Feature: How Scottish Independence Activist and Disability Advocate Kelly Given has transformed her personal experiences into positive change

Kelly Given spent the first 24 years of her life navigating a world that was not designed for her.

But if you’ve seen her on your TV screens, in your newspapers, or on your local ‘30 Under 30 List,' you wouldn’t necessarily understand the struggle it took to get to where she is today.

Kelly spent most of her upbringing seeking answers to why she felt different. From an early age, she navigated a world that seemed oblivious to her needs, often finding herself at odds with environments that should have been supportive and nurturing. She was often “punished” for her behavior at home and school and constantly felt distressed and overstimulated, but no one around her could understand why.

This lack of understanding and support forced Kelly into precarious living situations, including time spent living between friends’ houses and out of her car. "It was really scarring, and I still feel the consequences now," she shares.

Kelly’s quest for answers in her twenties was a decade-long battle with the healthcare system, marred by repeated visits to health professionals, five misdiagnoses including anxiety and depression, and prescriptions for potent medication that she didn’t need. While an autism referral was brushed aside as doctors “were not convinced” about her symptoms.

Despite this, Kelly fought to be heard, and after diagnosing herself, doctors finally agreed. Though she had finally received the answers she had been seeking all along—a dual diagnosis of autism and ADHD, she reflected on her experience navigating the healthcare system and the intersectional inequality that came with it. “I was never listened to and never treated with compassion,” Kelly reflected.

Kelly’s diagnoses were just the beginning for her, as they fueled a fire in her that could not be quelled. “Through years of fighting the injustices in my own life, I have developed a tenacity and fire like no other.” She has since dedicated her life to fighting for neurodivergent rights and challenging misconceptions of disabilities.

What she wants people to know is that her story as an autistic person, especially an autistic woman, is not especially unique. In Scotland, where Kelly lives, 80% of autistic girls remain undiagnosed at 18. Kelly points to the fact that the majority of the research and charitable work around autism is written and executed by neurotypical people, with very little input from the autistic community.

Kelly's advocacy is rooted in her belief that the world must change to accommodate neurodiverse women, who currently navigate a society built for neurotypical men. Her commitment to this cause has led her to significant roles on the national and international stage. Since her diagnosis, Kelly has been appointed to the Board of a national charity that offers support to autistic women and girls, aiming to prove "that you can be autistic and successful, that there is a space for us."

She also rewrote the reasonable adjustments policy to better cater to the disabled NHS workforce. She has been named one of the most influential disabled people in the UK for the last three years for her work in sustainable development and is a strong believer that Scotland has a lot to offer on the international stage. Her commitment to her cause has led her to significant roles on the global stage, including representation at the European Parliament and the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.

Last year, Kelly was a finalist on the popular Channel 4 reality TV series in the UK, Make Me Prime Minister, where she documented her difficulties as an autistic person and campaigned on several radical social justice platforms. She is also a regular panelist on BBC Seven Days and has her own national weekly column where she often writes about disability issues.

Kelly feels like her difficulties can be used to help amplify the voices of people like her. “I have chosen to channel those hardships into making a difference because I believe that they would be wasted otherwise.”

When I met Kelly for coffee in New York (her favorite city), a few months ago, I was blown away by her desire to turn her powerful story into a voice for others. Seldom can you find someone who is so driven, empowered, and emboldened by hardship that they dedicate their entire career to giving voice to the voiceless. Kelly spoke to me candidly about her experience on Make Me Prime Minister, and how her social media presence can sometimes lead to nasty comments and bullying. As we waited over twenty minutes for the barista to deliver her hot chocolate, Kelly gushed over her desires to one day live in New York, we corroborated our shared experiences of navigating the challenges of having the dominant voice in a community while coming from positions of privilege.

But Kelly takes her role seriously in paving the way for other autistic people to one day be better represented in leadership. “I am a natural leader in an unconventional way. I believe there are different ways to lead, and I represent that difference. Autistic people are so badly underrepresented in leadership because we are judged for our differences rather than our strengths - when those strengths are given the space to shine, they do so.” And Kelly’s strengths do shine. She sees her qualities, traits, and special interests as an autistic person as an asset. “My special interests are pretty much rooted in my career in equality and inclusion, so I have dedicated my life to those interests.”

In a system that continues to fail autistic women and girls, she hopes that they can see themselves in her. In 2021, when Kelly was nominated for the YWCA Scotland’s Young Women’s Movement 30 Under 30 she thanked them “for bringing awareness to the reality for autistic women and girls across Scotland who are being let down by a system that is both shrouded in patriarchy and not fit for purpose.”

The transition to participating in Camp 2030 in 2022 was a natural extension of Kelly's advocacy work. Kelly participated in the 5th Cohort of the Youth Delegate Program as a Delegate, and then continued her leadership as a Lead in the 6th Cohort. Camp 2030, known for its focus on empowering young leaders to address the world's most pressing issues, provided Kelly with an ideal platform to further her mission. It offered an opportunity to mentor, guide, and inspire a new generation of Changemakers passionate about creating a more inclusive and equitable world, as a peer and a voice for Scotland, and the disability community.

As a participant, Kelly was profoundly impacted by the diversity of ideas and the collective passion for social change she encountered at Camp 2030. "I learned more in that one week of camp, from the variations of wonderful people I met, than I have learned in years’ worth of other environments," Kelly reflects. This experience, deeply enriching and affirming, reinforced her belief in the power of collective action and the importance of neurodiverse representation in global discussions on sustainability and equality. “I want to facilitate that beautiful experience for another group of people, and expand on my own leadership journey with UNITE 2030.”

Looking ahead to her role as a Counselor, Kelly is eager to bring her unique insights and experiences to support and mentor the next cohort of Campers. Drawing from her personal journey through misdiagnosis and advocacy, Kelly plans to champion the inclusion of neurodiverse perspectives in addressing global challenges. "I represent the difference that is often overlooked in leadership roles," she says. Kelly's leadership style—rooted in empathy, inclusivity, and a deep understanding of neurodiversity—promises to inspire Campers to embrace their unique strengths and perspectives.

She also understands clearly the power of taking action, both through her own story, and by navigating complex national and international politics where apathy seems to be dominant. “You have to care about what it is that you’re fighting for. Nobody has ever inspired meaningful change with ambivalence. You have to believe in the change you want to foster with every fiber of your being.”

Her focus will not only be on empowering Campers to contribute their ideas but also on facilitating a space where difficult conversations can lead to growth and understanding. Kelly intends to encourage Campers to engage with diverse viewpoints, find common ground, and collaboratively develop solutions that reflect a spectrum of experiences and knowledge.

Her belief is a true testament to her story: "The best policy is built on shared lived experience.” And she plans to bring that to Camp 2030, and through her ongoing mission to give voice to others.