Professor April Hargreaves, Programme Director of Psychology at ICEP Europe, has been appointed Director of Research at Neurodiversity Spark in Northern Ireland.
This appointment marks a key moment for the region. The new Neurodiversity Spark Research Hub brings a fresh, trauma-informed, and community‑driven approach to neurodiversity research, policy, and innovation.
Why This Research Hub Matters
Traditional research often overlooks the voices of the people it impacts most — those with lived experience of neurodivergence. The Spark Research Hub changes that.
It follows a co-production model, where neurodivergent individuals are treated as equal partners in the research process. This approach ensures the data collected is not only high-quality but also grounded in real-world experience. The result? Research that truly informs policy and leads to better, more effective services.
A Purpose‑Driven Research Approach
With more than 15 years of experience in researching stigma, autism, and psychosis, Professor Hargreaves is passionate about research that makes a difference.
She believes research should serve communities — using human-centred design principles (similar to how tech companies use user feedback) to shape services and policies that work in the real world.
She explains:
“By embedding lived experience directly into our research framework, we fundamentally improve the quality and integrity of our data. This allows our partners to develop policies and services that are not just well-intentioned but precision‑engineered to be effective and efficient.”
Trauma‑Informed and Trust‑Based
The Hub is built on trauma-informed principles like psychological safety, trust, choice, and collaboration. It creates environments where people feel respected, heard, and empowered — not treated as research subjects, but as valuable contributors.
A Call for Collaboration
Neurodiversity Spark is now seeking forward-thinking partners from government, academia, business, and the third sector. The goal: to work together on compassionate, data-driven solutions that create real social impact.