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The Conversation We Keep Avoiding: ADHD, Hypersexuality, and the Silence in Our Assessments
There is a question I still watch clinicians visibly brace themselves for. Not "have you ever self-harmed," not "tell me about your relationship with alcohol," but something far more mundane in principle and far more loaded in practice:
Andrew Ryder
7 min read
"ADOS Trained." Two Words That Should Worry Anyone Who Cares About Autism Assessment Quality
I want you to do something. Open LinkedIn or your preferred recruitment site, search for autism assessment clinician roles, and scroll for a few minutes.
Andrew Ryder
5 min read
Who Is in the Room? The Hidden Diagnostic Risks When Autism Assessment Teams Work Without Breadth
This week I attended training on selective mutism, organised by Diagnostics CEN and delivered by Libby Hill and Abigail Mance, speech and language therapists whose depth of knowledge and quiet expertise in this area genuinely stopped me in my tracks. It was one of those rare CPD experiences that does not merely inform but prompts genuine reflection: on what good clinical practice looks like, on where the gaps exist in the services I work within and alongside, and on the profe
Andrew Ryder
6 min read
Reflections on Ethnic Representation Within ADHD Diagnostic Services
Over the past few years working in ADHD diagnostic assessment services across the UK, I have found myself increasingly reflecting on a pattern that feels difficult to ignore.
Andrew Ryder
4 min read
When the Organisation Doesn’t Practice What It Preaches: ADHD, Clinical Work, and the Reality of Disability Discrimination in ND Services
The neurodiversity movement has made remarkable progress. Across healthcare, education, and corporate sectors, awareness is growing, language is evolving, and organisations are increasingly positioning themselves as champions of neurodivergent individuals. Waiting lists for ADHD and autism assessments have never been longer, public conversations have never been more open, and the destigmatisation of neurodevelopmental differences is gathering real and well deserved momentum.
Andrew Ryder
16 min read
Managing My Energy with Spoon Theory: How I Make It Through Work, Meetings, and the Dad Taxi Shift
Have you ever reached the end of the day and felt completely depleted, even though there’s still a to-do list staring back at you?
Andrew Ryder
3 min read
Inside Our ADHD Mind: Why This BBC Programme Hit Home
Like many others working in neurodiversity, and living with it too, I recently sat down to watch Inside Our ADHD Mind on BBC2, a programme that explores adult ADHD with honesty, curiosity and (thankfully) a healthy dose of humour.
Andrew Ryder
3 min read
Creating a Neuro-Inclusive Environment in Your Organisation
I believe that understanding how people think, learn, and work differently is essential to building thriving, innovative, and compassionate organisations. One of the most meaningful ways to embrace this understanding is through neuro-inclusion: the practice of recognising, respecting, and supporting the full spectrum of cognitive diversity in the workplace.
Andrew Ryder
4 min read
Living with ADHD, Leading Neurodiversity Services: Reflections from a Remote Leader
When people hear that I’m the Head of Neurodiversity at The Owl Centre – overseeing autism and ADHD diagnostic and support services across the UK – they often assume I must have everything perfectly organised, balanced, and under control. What they don’t always expect is that I also live with ADHD.
Andrew Ryder
4 min read
My thoughts on BBC Panorama's 'Private ADHD Clinics Exposed'
Many people will have watched the recent BBC #panorama documentary on #adhd called 'Private ADHD Clinics Exposed'. I am an adult with ADHD who, after many years, sought out a private diagnosis due to the unacceptably long waiting list in my area. Ironically I am also the Head of ADHD Services for a private company and work closely with the NHS to reduce the waiting lists for so many people who might be struggling or need answers. After taking a couple of days to gather my tho
Andrew Ryder
3 min read
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