UOK partner SEDSConnective, a charity working at the intersection of symptomatic hypermobility and neurodivergence, has become a member of the World Health Organisation’s Disability Health Equity Network.
Sussex-based and run entirely by volunteers, SEDSConnective marks the milestone in the same month as its eighth anniversary and its new membership of the NCD Alliance.
The charity’s work reflects a growing evidence base on the relationship between hypermobility, Ehlers-Danlos syndromes, autism, ADHD, Tourette’s, pain, chronic fatigue, allergies and other co-occurring conditions. A large Swedish population study found people with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome were over seven times more likely to be autistic and over five times more likely to have ADHD than people without the conditions. Further research cited by the charity found joint hypermobility in around half of neurodivergent adults, more than double the rate in the wider population.
Founder and Chair Jane Green MBE said:
“As Founder of SEDSConnective and on behalf of our members, volunteers and stakeholders, I am proud that advocacy born from unmet need, lived experience and a commitment to challenging historical inequalities is now reflected in our membership of the WHO Disability Health Equity Network. This is a meaningful milestone for people with symptomatic hypermobility, related conditions and neurodivergence, whose voices have too often been left out. We will use this place to press for earlier recognition, joined-up care and an end to the avoidable health inequalities our community still face.”
Dr Jessica Eccles PhD FRCPsych, Patron of SEDSConnective and Reader in Brain-Body Medicine at Brighton and Sussex Medical School, said:
“I am delighted to see SEDSConnective, the world’s first charity to join the dots for neurodivergent and hypermobile people, as a member of the WHO Disability Health Equity Network. I am proud to be patron. I look forward to the work that we can do together to improve the lives of neurodivergent and hypermobile people.”
UOK is proud to work alongside SEDSConnective as part of the wider network supporting wellbeing across Sussex, and congratulates the whole team on this recognition.
Find out more about SEDSConnective at www.sedsconnective.org.
