To ask the question “what is it to be human?” ignores the potential for there to be many ways to be human. Most now understand that it serves no purpose to categories and limit people on arbitrary attributes such as race, gender or sexuality. Where special considerations are required then it is better to embrace those needs than to cause disadvantage. It is better to design a society that recognises that we all live within a spectrum of abilities rather than defining what is ‘normal’ and excluding those who fall outside of that artificial category.

Neurodiversity is an understanding that the sweep of mental abilities is not uniform across humans and those who exhibit Dyspraxia, Dyslexia, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Dyscalculia, Autistic Spectrum, Tourette Syndrome or others variations are displaying normal human behaviours from a normal human mind. Those traits define those individuals and to disregard them is to diminish their humanity.

This month we welcome longtime Sunday Assembly member, Abi Moorcock, who is Insights Director at Irrational Agency, a behavioural insight consultancy. Abi will be talking on the importance and value of recognising Neurodiversity.

As always there will be silly games, sharing, socialising, and singing along with The Word of Bob.

After the Assembly, we will either go for a picnic or to Brewdog depending on the weather.

** About Sunday Assembly **

Sunday Assembly Reading is free to attend and runs entirely on donations.

The Sunday Assembly Reading is a secular congregation that celebrates life, meeting once a month at The Reading Irish Centre. Members of the Assembly believe in Living Better, Helping Often and Wondering More, for no other reason than to make the most of the one life we know we have. The morning is a lively combination of group singing, silly games, interesting words, and eating cakes, in the company of a lovely diverse bunch of people.

The Sunday Assembly welcomes all - of all ages and of all backgrounds.

The best way to meet new people is to come early and enjoy some tea, coffee, homemade cakes and savouries (vegan-friendly).

We can always do with a few extra help, so if you want to really feel part of our community, offer a hand or two. Either contact us now or arrive a bit earlier on the day and we'll find you something fun to do.

* Travel *

The Assembly is at The Reading and District Irish Centre, Chatham Street. Doors open at 10:30 am with the Assembly starting at 11.

A 10-minute walk from Reading train station.

The closest car park is Q-Park Chatham Place

There is free parking on Sundays on the streets north of the Irish Centre. Try Weldale, North and Great Knollys Streets but get there early. There is a footpath that leads from Weldale Street to Chatham Street, and then the Irish Centre will be on your right.

Travel issues? Post in our Facebook group page, there are sure to be others travelling in your direction.

* More Info *

If we go for a The picnic it will be at Forbury Gardens.

Brewdog is at 11 Castle Street. It is a 7 min walk from the Assembly and we typically get there about 13:15.