Neurodiversity: navigating strengths, challenges, and support in the workplace
In recognition of Neurodiversity Celebration Week, this blog highlights the importance of recognising and supporting neurodivergent individuals in the workplace. Drawing from personal experiences, Keira emphasises the need for understanding, flexibility, and open communication to foster a supportive work environment.
What is Neurodiversity Celebration Week?
Neurodiversity Celebration Week aims to transform how Neurodiversity is perceived by providing the opportunity to recognise the many skills and talents of Neurodivergent individuals.
Neurodiversity is an umbrella term used to describe alternative thinking styles such as Dyslexia, Dyspraxia (DCD), Dyscalculia, Autism, and Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
I want to highlight my own experience (as an Autistic person with ADHD) and views on how important it is for Neurodiverse people to have the correct support and feel safe at work in order to feel celebrated.
Glossary
Masking is a strategy used by some autistic people, consciously or unconsciously, to appear non-Autistic to blend in and be more accepted in society. Masking can happen in formal situations such as at school or work and in informal situations such as at home with family or socialising with friends.
Autistic women, girls, and non-binary people are more likely to adopt masking techniques due to societal pressures to conform to gender stereotypes and expectations. This often leads to delayed or missed diagnosis.
Growing up and before I understood I was Autistic, I was masking without realising which is an important factor to my experience. Masking is coping mechanism that actually causes serious harm to my mental health, as well as so many other Autistic people.
How has sharing my experience being Neurodivergent impacted my work life?
My experience has been positive opening up to my colleagues about having ADHD and being Autistic and in general talking about Neurodiversity. My starting point was sharing resources to allow people to build their knowledge. As well as bringing in my own Neurodiversity coach to talk through how, in particular, Neurodiverse females might present in the workplace. Knowing that the people around me have some awareness and are willing to listen or talk, allows me to feel more comfortable to communicate when I am struggling, with less fear that I will be misunderstood or shamed.
How do I embrace my strengths and harness my weaknesses?
There are lots of great strengths that come with having ADHD and being Autistic but in order for those great parts to work as seamlessly as possible, I need to be open about my weaknesses and agree boundaries so that I can work with and not against the things I can struggle with. To give you an insight into my brain, I have two polar opposite demons who fight against each other. One loves a routine, predictability, and solitude, while the other gets easily bored and enjoys a bit of spontaneity and socialising with others.
Flexibility is essential for maintaining the right headspace to be productive. It allows me to balance my opposing needs and avoid getting stuck in a rut at work. Hybrid working enables me to harness this flexibility, providing enough social interaction and dopamine from office days while also allowing quiet, solitary days working from home. This balancing act is something I’m still perfecting, but I know prioritising my energy is crucial for keeping my productivity and mood thriving.
Being in a work environment where I’m encouraged and given opportunities to contribute across the organisation gives me a sense of being trusted, noticed, and valued. However, I don’t always believe these things are true. Low self-esteem is common among Neurodiverse individuals, and it can greatly impact how we perceive our worth at work.
How do I handle change and transitions?
I find situations involving change, transitions, and unpredictability very difficult. By raising this with my manager, we’ve developed a mutual understanding. What helps me to cope is when I’ve been made aware a change is coming and having the opportunity to ask lots of questions as more clarity helps to settle my anxiety a bit. A positive of always worrying about what is going to happen next is that I think five steps ahead, an extremely beneficial skill as planning ahead and problem solving is a key part of working and life generally. I try to remind myself I can still contribute to situations with change just from my own angle or I can take a step back and that is fine. And again, I am not judged or shamed for times when I do need to step back.
How do I minimise burnout?
In my experience, burnout is a result of many things which can be work and non-work related. I’d describe it as my breaking point after I’ve pushed myself to cope with things I find difficult for too long. This could be due to changes in my routine, navigating social situations, sensory overload and masking for long periods of time. This goes back to the opposing demons I mentioned, they need very different things and when they are equal, I can manage somewhat steadily. However, if one demon gets too greedy, takes full control and doesn’t allow the other demon it’s dedicated time, I can spiral into burnout.
I’ve learned that trying to soldier on when I’m close to burnout does more harm than good. I make more mistakes, become easily frustrated, and often need time off work to rest and reset. Taking breaks and time off shouldn’t be seen as negative; it’s crucial for preventing long-term effects. This is an ongoing conversation with my manager, allowing us to plan around potential burnout triggers as best as we can.
Final thoughts
I recognise I am lucky to be able to advocate for myself at work, as many people do not feel their workplace is a safe space to disclose their Neurodivergence or communicate their needs. By sharing what helps me stay motivated, happy and able to attend work, I hope to inspire meaningful conversations and deeper understanding as we can all contribute to creating more inclusive work environments.
There are various free events you can sign up to that go into more detail about Neurodiversity from 17th-23rd March 2025.
Further Resources
Resources for employers/managers, family and Neurodiversity allies:
Autism Works Training – How to be an Autism Confident Employer
Scottish Women’s Autism Network (SWAN) paid training
Resources for Neurodiverse individuals:
Scottish Women’s Autism Network (SWAN) – Autistic- led charity delivering services, information and support for and by women, girls and non-binary people across Scotland.
SWAN places – Free in person social meetups.
SWAN spaces – Free online social meetups.
Neurodivergent Job-seeker Resources – Enna
Salvesen Mindroom – Focused on supporting Neurodiverse children & young people.