Connecting, learning and growing – one cup at a time! ☕

Our Sensational Learning Centre pop-up coffee shop officially launched, and Week 1 with James was a huge success! James stepped behind the counter to serve our colleagues a variety of delicious coffees, raising £8 for our new pop-up fund. The pupils are already hard at work deciding what special treat or resource to spend their earnings on!

While a great coffee is a nice bonus, the real goal of this weekly initiative is learning through real-world interaction. Bringing learning into an everyday environment gives pupils a practical space to build communication skills, gain social confidence and apply what they learn in a meaningful context. 💬

At our Sensational Learning Centre, we understand that every learner is unique. By placing wellbeing, communication and relationships at the heart of everything we do, we help pupils build confidence, develop skills and achieve positive outcomes that prepare them for the future.

🔗 To find out more about our Sensational Learning Centre, click the link in our bio and head to our website. …

October is AAC Awareness Month, and we’re celebrating the incredible ways communication tools give neurodivergent young people a voice! 💬

At The Donaldson Trust, we know that communication looks different for everyone. Whether it’s high-tech AAC systems, communication books or visual symbols, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) breaks down barriers and opens up the world.

As our Speech and Language Therapist, Kirsten Lamb, highlights in her feature in SEN Magazine this month, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to communication.

When we find the communication system that fits the individual, every individual gets the opportunity to connect, participate and make their voice heard. 📣

🔗 To catch up on Kirsten`s full article published in SEN Magazine this month click the link in our bio.

#AAC #InclusiveCommunication #AACAwarenessMonth #SpeechandLanguageTherapy …

October is ADHD Awareness Month!

Did you know that around 37,000 children and young people in Scottish schools have ADHD?

Raising awareness is vital to ensuring neurodivergent young people get the understanding and support they deserve. When we increase understanding, we can:

👉 Reduce Stigma – Challenge stereotypes and build a more inclusive society for everyone.

👉 Create Safe, Supportive Environments – Ensure schools and communities adapt to meet individual needs so learners feel secure and understood.

👉 Celebrate Strengths – Recognise the unique creativity, enthusiasm, and innovative thinking that ADHD minds bring.

At The Donaldson Trust, we are committed to creating neuro-inclusive environments where every individual feels supported, accepted, and valued.

education.scotland has put together a brilliant collection of free learning resources to help practitioners, parents and carers support ADHD learners.

🔗 Click the link to read more: https://education.gov.scot/resources/neurodiversity/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd/

#ADHDAwarenessMonth #ADHD #Neurodiversity …

Ahead of #WorldMentalHealthDay tomorrow, we`re reflecting on this year`s theme: Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change 💬

Parenting and caring can be a journey filled with learning, and taking time to truly understand what emotional wellbeing looks and feels like from a young person`s perspective is where real change begins.

For neurodivergent young people in particular, everyday environments and expectations can sometimes feel overwhelming, making tailored emotional support so vital.

That`s why we`re sharing this helpful guide from the @mentalhealthfoundation for parents and carers on how to support their child`s mental health. 📖

🔗 Click the link in our bio to read the full guide.

At The Donaldson Trust, we put the wellbeing of everyone we support at the heart of what we do. By placing lived experience and individual needs at the centre of our work, we build spaces where neurodivergent individuals feel understood, valued and empowered every single day. 💚 …

On Monday, we welcomed @jennyyoungmsp to our campus here in Linlithgow.

It was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the Trust`s day-to-day work and share our vision for the future. Together, we focused closely on our approach to inclusive education and reflected on the systemic barriers neurodivergent individuals and their families navigate daily – and, critically, the steps needed to break those barriers down.

Alongside the recent roundtable on the LDAN Bill and our own direct engagement with MSPs at Holyrood, the visit offered us an opportunity to speak direct to parliamentarians.

As Scotland`s National Body for Neurodiversity, we are proud to collaborate with decision-makers across Scotland to amplify the voices and experiences of neurodivergent people and their families, ensuring these lived experiences directly shape national policy.

A huge thanks to Jenny Young for visiting us, spending time with our team and listening to our community.

#Neurodivergence #PolicyAndAdvocacy #Neurodiversity #HumanRights …

Today is #WorldTeachersDay – a day to celebrate the pivotal role teachers play in shaping the future by nurturing students and driving educational progress. 🎓

We are so lucky to have an amazing team here at The Donaldson Trust! Our teachers work alongside Learning and Wellbeing practitioners, Tutors and Support staff, all dedicated to supporting, inspiring and caring for the children, young people and adults across our services.

Thank you for the difference you make every day! 🥰 …