Mind Over Manner uses the Power of Theatre to Realise the Potential of Differently Wired Minds.These people can be identified as Neurodivergent or Takiwātanga (in their own time and space)Our workshops are led by facilitator Susan Haldane who, along with a lifetime of lived experience in this space, brings with her 16+ years of research, cutting edge knowledge and skills in providing Neurodiversity education. The workshops are brought to life by 4 highly skilled actors. Mind Over Manner is a diverse team where the creative director, actors and advisory board all have their own lived experience or are living alongside those who are neurodivergent. Our main point of focus is to reframe our social perspective and regenerate a new relationship to neurodiversity.Neurodivergence is an established and recognisable strand of diversity in our population. For individuals who experience sensory or cognitive processing differences, ordering priorities or meeting expectations can frequently result in confused, anxious or oppositional behavior. Often daily functioning  becomes anxious and uncomfortable resulting in a lack of wellbeing, increased levels of teenage runaways and youth crime, as well as intense isolation for both the young person and their family. Ongoing global and local pressures, such as the pandemic and the precarious state of the natural environment are having a direct influence on the rise of anxiety. There is an intensified layer of anxiety about leaving the home, being out there in the streets, resuming their use of public transport, going to the supermarket, swimming in the local pool , entering the library or attending school. Our government services , education , justice and health can no longer hold the rising social anxiety on their own. The community also needs to hold their people. But they need to know how.Our kaupapa is to bring the village into the understanding of what neurodiversity is, how it presents, and what responses will enable more positive outcomes, wellbeing and belonging for all neurodivergent.Mind Over Manner sees 2023/2024 as the essential  time for people to become engaged, to gather collective compassion in the community , to grow the capacity to see value in those who think and respond to our world in an alternative way. For the passerby to have knowledge of best practice in how to be truly helpful to our neurodiverse population and their families brings collective engagement - it brings a true village.These Mind Over Manner workshops have proven to be transformative for so many of our participants. People describe being "Blown away, Deeply moved, No longer alone, Life changingMind Over Manner now seeks funding to bring these community workshops to all regions in Aotearoa so we can share our understandings of neurodiversity as far and wide as we can. We thank you for your consideration