Neurodiversity Archives

Exploring Neurodiversity: A Conversation with Meredith Tekin, President of IBCCES on Fostering Inclusion

Step into a thought-provoking episode of ‘The Daily Show,’ where hosts Christine B. and Brandon W. engage with Meredith Tekin, President of the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). In this episode, they tackle the pressing issues and nuances of neurodiversity and inclusion. This article recasts their insightful discussion into a Q&A format, offering you a closer look at the world of neurodiversity, the mission driving IBCCES, and the real-world impact of their certification and training programs. Join us as we navigate through this engaging conversation, shedding light on how understanding and embracing neurodiversity is not just beneficial but essential for creating inclusive communities.
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1
FEB

Neurodiversity, blog

ibcces, neurodiversity, The Daily Show, Fostering Inclusion

Unique Skill Sets Neurodiverse Staff Can Bring To A Company

Neurodiverse individuals often possess skills that are highly desirable, yet difficult to find, especially when it comes to areas like technology, math and science. For example, people with autism are sometimes skilled in analytics, pattern recognition, information processing, and are great at working with numbers and formulas. Many businesses desperately need these skills, but have trouble finding qualified candidates because they are overlooking the untapped resources that neurodiverse people have to offer. Continue Reading →

7
JUL

Neurodiversity

neurodiversity

Your Workforce is Already Neurodiverse: Here Are 4 Things To Consider When Managing Your Most Valuable Resource

Statistically, your organization’s workforce is already neurodiverse, but the staff is likely not managing, coaching, and retaining those employees effectively. You can also improve hiring practices, placement, onboarding, and management of new employees to be inclusive of neurodiverse individuals who can become assets to your organization.

With the rise in the diagnosis of autism, ADHD and other cognitive differences, along with the large number of adults who have never been formally diagnosed as neurodivergent, comes a strong call to action in the workplace for organizations and workers to understand the diverse group of individuals on their teams and in their applicant pools and take appropriate steps to make sure those team members are given what they need for success. Organizations that are not prepared to focus on this now could be left behind as the workforce, and the expectations evolve.
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24
JAN

Neurodiversity

neurodiversity

Helping Students with Autism Transition from School to Work

Article written by Dr. Temple Grandin (pictured above)

During my travels to many autism conferences I have observed many sad cases of people with autism who have successfully completed high school or college but have been unable to make the transition into the world of work. Some have become perpetual students because they thrive on the intellectual stimulation of college. For many able people with autism college years were their happiest (Szatmari et al., 1989).

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6
OCT

Neurodiversity, Autism

How to Conduct Job Interviews with Candidates Who Have Autism

Organizations need to take special considerations when interview candidates with autism.
Shutterstock

Katherine Breward, University of Winnipeg

The unemployment and underemployment of capable workers with autism is a well-documented phenomenon, as a British study showed.

Employers are gradually getting better at recognizing the value of including neurodiverse people in their organizations, and information about accommodation strategies is starting to become more readily available.

That said, these accommodations aren’t helpful to workers if they are unable to land a job in the first place. Recruitment and selection practices can inadvertently negatively impact candidates with autism. Continue Reading →

9
OCT

Neurodiversity

neurodiversity, inclusion, NDEAM

Autism in the Workforce: Companies Hiring Autistic Individuals

As the number of people diagnosed with autism increases it is becoming imperative for companies to understand how hiring these individuals can provide unparalleled value. 1 in 36 children are diagnosed with autism. This leads to a very large population of adults on the spectrum who want to enter the workforce, but often struggle finding opportunities.

Individuals with autism are breaking stereotypes and showing the world what they are capable of across many arenas. Innovative companies are realizing that there are many job positions that make use of the unique strengths that people with autism possess. In fact, many times individuals on the spectrum are a better fit for certain positions than those not on the spectrum. Continue Reading →

10
SEP

Neurodiversity

neurodiversity, inclusion, certified neurodiverse workplace

How Individuals With Autism Can Provide Solutions for Companies

As businesses grow and evolve they are beginning to understand the importance of hiring employees who think differently and approach situations in ways one might consider out-of-the-box.

These neurodiverse individuals include people on the autism spectrum who possess skills that are in high demand, but are often hard to come by. It’s time we start paying attention to the undeniable value neurodiverse people provide to companies all over the world.

Table of Contents:
What is Neurodiversity
Autism and Employment
Budget Neutrality
Workplace Bias
Benefits of Neurodiversity
Rare Skillsets
Neurodiversity Programs

What is Neurodiversity?

The term neurodiversity is a concept that “considers the range of differences in human brain function and behavioral traits as normal variations.” Many times, this term refers to autism, but it can also include other cognitive disorders and disabilities. Continue Reading →

2
JUL

Neurodiversity

Neurodiversity Training for the Workplace: How can it Help Your Company?

As autism spectrum disorder (ASD) becomes increasingly prevalent, it is important for companies to understand how people with autism can be a true asset to an organization. Hiring and creating a functional workspace for individuals with diverse talents and needs can help organizations reach their business goals, create a healthier and more inclusive workplace, and provides more opportunity for individuals with ASD to contribute their talents and skills in a meaningful way.

Paul Shattuck, an associate professor of health management and policy at Drexel University’s Dornsife School of Public Health and director of the Life Course Outcomes Research Program at the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, recalls when autism was almost unheard of:

“It’s big news. Twenty years ago when I started in this field, autism was a condition that few people had heard of unless they had seen the movie Rain Man. But since the diagnostic criteria for autism have changed, we now include more people under that umbrella term than ever before.” -Paul Shattuck

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19
JUN

Neurodiversity