Neurodivergent employees often face multiple challenges in the work environment. For those that are hypersensitive, whether to sound, touch, smell or visual input, their ability to be productive at work can be seriously impaired. These differences in the way that neurodivergent people experience the world can also impact their sense of well-being, comfort and belonging in the workplace. Conversley, some neurodivergent people can be hyposensitive in some of these areas where, for example, they require additional visual stimulation to bring out their creativity.

An estimated 15-20% of the population is thought to be neurodivergent, possessing talents that are often woefully underutilised. Ensuring that the workplace is optimised for this significant sector of the workforce is clearly vital for both business and neurodivergent individuals.

As part of our Neuro-Inclusive Design series, in this blog we examine how sound can impact people with neurodiverse conditions. It goes on to explore some workplace design adaptations that can be implemented to support neurodivergent employees.

As part of our Neuro-inclusive Design series, in this blog we consider some sometimes startling facts and figures on the subject of neurodiversity in the workplace. As companies begin to recognise the importance of understanding the needs of its full spectrum of employees, Milliken’s  Whitepaper ‘Designing a Neuro-Inclusive Workplace’ reveals some attention raising statistics that can’t be ignore.

Designing workspaces with neurodiverse employees in mind goes beyond mere aesthetics. It involves creating environments that accommodate a broad range of sensory needs, particularly for individuals with neurodiverse conditions such as autism, ADHD and sensory processing disorders.

Seemingly every day, we hear about another high-profile, successful individual becoming aware of their neurodivergent condition. At the same time, companies are increasingly questioning whether they have the best or even the right workplace for their neurodiverse employees.