People, Culture and Law Conference 2023 - Neurodiversity at Work

Winckworth Sherwood Neurodiversity At Work

Melanie Francis l Chartered FCIPD

Neurodiversity – Some research data 1. Number of autism diagnoses increased 787% over the past two decades, whilst prescriptions for medication to treat ADHD jumped 800% according to studies, respectively by the University of Exeter and the British Pharmacological Society.​ 2. Neurodiversity Employment Tribunal claims rose by 1/3rd in 2021. (40% rise in employment tribunals relating to autism, a 31% rise in Asperger’s cases and a 14% rise in dyslexia claims in the past year alone) - Fox & Partners – May 2022​

3. The Institute of Leadership & Management - Workplace Neurodiversity: The Power Of Difference, 2020.

The report found that neurominorities have far worse experiences in the workplace than their neurotypical colleagues believe they do.​ 50% of people would not employ someone from one of the neurominorities.

Most organisations do not include neurodiversity within policy and procedures, or provide training on inclusion.​ 4. ONS Data published this year shows just 22% of autistic adults are in any kind of employment.​ 5. Board members already appreciate ND talent – When asked to define diversity on boards, 86% said neurodiversity – Board Diversity and Effectiveness in FT350 Companies – FRC, London Business School and SQW - 2021 .​ 6. 80% of Genzers would be more likely to apply to a place of work that had readily available materials and resources for employees who identify as neurodivergent (Tallo 2020).

The way we describe people has evolved…

Diversity & Inclusion

We are comfortable with describing our personality and preferences

What is Neurodiversity?

Our brains (neuro) naturally vary from person to person (are diverse) and are a part of human variation (like a fingerprint). not displaying or characterized by autistic or other neurologically patterns of thought or behaviour.**

80% Neurotypical*

20% Neurodiverse*

Neurodiversity is the diversity of human brains and minds, the infinite variation in neurocognitive functioning within our species. ***

*Neurodiversity at work: a biopsychosocial model and the impact on working adults - Nancy Doyle - British Medical Bulletin, Volume 135, Issue 1, September 2020| ** Oxford Languages l *** autisticuk.org

Dyslexia – a neurodiverse condition with strengths and challenges related to reading, writing and spelling.

Dysgraphia – strengths and challenges with a set of skills known as transcription.

These skills — handwriting, typing, and spelling — allow us to produce writing.

Dyscalculia – strengths and challenges with maths skills. These may be related to simple number concepts, grasp of numbers, and learning number facts and procedures.

Neurodiverse conditions

Developmental Coordination Disorder (Dyspraxia) - affects fine and/or gross motor coordination and may also affect speech.

Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) - a type of speech, language and communication need whereby the individual may have challenges with talking and understanding language.

Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) – affects the way you think about and experience the world, which may be different to most people.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - is an impairment of the brain’s selfmanagement system, which also affects executive function (e.g. working memory, planning, time management, organisation, etc.) ADHD can present as primarily inattentive, primarily hyperactive-impulsive or a combined type.

Tourette’s Syndrome - a condition that causes a person to make involuntary sounds and movements called tics.

Dyslexia

Dyscalculia

Dyspraxia /DCD

Time and money

Coordination

Anxious

Reading

Math

Gross motor skills

Rumination

Estimation

Fine motor skills

Reading Comprehension

Arithmetic

Balance

Grammar

Context of numbers

Punctuation

EhlersDanlos syndro mes

Autism

ADHD

Listening

Sensory differences

Impulsivity

Speaking

Specific interests

Hyperactivity

Understanding

Social imagination

Focus

Socialising

Reading Comprehension

Attention

Non-verbal communication

Grammar

Concentration

Hearing

Punctuation

Tics & Tourette's

Auditory APD Processing Disorder

Vision

Traumatic Brain Injury

Fatigue

Spelling

Writing

DLD

Memory / planning challenges

Camouflage

Traits commonly seen in Neurodiverse people Empathetic Creative Persistent Imaginative Analytical Energetic Problem Solver

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Dyslexia

Dyscalculia

Dyspraxia /DCD

Time and money

Coordination

Anxious

Reading

Math

Gross motor skills

Rumination

Estimation

Fine motor skills

Reading Comprehension

Arithmetic

Balance

Grammar

Context of numbers

Punctuation

EhlersDanlos syndro mes

Autism

ADHD

Listening

Sensory differences

Impulsivity

Speaking

Specific interests

Hyperactivity

Understanding

Social imagination

Focus

Socialising

Reading Comprehension

Attention

Non-verbal communication

Grammar

Concentration

Hearing

Punctuation

Tics & Tourette's

Auditory Processing Disorder

Vision

Traumatic Brain Injury

Fatigue

Spelling

Writing

DLD

Memory / planning challenges

Camouflage

Traits commonly seen in Neurodiverse people Empathetic Creative Persistent Imaginative Analytical Energetic Problem Solver

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Dyslexia Spelling Reading

Dyscalculia Time and money

Dyspraxia /DCD

Coordination

Math

Rumination

skills

Estimation

Fine motor skills

Reading Comprehension

Arithmetic

Balance

Grammar

Context of numbers

Emotions

Fatigue

EhlersDanlos syndro mes

DLD

Autism

ADHD

Listening

Sensory differences

Impulsivity

Speaking

Specific Stress interests

Hyperactivity

OCD

Anxious

Depression Gross motor

Writing

Punctuation

Anxiety

Memory / planning challenges

Mental Health Conditions

Relationships

Camouflage

Traits commonly seen in Neurodiverse people Empathetic Creative Persistent Imaginative Analytical Energetic Problem Solver

Problem Solving

Understanding

Social imagination

Focus

Socialising

Reading Masking Comprehension

Attention

Non-verbal communication

Grammar

Concentration

Hearing

Punctuation

Tics & Tourette's

Auditory Processing Disorder

Repetitive

Vision

Traumatic Brain Injury Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

We are all neurodiverse

Neuroinclusion Thoroughout the employee lifecycle

Reasonable adjustments – Examples only!

Agenda in advance Regular short breaks Timers Do not disturb Noise cancelling headphones Quiet space Balance chair Sit/Stand desk Fidget toys Camera options on video calls Clear deadlines

Mentor/Buddy/Neurodiversity champions Induction/on-boarding Texthelp software/Reading pen/Digital recorder Screen filter/ergonomic keyboard/mouse Coloured paper Fonts/#CamelCase Extra time to help Verbal as well as written instructions

What can you do to make your organisation neuroinclusive?

Increase awareness and appreciation of neurodiversity across the company.

Publicly declare that you are actively striving to be neuroinclusive.

Ensure all of your staff feel able to bring their whole selves to work.

Ensure that ‘disclosure’ is not seen as a requirement to thrive.

Critically review your processes.

Review and re-write your comms.

Widen your recruitment pool.

Regularly ask “What can we do to make this the best possible experience for you?”.

Include neurodivergent colleagues in all stages and reviews.

Critically review your working environment.

Make it easy to ask for adjustments and know where to go to implement them.

‘Recruit’ the best, neurodiverse talent. Team ‘add’, not team ‘fit’.

Additional resources Understanding the spectrum Neurodiversity at Work – Professor Amanda Kirby and Theo Smith Rebel Ideas – The power of thinking differently - Matthew Syed Do-IT Profiler – Neurodiversity screening and tools ONS Report - Outcomes for disabled people in the UK: 2020 ILM – Workplace neurodiversity – The Power of Difference Employment Law Journal article Everymind at work - Neurodiversity resources