Today is the start of Neurodiversity Celebration Week, which runs from 18th to 24th March worldwide. Neurodiversity is the concept that all humans vary in terms of our neurocognitive ability – how we think and process information. Everyone has talents and also things they struggle with. For some people, the variation between those strengths and weaknesses is more pronounced, which can bring a specific talent but can also be very disabling sometimes.
For at least 20% of the UK’s adult population, these differences mean they are not seen as ‘neurotypical’ and may be diagnosed with neurological conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Neurodiversity is the concept that brain differences are natural variations – not deficits or impairments. Some people’s brains simply work in a different way! Being neurodiverse should be celebrated, and the Wellbeing Team at Dugdale Nutrition are proud to be raising awareness during ‘Neurodiversity Celebration Week,’ and beyond.
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Did you know?
It is estimated 1 in 7 people have a neurodiverse condition.
Only 16% of autistic adults in the UK are in full-time employment, according to the National Autistic Society, and 77% of unemployed autistic people say they want to work. Meaning there is a vast, high-potential pool of talents for employers to tap into and benefit from.
The current employment rate for neurodivergent people is only 48%
Lancet and NICE give a childhood incident rate of ADHD at 5% in children and 3-4% in adults. That equates to around 2.6million people in the UK with ADHD – 694,000 children and 1.9 million adults.
75% of adults with ADHD were not previously diagnosed in childhood according to the National Institute of Health.
Over 6 million individuals in the UK have dyslexia and may not have received a diagnosis. Despite its commonality it is often hidden and those living with dyslexia make countless compromises to ‘fit in’ to a neurotypical society.
Around 6% of the population in the UK are thought to have some kind of dyspraxia or DCD, with many people not diagnosed until adulthood. Males are x4 more likely to be affected than females.
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Neurodiversity in the Workplace
While neurodiverse colleagues may struggle with social skills and team activities, they tend to have above-average abilities when it comes to things like analysis, information processing, problem-solving and pattern recognition.
In terms of what employers can do to be neurodiversity smart, it’s important to develop an acceptance of neuro-difference and to celebrate neurodiverse strengths while taking steps to accommodate any specific challenges that an individual may face. In many cases, taking steps to be inclusive of neurodivergent people, from the recruitment and induction processes to roles descriptions and the physical work environment, will often result in benefits for all employees, job seekers and even customers.
"The workplace doesn't need just one skillset or approach, and we should all recognise the value that different employees can often bring with them." - Theo Paphitis, from BBC’s Dragon’s Den
Many people with neuro-differences possess unique skills. These skills vary from person to person, and organisations are missing out on a whole talent-pool of people by not taking the steps to become neuro inclusive.
Types of Neurodivergence
You may not have heard of all the different types, but chances are you are familiar with some. These are the most common examples:
Autism
ADHD
Bipolar Disorder
Dyslexia
Dyspraxia
Dyscalculia
Downs Syndrome
Epilepsy
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Tourette’s
Synaesthesia
Keep any eye out at the end of the week for our Neurodiversity Celebration Week roundup video, where some of our own Dugdale Nutrition employees explain their personal journey and experiences with being, or knowing someone close to them, who is neurodiverse.
The organisers of Neurodiversity Celebration Week have a full schedule of events which are listed below. To increase accessibility throughout the world, these events are being recorded. Simply register your interest and they will send you an email post-event, so you don't miss out!
There are also some excellent resources and information available on the Neurodiversity Celebration Week website. Please follow the link below:
For further information about Neurodivergence, please visit some of the websites below:
ADHD UK - https://adhduk.co.uk/
National Autistic Society - https://www.autism.org.uk/Â
British Dyslexia Association - https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/
Neurodiversity Celebration Week - https://www.neurodiversityweek.com/Â
Very Well Mind - https://www.verywellmind.com/Â