b'EMPOWERED TO INSPIRE, ACHIEVE AND LEAD TOGETHEREMPOWERED TO INSPIRE, ACHIEVE AND LEAD TOGETHEREMPOWERED TO INSPIRE, ACHIEVE AND LEAD TOGETHEREMPOWERED TO INSPIRE,VETERINARY WOMAN CHAMPIONS FOR CHANGEACHIEVE & LEAD TOGETHERS U M M A R Y Born in the Netherlands, I started studying wildlife managementin 2007, burned out in 2009 and dropped out of Uni. I started Background: Im an RVN passionatemy mental health journey in 2009 and by 2012 I was stableabout neurodiversity, mental health, andenough to return to education. I studied Veterinary Nursing in By being a loud voice that explains, breaks down veterinary education. After overcomingthe Netherlands at an RCVS accredited college and qualified as and represents neurodiversity in all of its forms, I burnout and mental health challenges, I qualified in 2014. I now focus on advocacyan RVN in 2014, entering the register in November 2014. I moved am hoping to support those who are less able or and support for veterinary teams and runto England, and my first job was in a cats-only clinic in the North willing to put their neck out for acceptance. The Neurospicy RVN Facebook page. East. I decided after a year that if this was going to be my career,Mission: I raise awareness aboutI needed more varied skills. I joined my first corporate practiceneurodiversity and mental health inin 2015 and have been working in various practices in the North veterinary care, aiming to reduce stigmasince. population, but due to our struggles to conform to normal and promote inclusive work practicesexpected society, this is not always evident in our work. that benefit all employees, includingNow 2024 is ending, I am putting a halt on my clinical career to More and more veterinary and veterinary nursing students neurotypical ones. focus on my health, physical and mental, and on my family. I identify as neurodivergent and by doing so are challenging the Challenges: Key challenges includehave a strong interest in feline medicine, am a consulting nurse established way of working in vet med: long days, long hours, misinformation, employer resistanceat heart and am very open and honest about my mental health. to accommodations, and the difficultyno breaks and conform or leave. Many companies boast of of official diagnoses, as manyPlease summarise how you are working towards changeneurodiversity inclusion, but on the ground in the practices, neurodivergent individuals are self- in the veterinary professions and why do you feel this ismany individuals have to fight for every single adjustment. diagnosed. important? Being made to feel guilty because No-one else needs this, whyImpact: My posts and articles haveI am passionate about promoting and creating awarenessdo you? In reality a lot of neurodiverse-friendly adjustment sparked conversations and helped buildof neurodiversity and mental health in the veterinarywill benefit the neurotypical as much as the neurodivergent. connections with organisations to fostercommunity. I believe education is the road to understanding,I believe that by supporting gold standard employment inclusion. and understanding to acceptance. By being a loud voice thatpractices, everyone will benefit, employees and employersAdvice: The best advice Ive received is:explains, breaks down and represents neurodiversity in all of itsalike. Dont give up, you have value, you areforms, I am hoping to support those who are less able or willing appreciated, and you are seen. Its ato put their neck out for acceptance.But it requires people willing to stick their head above the reminder that even when change is slow,parapet that have energy enough to fight the judgement and persistence makes a difference. I believe neurodiversity is the next frontier in employmentprejudice. So here I am, working one post or article at a time atNext Steps: I continue to share myequality. One in seven people experience neurodivergence, andcreating more education, more understanding through easily journey, write articles, and work withmore may experience mental health struggles. My aim is to beaccessible, low-threshold information. And I hope to develop organisations like BVCIS and The Vetpresent, to be loud and to educate employers and employeesthis into lectures and courses to support individuals and Project UK to develop educationalas well as the powers that be, in the benefits and struggles ofcompanies more formally too. resources on neurodiversity and mental health. neurodiversity, and how this can benefit a company. I want toThe NeuroSpicy RVN is a hyperfocus born out of frustration. break down barriers and stigma surrounding the conditionsFrustration at lack of representation, at lack of change and lack that are part of neurodiversity. Break down the belief that itof real acceptance. is just about being awkward, that we have a choice in how our brain works. To cement the understanding that these are realHow do you feel this is making a difference?conditions, that can be measured, and that do not affect ourI am slowly getting more visibility, and my articles to date intelligence. More often than not neurodivergent individualshave been well received. I have made contact with various are of average to higher intelligence than the neurotypicalorganisations and companies to offer support and collaborate. www.veterinarywoman.co.uk 24'