Frequently Asked Questions

NEONN (the NEOhio Neurodiversity Network) is a neurodivergent-led nonprofit founded in 2024. We act as a centralized hub for neurodiversity resources and community connection in Northeast Ohio and beyond. Rather than providing direct clinical services, we focus on improving the environments and systems that shape neurodivergent lives. Read our full story here!(https://www.theneonn.org/about) On a practical level, we maintain a resource library,(https://www.theneonn.org/library) a directory of providers,(https://www.theneonn.org/directory) and a shared calendar (https://www.theneonn.org/calendar)of community events. We also run a social group for neurodivergent adults (NEONSG)(https://www.theneonn.org/socialgroup) and partner with local organizations (https://www.theneonn.org/partnerships)to help make our communities more inclusive. Everything we do is led by and built for neurodivergent people across the lifespan.

We serve everyone! Even though NEONN is led by neurodivergent people and meant to support ND perspectives, we created NEONN to explicitly be for the entire community. Our resources and programs are accessible to individuals of all support needs and identities, as well as their families, caregivers, professional organizations, and the general public. We believe true inclusion is only possible when everyone is welcome!

"Neurodivergent-led" means that our organization and our work is led by, shaped by, run by, developed by, and approved by neurodivergent people. In fact, NEONN's bylaws require at least 2/3 of our Board of Directors and staff (https://www.theneonn.org/team)to be neurodivergent. We are anchored by the disability rights slogan "nothing about us without us"(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nothing_about_us_without_us) and we view lived experience as a crucial component of our work. So, why does neurodivergent leadership matter? Neurotypical (non-neurodivergent) people make up the majority of our society, and that means they have traditionally been the ones "making the rules" for how our world should work. The problem is that those standards are often at odds with neurodivergent brains, which leaves neurodivergent people to navigate a world that doesn't just fail to meet our needs, but actively works against us. This discrepancy means that supports and services developed only from neurotypical (NT) perspectives often fail to be affirming or helpful. NT brains lack the context of what life is like for ND brains in ways that can't be meaningfully conveyed or translated. This is why neurodivergent involvement, and especially neurodivergent leadership, is so important.

Absolutely not! We welcome and respect every person regardless of how they identify themselves or what conditions they may have. We consider self-diagnosis to be completely valid and and are inclusive of anyone who relates to the concept of neurodivergence whether or not they identify with a formal label.

NEONN divides its work into two main categories—resources (https://www.theneonn.org/resources)and community.(https://www.theneonn.org/community) Amongst these, our primary programs and services include: RESOURCES: • Reference Library (https://www.theneonn.org/library)– A searchable online database of affirming guides and educational materials. • ND Directory (https://www.theneonn.org/directory)– A consolidated directory of ND-friendly providers and services. • Advocacy & Education (https://www.theneonn.org/advocacy)– Tools and resources for those wishing to learn about or advocate for ND-affirming approaches. COMMUNITY: • NEOhio ND Social Group (NEONSG) (https://www.theneonn.org/socialgroup)– A free private membership group built by and for neurodivergent adults. • Events Calendar (https://www.theneonn.org/calendar)– A centralized, public calendar of local and virtual events of interest to the community. • Partnerships (https://www.theneonn.org/partnerships)– Relationships with organizations and institutions to help integrate ND perspectives.

All of our digital resources are completely free and accessible to all! Our private social group (NEONSG)(https://www.theneonn.org/socialgroup) is also free.

NEONN is based in and operates from Cleveland and Northeast Ohio ("NEOhio"). While our work defaults to this region for local impact, we aren't limited to this geographic area. We provide digital resources and online options to ensure we are accessible to those outside the immediate area or those who prefer remote connection.

NEONN is expressly meant to be accessible to all. Not only does our support extend beyond neurodivergent people—to their families, friends, colleagues, and anyone looking to engage responsibly—but we broadly welcome and encourage non-ND involvement. Our sentiments echo those of NeuroClastic (https://neuroclastic.com/about/)– "We believe that neurotypical allies are indispensable and enthusiastically welcome their comments, suggestions, support, and readership. Please know that we love and embrace our neurotypical allies and acknowledge that their support is necessary and vital to our access to progress."

NEONN offers a wide range of reference materials and training guides (https://www.theneonn.org/library)designed to cover neurodiversity-related topics across various professional disciplines. We are also happy to coordinate specific educational programming based on your needs; contact us (https://www.theneonn.org/contact)to learn more. As a neurodiversity *network*, our organization is built on partnerships!(https://www.theneonn.org/partnerships) We engage and collaborate with institutions, companies, schools, and other groups in ways that benefit the neurodivergent community, with a particular focus on helping organizations learn about and embed neurodivergent perspectives into their own practices. Contact us (https://www.theneonn.org/contact)if you're interested in a partnership!

Our values, principles, and positions (https://theneonn.org/about#our-values)are incredibly important to us, and we consider advocacy to be a non-negotiable component of our work. While we are a 501(c)(3) organization, and thus have legal limits on political action, we are not neutral when neutrality would require platforming or legitimizing harm, and we refuse to remain complacent in the face of dehumanizing practices. We also provide free access to advocacy tools (https://www.theneonn.org/advocacy)so others may take the same approach.

We embrace the fact that our community is not a monolith. We expect disagreements and view them as a healthy function of coexistence (especially amongst such a diverse mix of identities and backgrounds!). We do not attempt to resolve discrepancies between conflicting viewpoints, nor do we enforce a unified stance, provided all perspectives fall within our boundaries.(https://theneonn.org/about#our-values) *NEONN does not position itself as an authority or gatekeeper of the community and does not claim to represent all neurodivergent people.*

NEONN as an organization uses identity-first language ("neurodivergent person") as opposed to person-first language ("person with autism"). While this may seem like nitpicky semantics to people outside of the community, there is a great deal of importance behind this distinction: read more.(https://www.autisticscholar.com/84-2/) We welcome fellow neurodivergent people—including NEONN's own staff and board members—to use whatever language they are most comfortable with when speaking about themselves.

Donating is easy—just visit our Donate page! (https://www.theneonn.org/donate)If you're looking for other ways to donate, such as in-kind donations or event sponsorships, please contact us (https://www.theneonn.org/contact)directly.