🌟 Good News (Neurodivergent Edition) — December 2025
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Here’s your feel-good roundup of December’s wins, breakthroughs, holiday-season highlights, and moments to celebrate from the world of ADHD, autism, and neurodiversity. Scroll for the good stuff. ✨
🧠 Highlights from December
🏆 Representation in the arts — history made
🎨 First Turner Prize winner with a learning disability
In a landmark moment for inclusivity in the arts, Nnena Kalu, a Scottish artist with autism and a learning disability, became the first person with a learning disability to win the prestigious UK Turner Prize. Kalu’s work—abstract drawings and sculptures bursting with rhythm and pattern—was celebrated for its innovation and emotional depth. Artists and advocates have hailed this win as a breakthrough for accessibility and recognition of diverse creative voices.
🤝 Community and opportunity
🌱 Neurodiversity Alliance scholarship and momentum
The Neurodiversity Alliance shared their 2025 annual impact report, highlighting vibrant growth in mentoring, Neurodiversity Clubs, and leadership programming nationwide. Their scholarship applications remain open, expanding real opportunities for neurodivergent students to lead and belong.
💡 Bezos Courage & Civility Award supports neurodiversity education
Philanthropists Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos awarded $5 million to David Flink, CEO of the Neurodiversity Alliance, in recognition of his work advancing neurodivergent student inclusion and mentorship. This award amplifies the Alliance’s reach and acknowledges neurodiversity leadership at a national level.
🧪 Research & understanding
🧠 Growing conversation around neurodiversity language
New research from the UK shows that neurodivergent people have a mix of feelings about terms like “neurodiversity” and “neurodivergent”—with many using these words proudly and others wanting nuance in how language reflects personal experience. Listening to community voices continues to shape how we talk about difference and identity.
📜 Neurodiversity Newsletter Issue #3 — connection, tools & reflection
The December 2025 Neurodiversity Newsletter offered reflection on sensory regulation, sleep, and community shaping daily life, while sharing lived-experience stories and practical strategies for neurodivergent adults.
💼 Work, hiring & inclusion
🚀 Tech company sees massive interest in neurodivergent fellowship
Tech firm Palantir’s “Neurodivergent Fellowship” has drawn over 2,000 applications, reflecting huge interest in jobs that value neurodivergent thinking and nontraditional backgrounds. The fellowship is intended to attract and retain exceptional neurodivergent talent with competitive salaries and inclusive hiring practices.
🎄 Holiday-season positivity & resources
📬 Community newsletters & events keep connection alive
Across newsletters and social spaces, December features tips for neuroaffirming holidays, gentle transitions after the season, and supportive conversations about neurodivergent experiences—demonstrating that even in busy months, community and care remain vibrant.
📊 Progress in public systems
📈 Government launches independent review into services
The UK government announced a major independent review into mental health, autism, and ADHD services and rising demand, backed by funding to recruit more mental health workers and expand support systems. This signals a move toward system-level awareness and accountability in how services support autistic and ADHD communities.
🛡️ Protecting neurodivergent people from false online claims
The UK’s Advertising Standards Authority banned misleading ads that falsely promised ADHD or autism “cures” or quick diagnoses, reinforcing that neurodivergent conditions aren’t diseases or things to be “fixed”, and highlighting greater regulatory awareness about responsible representation online.
🧠 What December reminds us
✨ Celebration isn’t just about big headlines — it’s about representation, community, opportunity, and safeguards that protect and uplift neurodivergent lives.
From art history to scholarships, from research conversations to policy reviews, December shows progress coming from many directions — and hope for even more in 2026.