Designing for Difference, Not Around It with Jenny Martin

What changes when we stop designing for an ‘average’ participant who probably doesn’t exist?

People think differently.

We process information differently. We communicate differently. We focus, reflect, contribute and participate differently.

Yet it’s surprisingly easy to design a workshop or meeting around an assumption that everyone will engage in roughly the same way.

Neuroinclusive facilitation challenges that assumption.

It isn’t about creating a separate set of techniques for particular people. It’s about recognising cognitive diversity and designing for human variability from the outset, creating conditions where more people can think, contribute and participate in ways that work for them.

In this interactive Facilitator’s Café gathering, Jenny Martin will help us explore what neuroinclusive facilitation can look like in practice.

Rather than simply talking about the principles, we’ll experience some of them together. You’ll have opportunities to participate in different ways, notice what works for you, and reflect with other facilitators on what we might change in our own practice.

What you’ll experience

• A participatory exploration of what neuroinclusive facilitation really means.
• Practical principles for designing with cognitive diversity in mind from the outset.
• Different ways of supporting people to think, process and contribute.
• Opportunities to experience the approaches yourself rather than simply hear about them.
• Space to reflect with other facilitators on what you might take back into your own practice.

What you need

• A laptop or desktop for the best experience.
• Access to a web browser. We’ll use Menti and may also use Miro during the session.
• No preparation required. Just bring your curiosity and your own perspective.

Who’s it for?

Facilitators, coaches, trainers, leaders, and anyone who designs conversations, workshops, meetings or learning experiences.

Whether you’re already thinking deeply about neuroinclusion or simply wondering how your facilitation could work better for different ways of thinking and being, you’re very welcome.

About Jenny

Jenny Martin, also known as The Collaboration Coach, is an independent facilitator, coach and speaker working at the intersection of technology, delivery and human behaviour. With more than 25 years’ experience and over 2,000 participants through learning experiences, Jenny helps teams navigate complexity, build shared understanding and create the conditions for people to flourish.

Jenny is also co-founder and organiser of The Inclusive Facilitation Exchange, an annual not-for-profit event championing neurodiversity and advancing more inclusive facilitation and learning design. The Exchange helps facilitators, coaches and others who support learning develop the insight, tools and confidence to create environments where diverse voices are heard, connections flourish, and difference is designed for rather than around.