The Story of MIH

Hello, my name is Donna McLean, and I founded MIH in August 2018.

The Multiple Intelligence Hub grew from my deepening passion for neurodiversity and my commitment to individualised support for autistic, ADHD and otherwise neurodivergent children and young people.

Throughout my experience, I became increasingly aware of the need for more meaningful opportunities, alternative learning and truly accessible day service provision for young people who benefit from a different approach. My inspiration has always been my amazing daughter, Miss B, who was diagnosed autistic in 2012 and later with Developmental Coordination Disorder in 2016.

Everything I have learned from her has shaped my values, my understanding of neurodiversity, and my determination to create a space where young people no longer feel pressure to mask or meet societal expectations that don’t fit who they are. Together, we continue learning every day.

Comments such as “she doesn’t look autistic” or “she’s very well behaved for an autistic child” are just a small glimpse into the misunderstanding that still exists. The challenges my daughter has faced have never been because of her neurotype, but because environments and expectations around her were not designed with her needs in mind.

What I have learned most from raising a neurodivergent child is this:

Every young person can learn, grow and achieve when they are given the right environment, the right approach and the right support.

That belief is the foundation of MIH. By offering opportunities through different learning styles — visual, auditory and kinaesthetic — and by embracing multiple intelligences, we open more than one road to success.

For Miss B, progress has never been about “good behaviour.” It has been about being understood, supported and advocated for within environments that reduce anxiety and honour who she is. When misunderstanding is removed, young people flourish.

Although awareness of neurodiversity is improving, there are still far too few life skills opportunities, inclusive environments and genuinely accessible learning pathways. I saw this very clearly when Miss B simply wanted to join a dance class — something that should have been a simple childhood experience — yet we struggled to find any neurodivergent friendly options. The responses we received were disheartening, and it highlighted how limited opportunities were for young people like her.

It wasn’t just about dance. It reflected a wider gap in accessible learning, friendships, social development and belonging.

MIH was created to change that.

My aim has always been to build a place where individualised learning, well being experiences and meaningful activities are available every day. A place that grows with our young people. A place that offers pride, purpose and possibility.

Where We Are Now

When I first wrote this story, Miss B was just ten years old. She is now seventeen and navigating the post 16 landscape — a time many autistic and neurodivergent young people find particularly difficult.

After leaving school, she enrolled in a mainstream college pathway supported by her school. Although she tried her best, the environment simply wasn’t the right fit. The pace, expectations and social pressures did not match her needs, it just wasn’t a place where she could thrive.

We were offered alternative options, but once again they were extremely limited and not designed for young people who need small, calm, individualised settings.

Today, Miss B attends MIH three days a week and continues her education from home on the remaining days. This balanced approach allows her to move forward in a way that is safe, positive and meaningful.

Miss B’s journey is a powerful reminder of why MIH exists. Without MIH, she would now be without suitable provision or pushed back into environments that had already affected her well being. Instead, she is continuing to grow, learn and rebuild confidence within an environment that understands her.

MIH was built with young people like Miss B in mind — and seeing her benefit from the very ethos that inspired this organisation reinforces our belief that every young person deserves a place where they can be understood, valued and supported on their own terms.

Why MIH Still Matters Today

MIH fills a gap that many families still face — the space between school, further education and adulthood where neurodivergent young people can too easily become lost.

We offer a bridge between these stages, giving young people so many more opportunities.

MIH continues to matter because environments like ours are still too rare — and because every young person deserves a place that sees their potential, not their limitations.