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Understanding neurodiversity in the workplace is crucial to appreciating and leveraging employees’ diverse talents. Neurodiversity is a term that has emerged over the last 15 years, highlighting that individuals' brains function in varied ways, leading to different methods of thinking and communicating. This diversity means that workplaces consist of employees with various cognitive styles. Recognising neurodiversity allows employers to support their staff better, helping them excel and contribute significantly to the organisation.
The concept of neurodiversity helps us view these differences as a natural part of human variation, reducing the stigma often associated with neurodivergence. Initially, 'neurodiversity' referred to autistic individuals, but it now encompasses conditions such as ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, Tourette’s syndrome, and chronic mental health conditions like bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Our neurodiversity glossary can assist in understanding various neurodivergent terms.
Neurodiversity is aligned with the social model of disability developed by disabled activists in the 1980s to change societal perspectives on disability. This model opposes the medical model of disability, which views disability as an illness or defect needing a 'cure' or 'fixing.' The medical model suggests that 'normal' (non-disabled) bodies and minds are the ideal.
In contrast, the social model of disability assumes that people are disabled by an inaccessible world, not by their impairments. For instance, when a wheelchair user faces a flight of stairs, the medical model would see the need to 'cure' the person so they can walk, while the social model would ask why there isn't a ramp.
Applying the social model to neurodiversity in the workplace involves considering what adjustments can be made to support neurodiverse individuals. This might include flexible work arrangements, tailored communication strategies, or creating a sensory-friendly environment. By making such adjustments, employers can foster an inclusive and supportive workplace, tapping into the unique strengths and perspectives that neurodiverse individuals bring.
