Institutional Inclusion of Neurodivergent Citizens in Poland: The Perspective of Non-Governmental Organizations

Background & objectives: In Poland, neurodivergent citizens still face numerous barriers to participation in socio-political life. Therefore, more and more non-governmental organizations are being established to advocate and work towards removing these barriers in the public sphere. This research aims: (1) to determine the scale of political education during the meetings organized for neurodivergent people in Poland; and (2) to demonstrate the relationship between organizations dedicated to neurodiversity and Polish policymakers. Methods: Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with representatives of Polish non-governmental organizations (N = 7) and analyzed using the MAXQDA programme. Thematic analysis was utilised to identify key patterns in experts’ narratives. Results: Four respondents stated that their organizations do not discuss politics neither among workers nor among neurodivergent members. However, some entities provide education on politics mainly to raise awareness of the importance of political participation and to warn against disinformation. Experts from all examined non-governmental organizations declared their cooperation with policymakers. Nevertheless, it varied in intensity and scope (from the local to national level). The participants emphasized that cooperation between decision-makers and NGOs is a fundamental aspect of change. Moreover, they gave mixed reviews on the existence of Parliamentary Groups for Neurodiversity, Autism, and ADHD due to their limited impact on legal proposals. Conclusion: The study concludes that the role of non-governmental organizations is significant in the process of increasing inclusion of neurodivergent citizens in socio-political life due to the greater opportunities to influence policymakers. On the other hand, NGOs in Poland should educate neurodivergent citizens about the advantages of political participation, so that more people can fight for the group’s interests.