Ali Northcott joined CRAE in 2017 as an Honorary Researcher, where she led the interdisciplinary research project Embodying Difference. Informed by her lived experience she investigated how the traits of neurodiverse artists enhance or inform their creative practice, processes and how those in turn inform their experience of being neurodiverse.
Ali conducted two parallel studies: a formal doctoral level psychology study involving semi-structured interviews with artists,and a complementary interdisciplinary study. The interdisciplinary study leveraged a range of qualitative research methods, employing ethnographic techniques combining formal and informal dialogues, participant observation, and narrative inquiry to capture the richness of individual experiences.
Interdisciplinary approach diversifies how knowledge production and ideas around neurodiversity are generated and valued with the intention of stimulating more cross disciplinary dialogues and collaborations.
With a particular interest in exploring any personal practices and rituals that individuals developed to enable them to navigate, enhance or transform their sensory or cognitive experience, their processing and harness their creativity.
Ali’s background in creative, embodied and somatic practices introduced a valuable phenomenological dimension to the research, offering a nuanced understanding of neurodivergent individual experiences
Taking these embodied and practice based explorations into an auto-ethnographic cyclical process of action and reflection, she adopted these practices and developed a range of interventions, bespoke rituals and participatory workshops that integrated somatic inquiry with traditional techniques. These she trialed and refined based on public feedback as part of her public engagement activities at the Wellcome Reading Room year long residency as Artist Investigator, gathering critical feedback that informed the development of her public engagement and practice-based methods.
In addition to her research roles, Ali has applied her expertise and knowledge as an advisor in the corporate sector, developing strategies to foster neuroinclusive and cognitively diverse cultures. These are embedded with flexible, inclusive systems and thinking. She has developed programs aimed at promoting more women into senior leadership roles that utilising peer-to-peer networks.
Ali is passionate about working with organizations and individuals who are committed to shaping a future that respects diversity, values sustainability, and creates ecosystems in which both people and the planet can flourish.
Ali returned to CRAE in 2024 complete a new study , prototyping a new program for neurodiverse adults. She will be refining her toolbox of interventions, rituals, somatic and practices, and resources alongside public engagement events.
She plans to develop experiential workshops designed to stimulate new dialogues and insights. Ali’s public engagement initiatives will leverage her expertise in embodied and creative practices to design transformative activities, events, and training that foster a richer understanding of diverse sensory and cognitive styles. As a qualified performance coach, Ali will deliver 1-1 and group sessions that explore and empower individuals by providing tools and approaches for developing awareness, insights, and skills. She will also collaborate with CRAE on enhancing their public engagement strategies,
Ali’s public engagement initiatives leverage her expertise in embodied and creative practices to design and facilitate transformative experiential activities, events and training that foster richer understandings of diverse sensory and cognitive styles and experiences.