National ADHD speaker Ryan Swain brings national education mission to Wigan sixth formers

National ADHD advocate and speaker Ryan Swain visited a Wigan sixth form, inspiring greater understanding of neurodiversity while calling for nationwide education reform through his newly launched parliamentary petition.

Students at St John Rigby College in Orrell, listened to his voluntary You, Me & ADHD educational talk as part of ADHD Awareness Month.

The visit formed part of Ryan’s nationwide mission to improve understanding of ADHD and neurodiversity among young people, teachers and communities, challenging misconceptions and encouraging a more inclusive approach to education.

But behind the campaign is a powerful personal story.

At just 14 years old, Ryan was permanently excluded from mainstream school, having experienced years of misunderstanding, negative labels and difficulties associated with ADHD.

Now, more than two decades later, he is returning to classrooms across the country, not as the struggling pupil he once was, but as an invited speaker determined to help prevent other children from experiencing similar challenges.

During his visit to St John Rigby, Ryan explored the realities of living with ADHD, including emotional regulation, executive functioning, rejection sensitivity, impulsivity, confidence, relationships and the challenges young people can face when progressing through education and into adulthood.

His message was not simply about ADHD. It was about understanding difference, developing empathy and ensuring every young person feels valued, regardless of how their brain works.

Ryan said:

“Walking into St John Rigby College was incredibly meaningful for me. I was once the child who struggled in education, the child who was misunderstood, and ultimately the child who was excluded at 14.

“Today, I’m being invited into educational settings across the country to help young people understand ADHD and neurodiversity. That’s something the 14-year-old version of me could never have imagined.

“Education has the power to change lives, but understanding needs to come before judgement. Every student deserves to feel accepted, supported and given the opportunity to succeed.”

The Wigan visit came just two days after Ryan’s parliamentary petition was officially published by the UK Government.

The petition, titled “Require all schools to teach ADHD and neurodiversity education”, calls for mandatory, age-appropriate education in schools to help pupils understand different neurological conditions, reduce stigma and improve inclusion.

Sign and share the official petition: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/781934