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Neurodiversity & Disability Speaker | Rosemary Richings

I am an author, speaker and editor specialising in disability and neurodiversity. I speak about dyspraxia, neurodiversity, accessibility and lived experience, combining personal experience with research and professional communication expertise.

I wrote two books on dyspraxia: Studying With Dyspraxia (Bloomsbury) and Stumbling Through Space and Time: Living Life With Dyspraxia (Jessica Kingsley Publishers). I deliver talks, panels and workshops for conferences, workplaces, universities, bookstores, libraries, literary festivals, charities and public sector organisations in the UK, Canada and internationally.

My sessions focus on practical ways to understand disability, communicate more inclusively and make learning, working and public spaces more accessible. For universities and higher-education audiences, I also speak about dyspraxia, neurodivergent student experience, accessible learning and reasonable adjustments.

Speaking topics:

Available for:

Session lengths are flexible and can be tailored to your audience and event, from short conference presentations to half-day workshops.

Upcoming events:

To be announced

Watch Rosemary Speak:

In this presentation, I explore dyspraxia, neurodiversity, workplace accessibility, reasonable adjustments, sensory processing, and practical strategies for creating more inclusive learning and working environments. Originally delivered at my Thriving With Neurodivergence event at Caversham Booksellers in Toronto, this presentation demonstrates the practical, evidence-based approach I bring to conference presentations, workshops, and keynote talks:

What I ask of event organisers:

  • Neurodivergence accommodations when needed
  • Honorarium
  • Open and respectful engagement with lived-experience perspectives

Preparation: To deliver a strong session, I ask organizers to provide final event details, format and any discussion questions or prompts at least one week before the event.

A screenshot of my presentation at the International Neurodiversity Conference. My face is at the side of the slides, and a picture of my two dyspraxia focused books are visible on screen: Stumbling Through Space and Time: Living Life With Dyspraxia, and Studying With Dyspraxia. Text is displayed beside it that says I am author of two dyspraxia focused books, am a writer, editor, speaker in the neurodiversity niche, and am a trustee at Dyspraxic Me.

Availability:

I am available for in-person and virtual speaking engagements across Canada and the UK, with additional international virtual sessions considered where appropriate. Since my schedule and workload vary weekly, please provide me with as much advance notice as possible.

Planning a conference, workshop, book event or other event?

Contact me

Selected speaking experiences:

Promotional poster for a virtual book talk titled “Studying with Dyspraxia: Book Talk with Rosemary Richings.” The title appears in large blue-purple serif text against a pale grey background with faint horizontal notebook-style lines. Below the title are two side-by-side images. On the left is the green cover of the book Studying with Dyspraxia from the Bloomsbury Study Skills series, with the author’s name, Rosemary Richings, printed in purple at the bottom. On the right is a portrait photograph of the author seated indoors. Beneath the images, large text states “October 14th, 12–1 pm.” Additional text reads “Virtual event” and “Register via our bio!” In the lower-right corner is the logo of the Neurodiverse Students’ Association, Toronto Metropolitan University, featuring a stylized tree design incorporating an infinity symbol. The poster advertises a one-hour online discussion with author Rosemary Richings about the book Studying with Dyspraxia, which focuses on study strategies and educational experiences for students with dyspraxia.
  • Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU)

October 2026 · Virtual event

Studying With Dyspraxia: Book Talk and Q&A

Spoke with students from TMU’s Neurodiverse Students’ Association about dyspraxia and my book, Studying With Dyspraxia, during Dyspraxia Awareness Week.

Speaking feedback:

“We thoroughly enjoyed the presentation.”

-Event organisers

Watch the recording

Main Stage panellist, “Diagnosis, Support & Education: Delivering for SEND Children”

Featured in Naidex’s post-event coverage: Naidex speakers highlight neurodivergent diagnosis as crucial for children’s learning and identity.

