Divergently Together is a shared-island creative community engagement project facilitating disabled and neurodivergent communities to participate in climate action.

Climate change is a key issue of our time, and it disproportionately affects disabled communities. Through lack of accessible information, physical vulnerabilities in extreme weather events, increased sensitivity in heat waves due to the effects of medications, are but a few examples of eco-ableism frequently incurred by disabled people. Divergently Together advocates for a just transition, and breaks down stigmas by highlighting that people with lived experience of disability often possess vital skills and characteristics that could greatly enhance climate mitigation strategies. 

Divergently Together unites cross-border communities of neurodivergent individuals who hold connections to Cavan, Fermanagh and Omagh. Led by artist AlanJames Burns with the Divergently Together team and co-created with local collaborators Christopher David Schuette, Ciara O’Conor Walsh, Clare Martyn, Julie Anna Richmond, Lorraine Montague, Michelle Harton and Niamh Mc Philips, through creative workshops and discussions, participants co-design responses to the climate emergency from their own neurodivergent experiences and perspectives. The wider Divergently Together community includes climate action teams within Cavan County Council and Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, as well as the UNESCO Global Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark, the Geopark Business Network and Geopark Ambassadors. The Geopark, which spans the North/South border region and actively supports the project, aligns with our goals of accessibility and inclusivity. Together, we aim to strengthen skills and knowledge, and cultivate a collaborative understanding of neurodiversity and climate action.

Divergently Together bridges the gap between diverse communities affected by climate change and local authorities who shape policy. By working directly with neurodivergent participants and policymakers, the project builds mutual understanding and equips decision-makers with tools for accessible, inclusive communication. This collaboration ensures climate strategies are grounded in lived experience and better reflect the needs of as many people as possible. Ultimately, Divergently Together aims to embed neurodivergent voices in climate action and leave a lasting impact.