Neurodiversity in Business (NiB) - the Neurodiversity Charity’s Post

I’m excited to return to London this April to speak at the annual Neurodiversity in Business conference. Here’s what’s top of mind for me: How do we evolve the conversation on neurodiversity at work to ensure organizations fully embrace its value – especially in times when it can feel harder to find common ground between different perspectives? Lately, I’ve been reflecting deeply on why I do the neurodiversity advocacy work I do, and why I write what I write here on LinkedIn. I realized I feel most hopeful for the future when someone says to me: “I’m not autistic, but I could relate to what you said or wrote. And it made me more aware of a part of myself that I hadn’t fully recognized before, but now I see how it connects to my own experiences and struggles.” That’s when my heart lights up. That’s what fuels me to keep going. When we find a moment of shared humanity. For me, championing neuro-inclusion is ultimately not about labels or identities – although these have their place and importance. It’s about building bridges of understanding between different ways of thinking, working, and being. And I believe we have a better chance of advancing neuro-inclusion in organizations when we approach it with the same focus on cultivating mutual empathy – across labels and identities. It’s the same philosophy we’ve applied to the neurodiversity employee resource group (ERG) I founded and run – for example, by having a diverse team of neurodivergent and non-neurodivergent colleagues. Navigating this diversity within a team isn’t always easy. But I believe it’s vital. It prevents a divisive “us vs. them” narrative, and fosters understanding by encouraging us to bridge differences and find common ground. I, for one, have learned a lot from working with non-neurodivergent colleagues in our ERG, who have challenged us to make our messaging more relatable and relevant for others – leaders, managers, HR professionals. Ultimately, that’s what allows us to “collaborate for impact,” to echo the theme of this year’s Neurodiversity in Business conference. I look forward to sharing the progress we’ve made and learning from others. 👉 The Neurodiversity in Business conference will take place in London and online, on April 23, 2025. For more information and ticket options, see: https://lnkd.in/gFD_p-Wg 🤝 I’ll be in London in the days surrounding the conference, so feel free to drop me a DM if you see an opportunity to connect or collaborate during the day time before or after the conference (my brain needs evenings alone to recover 😅). 🌳 On that note, do you have tips for a quiet oasis in London away from the hustle and bustle? As a half-Brit, visiting London always feels a bit like coming home, but the intensity of the city can also be overwhelming. Let me know – I’d appreciate any tips or recommendations! #Neurodiversity Image: an overview of speakers at the upcoming annual Neurodiversity in Business conference on April 23, 2025.