Neurodivergent business owner, Katie Toner, is making North East businesses more inclusive, timed perfectly for Autism Acceptance Month in April.

Katie, 29 from Northumberland, was diagnosed with autism and ADHD within the last three years.

She's now transforming that personal experience into action, advocating for disabled and neurodivergent individuals' equal opportunities in the region.

Toner, alongside her business, is making waves during this week's observance of Autism Acceptance Week. Several North East organisations have been working intimately with her to improve their inclusivity strategies.

And Ms Toner is not just stopping at verbal assistance; she's also making a mark with a notable event. Katie is at the helm in organising ‘Neurofest’, a festival celebrating inclusivity.

Scheduled for Saturday, April 6, 2024, at the Marsden Community Centre in South Shields, the family-friendly event is an open invitation to all. Neurofest aims to raise funds for various North East charities.

Katie Toner, said: "It’s refreshing to see people looking at inclusion and accessibility from a neurodivergent and invisible disability perspective as well as being aware of mobility issues.

"The team were genuinely engaged and enthusiastic about what more can be done to attract people like me to travel with confidence and enjoy the experience when travelling. Anything that makes like less stressful is a positive step."

Gillian Morton, Customer Experience Manager at Lumo, said: "First hand experiences from Katie for me, is just invaluable. It is absolutely superb to hear everything she has to say and just how we can help and support our customers out there because every customer is different and has different needs."

Among them is Kayaks, a charity that supports the local Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) community. Earlier in the week, Toner paid a visit to Lumo, a Newcastle-based train company.

She shared her personal journey and insights on how the public transport sector could elevate their accessibility and inclusion standards. Collaborating with Alan Noble, a fellow ADHD Newcastle-based videographer, they documented Katie's interactions and experiences at Lumo.

The duo's short journey between Newcastle and Morpeth, Northumberland, formed part of the day's event. In related news, the North East Autism Society (NEAS) commenced a campaign to create 1,000 job opportunities for the regional autistic population.

Statistics show only three in 10 autistic individuals are employed - the lowest rate of any disability group. However, NEAS reports that three-quarters of the unemployed autistic community are keen on securing work. The society encourages businesses to reconsider their hiring practices and extend better support for neurodivergent employees.

For more information on the upcoming Neurofest, interested individuals can visit https://allevents.in/south%20shields/neurofest-2024-presented-by-unite-club-and-kayaks/10000860486998777.