Journalist and writer by profession as well as Founder of Salvesen Mindroom Centre - and of course mother of Annie who is the inspiration behind SMC.
Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden, announced on Sunday 28th January that I am to be awarded his medal of the 8th order for considerable contributions to society.
It is a wonderful endorsement of the importance of neurodiversity. The ceremony takes place at the Royal Palace in Stockholm on 21 February 2024.
Click here for more information
I am the founder of Salvesen Mindroom Centre - a Scottish organisation that supports, informs and empowers children and young people who are neurodivergent. Since 2000 SMC has helped tens of thousands of children and families – but there are so many more that need help and support.
The misleading term learning difficulties has finally been replaced with the much more inclusive concept of neurodiversity- however it is still the case that a person who is neurodivergent too often gets relegated to the corners of our society.
Let’s make sure that no mind is left behind!
My daughter Annie, born in 1990, has a unique chromosome deletion on Chromosome 1, the upper arm. 25 vital genes are missing out of the (approx.) 22,000 that we should all have.
My book ‘När livet inte följer manus’ (‘When life doesn’t follow the script’) about life with Annie, neurodiversity and the setting up SMC was published in my native Sweden 2018 (to 5 star reviews). It is in the process of being translated into English as well as French.
I am proud of my Swedish heritage and have managed to hang on to my Swedish accent despite having lived in the UK since 1982.
My work with and for Salvesen Mindroom Centre and my interest in neurodiversity is continuous - did you know that we are aware of less than 10% of how the brain and mind works?!
Finding out just how the brain works is -according to the neuro scientists that we work with -the great challenge of the 21st Century.
Exciting!
For our big international conference It Takes All Kinds Of Minds - ITAKOM (Edinburgh March 2023) Salvesen Mindroom teamed up with BAFTA and Emmy award winning production company Fusion Medical Animation to produce a short 3D film in which we travel through the brain in amongst neurons, synapses and glial cells.
The stunning musical score is composed especially for the film by former professor of genetics David FitzPatrick.
David says the following about the score:
‘My intention was to create a score that would be of interest to a neurodiverse audience. The opening melodic theme is inspired by the rhythm of the morse code for ITAKOM’.
We are eternally grateful to Fusion Medical Animation who produced this extraordinary film pro bono. And equally grateful to David FitzPatrick for the wonderful score.
Recent posts
The Brain – is wider than the Sky
For – put them side by side
The one the other will contain
With ease – and You – beside
Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)
Salvesen Mindroom Centre
Salvesen Mindroom Centre is a charity that champions all forms of neurodiversity and supports all kinds of minds. Our mission is to be a leading centre for change, in how we live, work and learn. We achieve this through support, education, advocacy and research.
In short, we want to make sure that no mind is left behind.
Salvesen Mindroom Research Centre
Collaborating with the scientists has always been a fundamental part of the vision for SMC (Salvesen Mindroom Centre). If we can contribute towards a better understanding of how the brain/mind works – then we are better equipped to help and support.
We now have our very own research centre – The Salvesen Mindroom Research Centre at the University of Edinburgh – where we create new knowledge about neurodiversity. Which we can then apply to the work we do at SMC and to the wider world.
Meet Annie
Our daughter Annie, born 1990, is the inspiration behind Salvesen Mindroom. She has a chromosome deletion on Chromosome 1, the upper arm. 25 vital genes are missing, out of the approx. 22,000 genes we should all have. It is this deletion that is the cause of Annie’s mental handicap.
So far, she is the only one in the world known to have this particular chromosome profile, which is why it has been named ‘Annies syndrome’ (with Annie’s consent of course).
Annie’s Cool Art
Annie has a wonderful imagination and is extremely creative. She works with all kinds of material and in most forms. Her pieces opens the door to a fantasy world that elevates your spirit and leaves you waiting for her next creation.
Her exhibition at Gallery on the Corner in Edinburgh in 2011 was a sell out.
She works at her own pace – and there is an ever growing waiting list for commissions.
‘Speak to my manager’ – she says referring to her father Robin who does the negotiations on her behalf.
‘Worm jumping over fence’ January 2023
Alien in a kilt
Aliens by Annie
Aliens don't know about shows
Crazy pattern - this is what I see in my head
Elvis
Evil Tooth Clown
Mother daughter portrait
Fox Family
King's Town
Skeleton Family
Prunella
Pippi Longstocking
Bogus and Bogus Dad
Big Ben
Baby Big Foot
Evil Man with Eye Patch
Bottle Man
Bogus
Belle
Mo
Foam Buddy - listens to your secrets and then grants them
Already sold! Commissioned piece by Annie
Tuxedo Wolf Boy