Who are we?

Neurodiversity Belgium supports neurodivergent people of all ages and their families. We work with teachers, schools, and other professionals. We provide information about neurodiversity — which includes ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, and dyspraxia (developmental coordination disorder) — and co-existing conditions.

Neurodiversity Belgium is a non-profit support organisation run entirely by volunteers. Our mission is to provide a network of support, evidence-based information and resources for English-speaking people in Belgium about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism and Learning Differences, such as Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia and Dyspraxia (also called Developmental Coordination Disorder). We are focused on both families and their children, and on neurodivergent adults.

We began as a group working to support parents, families, teachers, and schools with their neurodivergent children and teens. As our children grew up, we became interested in how neurodivergent adults navigate workplaces and adult life. This is when our project Neurodiverse Brains in the Workplace began.

We aim to spread awareness about these conditions in the international and European schools, local schools, as well as in civil society and the work sphere in Belgium. Our aim is that children and adolescents who are struggling due to one or more neurodivergent conditions will have the opportunity to achieve their full capability at school, and to live balanced and productive lives as adults. For adults, we mean to provide support and advice for the different aspects of their lives so they can enjoy life and live up to their full potential.

Neurodiversity Belgium was a founding member of ADHD Europe. We shared the aim of ADHD Europe to reduce the stigma and misinformation surrounding ADHD, that still exists today – this stigma is something which has a significant effect on many children, adolescents, and adults, including those who remain undiagnosed and untreated. Neurodivergent conditions are often misunderstood and are much-maligned, while they are very real and lives can be ruined if conditions remain undetected and untreated. Our Belgian organisation as well as ADHD Europe attend meetings at the European Parliament to represent the interests of our members, and neurodiversity as a whole. We raise awareness of neurodivergent conditions to inform policy development and programmes, and to improve the situations of neurodivergent people in the European Union. We recently took part in a project with an ADHD Europe partner (ADHS Deutschland) to create the ADHD Women website.

Please note that we have left ADHD Europe in June 2023.

We have tried to add as many resources as possible to each section in the hopes you will find information relevant to your unique situation.

What do we do?

We organise social meetings for parents and children, and hikes in the woods.  We also organise regular support meetings for neurodivergent adults, ADHD Women, and for parents and teachers where we talk about neurodiversity.  At support meetings, people can share their experiences and strategies and get advice from the other participants and the professionals facilitating these meetings. This is especially important in case of a new diagnosis, or for newly arrived residents in Belgium who want to set up a support network within our community.

Our organisation invites nationally and internationally known experts to give workshops on important topics about ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, DCD, Dyscalculia and other Learning Differences.
We can assist parents in finding professional help for children and adolescents, which can either take place at school or at another location. We can also assist adults in finding professional help.

For pupils, we advise you to seek a formal diagnosis. This is often required by schools for reasonable accommodations. We strive to offer resources and information to the schools in Belgium, and recommend that you talk to your child’s school about the help they can provide.

Some adults are put off seeking a diagnosis by the long waiting times (these can be speeded up if you are prepared to pay for a private consultation). Other adults feel that a formal diagnosis is unnecessary. While this is valid, you will probably require a formal diagnosis if you require medication or accommodations at your workplace.

Please do consult with your prescribing doctor before making any changes to your medication and treatment plant, as well as that of your child.

Contact us for more information.