A woman who works with people with autism and ADHD says that she hopes that being honoured in the New Year’s Honours List will be “a way forward”.

Jane Green, 60, was awarded an MBE for services to Neurodivergent people. Her work particularly focused on helping people with hypermobile joints.

Jane said that people with autism, ADHD and similar conditions are twice as likely to suffer from hypermobility and added that she hoped her award would help raise more awareness of the issue.

She said: “I’m completely honoured and humbled. It’s so, so helpful because for so many years these issues that I am representing have been ignored.

“I’m just so pleased this is happening. The issue is complex but this is breaking ground.”

Jane was recognised for her work with SEDSConnective, who help neurodivergent people with hypermobility issues such as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, which can cause joint issues as well as stretchy and fragile skin.

She added that before the list was announced she had not told anyone about the award but that she hoped that people “see it as a way forward and hopefully we will get more funding”.