#NeurodiversityCelebrationWeek may be over, but the people affected and excluded by exclusive policy, practice and processes need and deserve more than a week of consideration. We need access to support and acceptance of differences every week of the year.
At Send it to Alex, we celebrate, support, and advocate for our neurodivergent clients and team members year-round. Read on for some tips to help you extend your own celebration and support to continue to build a better workplace for everyone.
Create and maintain inclusive workplace culture
This means respecting boundaries and needs set by your colleagues – regardless of whether they have disclosed a disability, mental health condition, or long term health condition.
Setting the standard for an environment that meets people where they are at celebrates the reality that all brains are unique. It respects that we all have different routes to getting our best work done. This is the foundation for a workplace where all staff can thrive, which means your business will thrive, too.
Remember that celebrating inclusivity can’t be relegated to dates on the calendar. It has to be a constant initiative – a foundational value for your company.
Provide accommodations and resources
Creating an inclusive attitude is a great foundation – but it requires follow-through by offering concrete support, accommodations, and resources.
Some accommodations and resources you might consider are:
- Flexible working options
- Benefit packages that include access to a range of therapy styles
- Access to onsite or virtual administrative and executive function support (like us!) through Access to Work
- Office-wide DEI training
- A trained rep specialising in supporting neurodivergent employees
- Quiet working areas in the office
- Call the experts
When it comes to creating an inclusive environment, it’s crucial not to put the burden of initiating and maintaining a neuro-inclusive environment on your staff members themselves.
Inviting any staff who have disclosed their neurodivergence to share their working needs is an important part of ensuring your workplace works for them. However, you mustn’t make it their responsibility, or wait for employees to come to you. Being inclusive and supportive of your staff means being proactive about creating and executing an inclusive environment at work.
But that doesn’t mean you have to do it alone either! Bringing in consultants and outside support is one of the most effective ways to ensure your staff feel included, supported, and celebrated. And the investment you make in ensuring neurodiversity is supported within your business is ultimately good for morale and your bottom line.
So don’t wait – get proactive now by seeking out experts to help you create an environment your employees can thrive in.
If you need help to create a more inclusive working environment that celebrates and supports neurodiversity, or want to connect your staff to support and accommodations, get in touch with us today.
