Adam Clewes-Boyne

My name is Adam and I am a games programmer, designer, and neurodivergent advocate. Over the last year I’ve contributed to a number of released video game titles on PC and console, as well as organised and contributed to numerous events highlighting neurodiversity within the video games industry. My work involves running a small, majority neurodivergent, independent games company as we work on our own games alongside being contratcted to support the development of the games of other studios. I also run Playing Attention, the only community dedicated to supporting and advocating for ADHD in the UK video games industry.

I have always cared deeply about the advancement of others and wanted to support the accessibility of others. Following from my own diagnosis 2 years ago, I’ve worked to drive awareness of ADHD with the games industry and it directly affects a significant proportion of people working in games. Without the education and greater awareness of the wider, neurodivergent people are more likely to find themselves passed over for promotion, receiving lower salaries, or struggling to find work. As someone in the powerful position of running an independent studio, I see it as my duty to be a driving force for change within this space, and actively push myself and those around me to be better than the minimum expectations.

Through my work as a founding member of the Independent Game Developer’s Association – Neurodivergent in Games Development Special Interest Group and as an accessibility committee member of Limit Break, I spend my time passing on my knowledge and support to the wider industry both locally and internationally in the hope of improving the lives of neurodivergent developers everywhere.