Collaborations
Shiplake College
During my time working with Shiplake College, I had the privilege of delivering a series of three bespoke presentations tailored to the unique needs of the college community. Understanding that a "one size fits all" approach doesn't work for complex topics like neurodiversity, I developed three distinct sessions for Teachers, Students, and Parents.
Each presentation was carefully calibrated to meet the specific time frames and audience demands of the group:
For Teachers: Focused on practical classroom strategies and the pedagogical side of support.
For Parents: Centered on home-life dynamics, advocacy, and emotional resilience.
For Students: A high-energy, relatable session focused on self-acceptance and personal growth.
Feedback from the Head of Learning Development
The success of these sessions was reflected in the feedback from Judit Coolehan, Shiplake’s Head of Learning Development, who noted the deep impact of the Sixth Form session:
"Rory delivered a deeply personal and motivational talk on his ADHD journey... His presentation struck the perfect balance between being informative and emotionally engaging, offering a powerful insight into the lived experience of neurodiversity."
Judit highlighted the importance of the "trial and error" process I shared, noting that the emphasis on reframing neurodiversity and fostering self-awareness was "both inspiring and empowering for our students."
Lasting Impact
Perhaps the most rewarding part of the experience was the immediate aftermath. As Judit observed:
"The impact of Rory’s talk was evident in the number of pupils who approached staff afterwards to express how much they had gained from the session. His authenticity and optimism left a lasting impression."