Neurodiverse action group launches after Future 100 manifesto
Akers: presented 4S's manifesto at The Media Leaders Awards 2023
One of The Media Leader‘s inaugural Future 100 manifestos — to improve working conditions for neurodiverse people in media and advertising — has been developed into an industry initiative.
Simon Akers, the media strategist and founder of consultancy Archmon, has launched NDIM (Neurodiversity in Media) with his “4S’s” manifesto at its heart.
He has founded NDIM alongside Omnicom Media Group’s Jasmine Poke, in tandem launch partners Paul Wright (Uber Ads), Nimmi Shah (Design Bridge), Christopher Kenna (Generation Black TV), Lucy Barbor (We Are Masterplan) and Pedro Ramos (GroupM).
Systems, Spaces, Safety and Support
Akers launched the 4S’s manifesto at The Media Leader Awards in 2023.
For the first time last year, this publication encouraged members of our Future 100 club of rising industry stars to tell a senior audience of decision makers what must be a priority to improve the media and advertising industry.
Akers told The Media Leader that the 4S’s have “developed so much since” and that NDIM now has a “punchy” ambition for 85% of industry companies to embrace the 4S’s, which is to formally consider Systems, Spaces, Safety and Support.
Akers explained this during his manifesto speech (above). NDIM has also created a downloadable PDF user guide to the 4S’s.
He added: “Our overall ethos is that what is good for the hive is good for all the bees.
“We are keen to engage with and outreach to agency and media company leaders to help inspire conversation and implement changes, however minor, to enable a range of those (not just the 15%) to thrive.”
Seeking an ‘engaged community’
The broader aims are to support and celebrate “the multitude of minds delivering the actual work”, with more than 15% of people who work in marketing being neurodivergent, with diagnosed conditions ranging from ADHD, ADD, Autism, Dyslexia and Tourette Syndrome.
The non-profit group has launched a Substack newsletter that aims to attract “an engaged community who care about making change.”
The Media Leader‘s editor-in-chief Omar Oakes said: “Simon, Jasmine and all those who are backing NDIM should be rightly proud. Too few of us sacrifice our free time to give back to this industry but their determination to support neurodivergent people should be applauded.
“Initiatives like this are what make the Future 100 so special. We launched this because we know this industry is full of talented people who believe in this industry as a force for positive change. The future is bright in their hands.”
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