In Aurecon’s latest Just Imagine blog, Kat Crewes (Geotechnical Engineer) and Robert Holmes (Lead, People and Change)
argue that while neurodivergence has been viewed by businesses as a hurdle, employing neurodivergent people encourages
new ways of thinking and working – and it’s good for the bottom line.
Blog excerpt:
The trend towards uniformity in the 20th century is visible in many places, not just farmland. Many workplaces have
fostered homogeneity in thought and behaviour, where those who do not work in the same way as the majority are weeded
out, even if unintentionally. What we now know, is that a lack of diversity can breed groupthink and is bad business.
While we are seeing a great deal of progress, with more women and people of colour appointed in leadership positions and
businesses becoming more welcoming for the LGBTQI+ community, neurodivergent people are often overlooked.
Research from EY suggests that in the US, neurodivergent people make up to 20 per cent of the population, and 85 per
cent of them are facing unemployment or underemployment. That’s a huge amount of untapped talent and potential.
There is still a long way to go before neurodiversity is truly embraced. A large number of neurodivergent people are
unemployed and struggling. Even if some do have jobs, many are afraid to disclose their conditions at work because of
the stereotypes and stigmas. If anything, we are just at the tip of the iceberg. So, how can we build workplaces that
are neuro-inclusive and why is it worth
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This article was first published Aurecon’s Just Imagine blog. Just Imagine provides a glimpse into the future for
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