBTQ PRIDE Network includes NINE's "NINE Ways to Be A Better Ally This Autistic Pride Day" in their "Teaching Pride through Inquiry" Resource during Pride Month 2021
NINE creates #AutisticPride Resource to celebrate and spread the word about Autistic Pride on June 18
"Light It Up Blue" REMOVED from Autism Awareness/Acceptance resource package that is provided to schools annually by Inclusive Education Department in April (as per our Consultation and Recommendation to Equity and Inclusive Education Departments)
2020
Prior to our official formation in 2020, our story involved numerous community partners like:
Voices of Light (Paula Walker)
CADDAC (Centre for ADHD Awareness Canada)
RIck Green (Totally ADD)
Dr. Rosemary Tannock, Neuroscientist
Daniel Share-Strom & Maxine Share (Autism Goggles)
Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario
Girls Inc.
and of course, many allies in the DDSB Equity, Safe Schools and Inclusive Education Departments, families and colleagues in our school communities!
Our story involves the planning of community and schoolboard events such as:
The DDSB ADHD Summit & Expo (making Durham the first school board in Canada to run such an event so many years ago!)
The DDSB Neurodiversity Summit
The ADHD Support Network Durham
We are so grateful to all of you for your support over the years, and for reminding us why finding community is so important!
2019
2018
2016-2017
2014-2015
2013-2014