Neurodiversity and the Power of Inclusion
Reflections from Monash Health Business Breakfast October 16, 2024
This morning, I attended the Monash Health Business Breakfast on Neurodiversity and the Power of Inclusion. A thoughtfully constructed panel of experts generously shared data-driven insights and practical tips to help create more inclusive workplaces.
The panel included:
Dr. Asapasia Stacey Rabba - Senior Psychologist and Autism Coordinator at Monash Health’s Adult Autism Program (MHAAP)
Associate Professor Wenn Lawson - Peer worker
Aron Mercer - Xceptional Academy
Michelle Risdale - Kaboose
Here are the key messages I left with...
Language Matters
Neurodiversity is a social and political term designed to raise awareness and help with inclusion—and it's about all of us. Neurodivergence relates to specific neurodevelopmental diagnoses.
Neurodivergence is core business
One in eight Australians is neurodivergent - that includes our team members, our customers (current and potential), our stakeholders and our community.
Neurodivergence is an X factor when assessing psychosocial risk
The changes made in 2023 to the Commonwealth Work Health and Safety laws have placed unprecedented responsibility on Australian organisations in managing risk related to psychological safety.
One challenge in measuring this risk is that team members can be reluctant to disclose their situation. That means, even for those with the best intentions and efforts to create safe workplaces, psychosocial risk is hard to identify or quantify because it's invisible.
An excellent prompt to help leaders think about this is,
"How are you earning the right for your employees to disclose?"
- Aron Mercer
Presume Competence and Focus on Strengths
When thinking about recruitment, selection and retention, start from the perspective of presumed competence (and watch out for presumed incompetence bias). Ask questions to identify strengths and be curious about helpful adaptations you can make for individuals over time.
Rather than asking, "What do you need?", it's helpful to ask,
"What would make you more/less comfortable?" (because people often don't know what they need).
- Wenn Lawson
Leverage Universal Design Principles
The principles of Universal Design play an important role in creating ways of working and behaviours for everyone.