International Women’s Day 2024
Happy International Women’s Day! International Women’s Day falls on the eighth of March and was created to help inspire a world free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination. A world where difference is valued and celebrated-just like at Red Balloon.
IWD is a day to celebrate the achievement of women and the theme this year is Inspire Inclusion. The IWD website says, “When we inspire others to understand and value women’s inclusion, we forge a better world.”
That’s why today we’re sharing a list of women who helped forge a better world and who are neurodiverse! Many neurodiverse women have contributed to making the world better, and more fun, and we think they definitely #InspireInclusion.
Influential Neurodivergent Women
- Simone Biles– Olympic gymnast Simone Biles has won 30 medals so far in her career. Biles was diagnosed with ADHD when she was young and has made it known that she is not ashamed to be neurodiverse!
- Billie Eilish– Pop icon Billie Elish was hesitant to mention her Tourettes Syndrome to her fans for fear that they would only associate her with her tics. But it hasn’t stopped her from becoming an incredibly successful pop star.
- Cher– Cher is an excellent example of how traditional education isn’t the right choice for everyone. She has been quoted saying, “Almost everything I learned, I had to learn by listening. My report cards said that I was not living up to my potential.” At Red Balloon, we know exactly what it’s like to hear those kinds of things from mainstream education! Perhaps Cher would have benefited from attending Red Balloon!
- Temple Grandin– Maybe Temple Grandin isn’t a household name, but she should be! Grandin helped break down years of shame and stigma of autism because she was one of the first adults to document the insights from her personal autism experience. This was a big deal because Grandin was already well-known for her work as an academic and animal welfare activist. She is still a consultant to the livestock industry and an autism spokesperson at the age of 76!
- Greta Thunberg– Climate activist Greta Thunberg is known for her work towards stopping climate change. She has participated in many climate strikes and given public speeches that have made her internationally known. She has been diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome, OCD and selective mutism. None of those have proven to be obstacles for Thunberg, and she continues to be a climate change warrior.
Continuing to Inspire Inclusion
Many more neurodiverse women have made the world a better place, but ultimately, neurodiversity in women has not been historically studied as much as it has for men. If you Google neurodiverse celebrities or historical figures, most of the results would be men. This is another reason to celebrate International Women’s Day: to give attention to those who have made contributions that would not ordinarily get it.
We know being neurodiverse can be tough sometimes. That’s why we make mental health a priority at Red Balloon. At Red Balloon, we know you can be anything you want to be not despite any neurodiversity, but because it makes you part of who you are. Who knows, you could be the next Greta Thunberg or Billie Elish!
