The Brain Charity

For many neurodivergent individuals, navigating financial systems can present challenges – but support remains limited. We spoke with Moray Luke, a handbag designer who has dyspraxia caused by cerebellitis, about her mission to end unfair banking practices.

Moray is campaigning to build a more inclusive financial world for neurodivergent people, and thinks banks should offer more specialist support for those who are autistic or have neurological conditions such as ADHD, brain injury, dyspraxia and dyscalculia.

She has shared her own struggles with understanding finances while running her own business, which led to her taking on bank loans she did not fully understand. Moray said:

“Many neurodivergent people struggle with numbers and financial concepts, leading to significant barriers that can result in isolation from society.

“Without tailored guidance, navigating finances can feel like a losing battle.

“The complexity of numbers – whether in loan contracts, budgeting, or understanding terms like interest – can be overwhelming.”

Neurodiversity and financial management

Moray explained how overwhelming financial information can be for neurodivergent people, especially when there’s little support available.

Some neurodivergent conditions such as ADHD can cause impulsivity, which can make managing money and budgeting difficult. Moray said:

“Living with a brain injury and navigating the world as a neurodivergent person can exhausting.

“Not only do we grow up with the messaging we are broken and need to be fixed rather that we need extra help, that extra help is rarely given.”

The reality of entrepreneurship as a neurodivergent adult

When Moray set up her own luxury handbag company, she initially believed entrepreneurship would offer the freedom and flexibility that standard jobs often don’t.

However, the practical reality was much harder. She said:

“I was initially excited about the prospect of being an entrepreneur, believing it would allow me to live life on my terms.

“I quickly realised that entrepreneurship entails managing numbers without any support, which is borderline impossible.”

In addition to these financial management difficulties, Moray found that institutions didn’t meet her accessibility needs as a business owner. She explained:

“I assumed that institutions would recognise my accessibility needs and implement the necessary support when I interacted with them.

“Unfortunately, that was not the case.”

Without accessible support, her hopes of creating a sustainable business became an uphill battle.

The digital divide’s role in bank accessibility

In the aftermath of the the pandemic, many banking institutions moved to more online services, which can make accessing face-to-face support more difficult.

Moray said her bank has failed to meet accessibility requirements, and wants to prevent this happening to anyone else. She said:

“Most systems are digital and devoid of personal support, especially after the pandemic.

“This lack of accessible, in person assistance often results in people signing contracts without fully understanding the implications.

“I currently find myself in a battle with my bank due to inadequate accessibility.

“They continue to provide services without accommodating my needs and I often do not know what I’ve signed.”

These barriers have made her long-term ambitions, like buying a home, seem out of reach.

Moray feels her experience highlights how limited assistance from financial institutions can hold neurodivergent individuals back from achieving their goals. Moray added:

“My desire to buy a house in the next 18 months feels increasingly out of reach without proper support.”

Moray Luke’s mission for change

For Moray, change is needed not just within financial institutions but also through greater education and awareness.

She is calling for dedicated neurodiversity-trained financial advisors to be in place at all banks.

They could provide consistent, tailored support to help neurodivergent individuals navigate complex systems with confidence, reducing barriers.

Moray also believes there should be stronger protections under the Equality Act to ensure financial institutions are accountable. She added:

“With improved support and education, many individuals would be better positioned to participate in society.

“There should be a push to strengthen the Equality Act to ensure that financial institutions are held accountable for providing appropriate accommodations for neurodivergent clients.”