Focus on neurodiversity: Promoting awareness in schools

In this, the final article in our series looking at neurodiversity in schools, we focus on ways to promote neurodiversity awareness and understanding amongst your school staff, as well as ways to support neurodiverse employees in their career journeys

Research from Birkbeck’s Research Centre for Neurodiversity at Work commissioned by the charity Neurodiversity in Business (NiB) found that, despite increased understanding around neurodiversity, there are significant barriers to neurodivergent employees disclosing their status to their employers. 65% of people feared discrimination from management, and 55% from their colleagues. Further research from City & Guilds and Do-IT Solutions found less than 30% of HR professionals and senior leaders had received training in neurodiversity.

Creating the right environment for all staff to flourish equally relies on an understanding of the often fluctuating physical, mental and well-being needs of neurodiverse persons. This begins with building a picture of your team and engaging with them to encourage open communication. Afterall, neurodiverse differences are often invisible to the untrained eye or may simply be dismissed as ‘personality traits’. Once you have identified the needs of the team, SBLs can assist them in building a solution tailored to ensure all staff can work to their full potential.

Daniel Brook, founder and director of Neurodiversity Specialists, says the biggest hurdle, as identified in the Birkbeck research, is getting people to speak up about their differences. “It’s crucial to foster an inclusive culture where neurodivergent employees feel valued and empowered to contribute their unique perspectives. Neurodivergent employees have a wide range of needs, and to accommodate them better, schools must create an environment of understanding and flexibility.”

Some simple tips to help you promote neurodiversity acceptance and awareness are:

• Implement a neurodiversity policy: Develop a comprehensive policy that provides guidance on accessing support and assessment services, as well as outlining what employees can expect in terms of workplace adjustments.
• Cultivate a safe environment: Foster an atmosphere where neurodivergent individuals feel comfortable speaking up, raising concerns, and seeking support. Establishing employee resource groups can be particularly beneficial in this regard.
• Provide neurodiversity training: Educate employees, especially leaders and managers, on the value and benefits of neurodiversity. Training sessions can also cover effective ways to support neurodivergent individuals in the workplace.
• Strive for continuous improvement: Commit to ongoing efforts to promote neuro-inclusivity. By continuously working towards creating a supportive culture, you can enhance well-being and retain talented employees.
• Address unconscious bias: Take care to ensure that language and terminology used in job postings and promotions are inclusive of neurodiverse individuals. This helps to ensure that neurodivergent persons feel encouraged to apply for opportunities

By fostering neurodiversity understanding and equipping everyone within your school with the necessary knowledge, SBLs can establish their schools as havens of inclusivity, where all staff members are embraced and empowered to achieve their aspirations. Through the implementation of neurodiversity policies, the creation of safe environments for open dialogue, the provision of comprehensive training, and a commitment to ongoing improvement, schools can effectively support neurodivergent employees throughout their professional journeys. Together, let’s champion diversity, foster understanding, and cultivate environments where every individual feels valued and supported!