Naidex Roadshow South panel discussing SEND support and neurodivergence. Panelists Joseph Phillips, Mitra Babic, Rosemary Richings, Tigger Pritchard, and David Lowe sit on stage in front of a large audience, while a moderator stands at a lectern. A display screen shows the speakers’ names and the talk title, “Diagnosis, Support & Education: Delivering for SEND Children

To respect attendees’ privacy, this video deliberately removed clips of participants’ questions about their own experiences.

Overall, the guest speakers were authors who have written about dyspraxia. Since you may want to see a replay, the full recording is right here:

Overall, this event covered ageing from the perspectives of school, work, and relationships.

With Ed Thompson, the founder of Uptimize, I hosted this event. If you’re interested in seeing the replay, you can watch a recording of that event:

Participant testimonials:

This is very informative, thank you. I have neurodivergent children, work in inclusive education environments and tutor trainee teachers. I’m listening and learning.

Dyspraxic Me session participant, October 2026

Thank you for the raising of awareness and understanding for folks. This reflective time has been helpful!

Dyspraxic Me Session participant, October 2026

Feedback from Bluesky on the same event:

Thank you for this event tonight! I am an educator and signed up thinking of student advocacy, but also discovered it was really helpful reflection for myself too. I appreciate your work.

— Karen Barto (@karenbarto.bsky.social) 16 October 2026 at 19:11

Testimonials from event organisers:

AVID Presents

AVID (Awareness of Visible and Invisible Disabilities) is a Euromoney Disability Employee Resource Group event.

Ellen Fowler organised and invited me to speak at the event. In an email, Ellen said:

Just wanted to send a quick note to thank you for your presentation, which was really insightful and gave some great advice! 

Ellen Fowler

Ellen Fowler

Graphic with the Reach Inclusion logo and the words ‘LEADERS’ LOUNGE’ and tagline ‘An inclusive space to think and thrive.’ Four speaker profile photos are shown in a row with names and roles beneath each photo. First profile: Carlota Berlanga Fernandez UI Designer Second profile: Jessica Squires Lead UX Architect Third profile: Rosemary Richings Writer, Editor & neurodiversity advocate @rosiemay_r Fourth profile: Krystal-Bella Shaw Neurodivergent activist & founder of Dyspraxia Magazine & Dyspraxia Journal @krystalbellax @dyspraxiamagazine At the bottom of the graphic is the text: ‘Neurodiversity – what is it?

I participated in the Reach Inclusion Leaders’ Lounge panel discussion “Neurodiversity: What is it?” as a panellist. After the event, the event facilitator said that:

Screenshot of a LinkedIn post by Natasha Whitehurst, a diversity and inclusion manager at Reach plc, about hosting a panel discussion on neurodiversity with several guest speakers. The post explains that the discussion explored neurodiversity with organizational leaders and expresses pride in facilitating an important and educational conversation. It then shares the panel’s top leadership tips: leaders should question whether teams truly need to work in the same way or location; recognize that words and communication are powerful and always evolving; avoid using past habits as a reason to resist change; actively challenge and stop reinforcing stereotypes; and understand that every neurodivergent person is different, and accommodating individual needs is usually not costly and can benefit the entire team and organization.
RailPen

Railpen’s neurodiversity community group hosted Understanding Dyspraxia: A Session With Rosemary Richings. In an email, the event facilitator said:

Thank you very much for presenting to Railpen recently. It was an insightful and helpful session.  We have had messages from colleagues thanking you for helping raise awareness, which is greatly appreciated.

Picture of Katrina of Railpen

Katrina Mackay 

Senior Manager, Investment Advisory and Funding / Railpen

Interested in booking me to speak?

Whether you’re organising a conference, workplace event, university programme, or panel discussion, I’d be happy to discuss how I can support your audience and event.*

*Speaking engagements start at £400 / CAD 690 / USD 500 / €470 per event. Final fees depend on the event, format, audience, preparation and scope. Pro bono requests are only granted when the organisation is a not-for-profit, charity, student-run group, independent advocacy group, or small business that cannot afford to pay an honorarium that fits their budget. Even then, all pro bono requests will only be granted when there’s a relevant audience and my availability permits me to do so.

Contact me
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