Although most neurodivergent people are creative people who help make businesses successful, they still face discrimination from their colleagues. And it’s a problem that’s only getting worse, with nearly half of all neurodivergent workers reporting that they’ve experienced some mockery & discrimination at work. Most employees and staffs are not maliciously trying to be hurtful, but they don’t know how to interact with people who think or process information differently. This is where neurodiversity training comes in. By educating employees on how to best interact with and support their neurodivergent colleagues, businesses can create a more inclusive and productive environment for everyone. Here are a few reasons why neurodiversity training is essential for all employees:

Helps reduce discrimination & create a friendly culture at the workplace

As mentioned before, discrimination against neurodivergent people is a big problem in the workplace. And it’s not just limited to a few isolated incidents; a study by the UK-based charity Scope found that nearly half of all neurodivergent workers have experienced some form of mockery or discrimination from their colleagues. This can take many forms, from being excluded from work events or meetings to having your ideas constantly shot down without any real explanation. Neurodiversity training can help reduce discrimination by teaching employees how people with neurodivergent conditions think and process information.

Improves the quality of job interviews and overall communication 

Ask any neurodivergent person, and they’ll tell you that communication is one of the biggest challenges they face at work. This is because many neurodivergent people have difficulty processing verbal information, making it hard to follow conversations or give presentations. Neurodiversity training can help improve communication by teaching employees how to better interview or communicate with their neurodivergent employees or colleagues. For example, employees can learn how to give clear & concise directions or break down information into smaller chunks that are easier to understand.

Promote a more inclusive workplace culture

We’ve talked about friendly culture, but inclusivity is equally important for any workplace. Many neurodivergent people may feel isolated and excluded from the mainstream workplace culture, leading to isolation, anxiety, and depression. Neurodiversity training can help promote a more inclusive workplace culture by teaching employees about the different ways of inclusive branding, inclusive job advertising, and implementing reasonable adjustments.

Promotes a better understanding of how different people think and learn

One of the biggest benefits of neurodiversity training is that it can promote a better understanding of how different people think and learn. Imagine being constantly misunderstood just because your brain works a little differently. Perhaps you’re always being told to think more logically when your brain doesn’t work that way in reality. Or maybe you’re always being told to be more organized when your brain is wired for creativity in reality. Neurodiversity training can help employees understand that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to thinking and learning.

Taps into the untapped potential of neurodivergent employees

Many businesses are missing out on the untapped potential of neurodivergent employees. This is because many neurodivergent people cannot reach their full potential due to a lack of understanding and accommodation from their employers. Neurodiversity training can help businesses tap into the untapped potential of neurodivergent employees by teaching employees about how people with neurodivergent conditions think and process information. For example, employees can learn how to provide accommodations that will allow their neurodivergent colleagues to thrive.

With proper neurodiversity training, employees can learn how to communicate better and understand and collaborate with their neurodivergent colleagues instead of discriminating against them. This would create a more inclusive workplace culture and help businesses tap into the untapped potential of neurodivergent employees. Consequently, this would lead to higher productivity and better innovation in businesses. All in all, neurodiversity training is essential for all employees.