In June 2021, the “Mikel Rijsdijk Grant” was initiated, a project created by Saskia Wenniger, with support of the Neurodiversity Foundation and the Neurodiversity Education Academy. The grant enables neurodivergent the ability to receive education and coaching about neurodiversity and about their own neurodivergency. The grant is designed to support those, who struggle affording such services.

Each edition, individuals can sign up themselves as a potential receiver of the grant. There have been multiple neurodivergents in recent editions, being supported with granted services they felt needed in order to thrive.

The Mikel Rijsdijk Grant, is usually awarded in the period close to Neurodiversity Pride Day. The supply of the Grant is limited. For those financially capable of paying for these services, we ask you to leave this opportunity open for those who struggle doing so. There have been editions of the Mikel Rijsdijk Grant in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 providing free coaching services and resources to neurodivergent people. In 2025 there is a new edition too. 

Find more information about the Mikel Rijsdijk grant, on this page: https://www.brilliantlydiverse.com/the-mikel-rijsdijk-memorial-grant2025/ on the website of our Grant partner Brilliantly Diverse. 

What does the GRANT actually offer?

This grant for the 2025 edition consists of

• free access to certain paid courses and group coaching (with the help of the Neurodiversity Education Academy)
• some free one-on-one coaching sessions
• A free copy of The “What is Strong with You?!” digital toolkit published by the Neurodiversity Education Academy

The courses and group coaching*

• Strengths-Based (self)coaching course– (value 550 euros) access from mid October 2025
• 8 online group coaching sessions to go along with the Strengths-Based Course on October 27th, November 10th & 24th, December 8nd & 22nd 2025, January12th & 26st, February 9th 2025 at 20:30 CET (4 months, value 600 euros)
• Brilliantly Diverse Surprise Pilot Program online course (value 550 euros) access from March 2026
• 6 Sessions group coaching sessions for the Surprise Pilot Program – 6 meetings starting in March 2026 bi-weekly or once a month on Monday evenings in CET timezone (exact times t.b.d.)
• Access to the Brilliantly Diverse Slack group. Here you can interact with other clients being coached by me. Access from Sept 25th 2025- 31 st March 2026 (6+ months, value 120 euros).

*If we get a significant amount of applications we may award some partial grants that cover just access to one or more courses , but no individual coaching support..

The one-on-one coaching

In the period between Sept 25th 2025 and January 31st 2026 grant receivers can book a total of:

• 1 intake call (25 minutes) so we can get to know each other
• 3 longer (50 minutes) coaching sessions
• 3 shorter (25-minute) coaching sessions
  to help you wherever you may get stuck applying these materials to your life (value 750 euros)*

Grant recipients will also be eligible for a one-time 20% off of any additional coaching packages. Valid in the six months after the grant is rewarded. These purchases are by no means mandatory!

*These coaching sessions are generally recorded for purposes of mentoring and credentialing of the coach, with your permission. All privacy safeguards remain in place as per ICF ethics code https://coachingfederation.org/ethics/code-of-ethics.

The grant was named after Mikel Rijsdijk. Read more about Mikel here .