Get to know our
Young Neurodiversity
Champions
Listen to the voices of our Young Neurodiversity Champions as they discuss their personal journeys with neurodiversity. Discover the challenges they faced, the unique perspectives they bring, and the future they envision.
Meet Tom
Tom Little is a Year 13 student at Taradale High School and who has ADHD. Tom is passionate about working with people and making the most of opportunities that arise. He has been the chairperson of the Napier Youth Council, Youth MP for Napier representing the Hon. Stuart Nash, and is currently the CEO of the business Pūkare Cards which is competing in the Young Enterprise Scheme. Tom has also presented workshops on neurodiversity to teachers at the Young Enterprise Conference and to young people at the Festival for the Future.
See media featuring Tom speaking about neurodiversity here, here and here.
Hear Tom on the No Such Thing As Normal podcast here.
Check out Pukare Cards here.
Follow Tom on his socials here.
Meet Sankhya
Sankhya Pandey is a Year 13 student at Henderson High School, from West Auckland and one of the Young Neurodiversity Champions.
See Sankhya in the media here.
Meet Annabelle
Annabelle March is a first year Bachelor of Education student at Victoria University of Wellington. Annabelle identified as ADHD and gifted, and is passionate about working inside the education system to ensure that neurodiverse children are supported and nurtured. Annabelle generously shares practical ways to support neurodiverse learners with teachers, regularly taking part in panel discussions and co-hosting workshops.
See media featuring Annabelle here.
Follow Annabelle on her socials here:
Meet Christina
Christina Gera is in her final year of a Bachelor in Communications at the University of Canterbury and identifies as queer, Filipinx and as having ADHD. Alongside her study, Christina works as a freelance content creator producing user-generated social media content for brands and small businesses. She is an advocate for women in tech and gaming, the LGBTQIA+ community, mental health and neurodiversity.
See Christina in the media here.
Follow Christina on her socials here:
Meet Maria
Maria Walker-Kinnell is a Year 10 student at Orewa College, north of Auckland. She is gifted and Māori and Pasifika. Maria believes all people should be encouraged to be their best and have an education system that understands them. She is involved in every cultural group possible and loves making music and acting.
See Maria's hard-hitting speech here.
Meet Jas
Jas McIntosh is a BA (Politics) student at the University of Otago, Chair of Southern Young Labour, and is on the Labour Party's Policy Review Committee. She is passionate about politics and is constantly looking at finding ways to create a more equitable society for all. She identifies as autistic.
Jas has led a petition to Parliament seeking affordable and accessible neurodiversity assessments for everyone - learn more about it here.
Listen to an interview with Jas on Radio NZ here.
Follow Jas on her socials here:
"A lot more people would leave high school with their confidence intact and a clearer understanding of what they’re capable of and where they would like to go. Not knowing what was “wrong” with me throughout school meant leaving without answers was scary, and difficult."
- One of our Young Neurodiversity Champions