Episode 37: Neurodivergence and high performance: lessons from a underwater school play
Published on 17 June 2025 • Hosted by Dr Lisa Colledge
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A few weeks ago, I sat on a chair in a gently lit school gym, watching my 7-year-old autistic son and his classmates - children with learning difficulties - perform an underwater play called Sub Nautica.
I had arrived braced for chaos.
What unfolded instead was a masterclass in inclusion and exceeding expectations.
Key observations:
Every child was fully engaged, for the full 45 minutes – no exceptions!
The environment was rich in sensory cues but free of overstimulation.
Communication was non-verbal, consistent, and visually cued.
Expectations were high, and so was the support.
Why it mattered:
This wasn’t just a beautiful moment.
It was a lived demonstration of how intentional inclusive design, anchored in predictability, safety, and dignity, unleashes hidden potential.
Takeaways for teams:
Set high expectations, but scaffold people toward success.
Use clarity and familiarity to build safety and enable exploration.
Don’t just demand performance; design and build the conditions for it in your team.
Inclusion isn’t about lowering the bar. It’s about raising it, with care.
This performance was the mastermind of Marieke van der Heyden and colleagues at the Sokken van Ilias charity.
