Kelly Everly-Hall was ready for her interview. She wore a nice outfit, had reviewed her resume and knew she had many of the skills needed for the IT job she was seeking. But things went quickly downhill when she faced a panel of three interviewers, something she had never done before.
She got nervous, rambled and struggled to make eye contact. She had a hard time describing her skills, so she asked if she could demonstrate them on a computer. The answer was no. She didn’t feel comfortable asking clarifying questions.
“I knew 10 minutes into it that I wasn’t going to get the job,” says Everly-Hall, whose autism makes some social settings difficult. “It was like I lost before I even started.”
A new job marketplace seeks to remedy that problem by connecting neurodivergent people like Everly-Hall with companies that have committed neurodiversity hiring programs. Launched this month, the Neurodiversity Career Connector features job listings by U.S. employers seeking applicants with autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia and other conditions associated with neurodivergent, or atypical, brain functioning.
The site was launched by the Neurodiversity @ Work Employer Roundtable, a group of nearly 50 companies with neurodiversity hiring programs and support systems for new employees. Microsoft leads the group, which wants to decrease job barriers and improve neurodiversity in the workplace.
“We’re trying to solve the problem where employers say they want to hire neurodivergent talent and can’t find people. And we have job seekers who say they can’t find who all these employers are,” says Neil Barnett, director of Accessibility and Inclusive Hiring at Microsoft.
The concept of neurodiversity emerged in the ‘90s as an inclusive movement that views neurological and developmental conditions as normal variations in cognitive traits that should be embraced as a part of human diversity. An estimated 15% to 20% of people around the world have a neurodivergent condition. Autism, the initial focus of many neurodiversity hiring programs, affects about 2% of American adults.
Some neurodivergent people struggle with social dynamics and new environments like traditional job interviews, which highlight social skills and the ability to answer vague questions like “Describe a challenge you faced,” says Susanne Bruyere, academic director of the Yang-Tan Institute on Employment and Disability at Cornell University.
That barrier leads to an enormous job gap in which only 14% of working-age adults with autism have a paid job in the community, according to a Drexel University study.
“It’s important that we rethink how we screen people so we’re not discouraging or eliminating people who are neurodivergent,” says Bruyere. “This career platform is a huge signal of welcoming. It is saying, ‘We recognize this is an untapped population of talent, and we are going to minimize the barriers people may have historically experienced.’”
Before employers can list jobs on the site, they must have a neurodiversity hiring program in place for at least a year and be public about it. That usually means having trained recruiters, coaching and supported interviews with detailed guidance and extra breaks.
One such company, the global professional services firm EY, has hired more than 300 people in seven countries through a “center of excellence” model since 2016. The program emphasizes camaraderie, job coaches and structured, explicit communication with no “unspoken, unofficial rules.” Interviews focus on skills, not social behaviors.
“It strips out, ‘Did the person make eye contact? How witty were they?’” says Hiren Shukla, leader of the Neuro-Diverse Center of Excellence at EY Global.
Many of the program’s employees work on new data technologies, where the collaborative mix of thinking styles — spontaneous, logical, visual, detail-oriented, hyperfocused — can lead to transformative work and innovation.
This career platform is a huge signal of welcoming.
“Large organizations are really good at assimilation to build large workforces that inadvertently shave away the beautiful, unique edges and what the neurodivergent community often refers to as their ‘spiky profiles,’” Shukla says. “But it’s the spiky profile you want to retain and support to allow that innovation to rise to the surface.”
Companies seeking neurodivergent talent often recruit through informal networks and relationships with local universities, nonprofits and advocacy groups — a time-intensive process for both recruiters and job seekers. The neurodiversity job site fills a need for a large-scale, national marketplace with a broad range of jobs, employers and people.
Recently, the site brimmed with listings from small and large companies for software engineers, graphic designers, financial analysts and more. Job seekers can create a profile, upload a resume and connect with employers directly.
Everly-Hall, who was diagnosed with autism in her 40s, says the platform would be helpful if she had to look for work again.
“I could be myself and say this is who I am,” she says. “It would cause me less stress knowing I can just say, ‘I’m on the spectrum. You understand this. I understand this.’”
But Everly-Hall is not looking for work because she’s happy with her job at Ultranauts, a rapidly growing software and data quality engineering firm built with neurodiversity in mind. More than 75% of its employees are neurodivergent. The majority are autistic, many have ADHD or dyslexia, and some are non-speaking or hard of hearing.
When Everly-Hall interviewed with the company in 2015, she disclosed her autism and found her interviewer to be patient and understanding. Seven years later, she still appreciates the supportive workplace, which includes a mentor who helps her interpret social subtext, and the chance to become a leader, an opportunity she lacked at previous jobs.
“I was really made to feel at ease right away, like, ‘We don’t care you have this disability. What we care about is your experience,’” says Everly-Hall, a senior quality analyst and accessibility consultant who works from home in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Founded in 2013, Ultranauts has designed a “Universal Workplace” that allows employees to fully participate and collaborate with colleagues who are different than them. It reduces hiring barriers by not requiring specific degrees or a certain number of years of experience. It favors skills assessments over chatty interviews to determine job fit.
Employees, who work remotely across 30 states in the U.S., are encouraged to communicate in their preferred mode — writing, speaking, being on camera or off. Leadership communication is explicit and transparent to reduce ambiguity and anxiety.
“The advantage we have is not from individual team members being exceptional, but in bringing together different brain types, information processing models and perspectives, and forging collaborative teams,” says Rajesh Anandan, Ultranauts cofounder and CEO.
Neurodiversity also strengthens the workforce at Microsoft, which has hired about 200 people across engineering and business disciplines through its neurodiversity hiring program.
“By adjusting the front door of our interview process, we are finding incredible talent that we previously may have been missing out on,” says Barnett. He hopes more employers will join the job site to enrich the talent at their companies and the lives of neurodivergent people.
For Jason Ross, the platform is a major step in supporting people who have struggled like him.
Before landing a cybersecurity job recently, Ross, who has autism, spent many demoralizing months searching for work and many years getting fired from job after job while trying to navigate workplace dynamics.
“It’s very hard when you want to do well at this thing and you can’t do well at this thing to the point where can’t support yourself,” says Ross, who lives in Virginia and has a master’s degree in cybersecurity studies.
He never discussed his autism at previous jobs but made a bold move this time and disclosed to his new manager. He’s following a mentor’s advice to be upfront and simply tell people he doesn’t “excel in social nuance.” He’s nervous and hopeful about the opportunity to work.
“I’m not less than. I’m different and that’s OK,” Ross says.
He’s also excited about the job site, which he and other neurodivergent people helped shape with their feedback and lived experiences.
“It’s a phenomenal resource,” he says. “It’s made for us, by us. That level of understanding, baked in from the jump, is a meaningful distinction for this platform versus going on any general job platform and throwing your resume into the world.”
Go to the Neurodiversity @ Work Employer Roundtable and watch a video to learn more about its work and the Neurodiversity Career Connector. Employers can also find resources for starting a hiring initiative through the Autism @ Work Playbook.
Top photo: Avatars of Ultranauts employees (image courtesy of Ultranauts)
FAQs
What are Neurodivergent examples? ›
- Autism spectrum disorder (this includes what was once known as Asperger's syndrome).
- Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
- Down syndrome.
- Dyscalculia (difficulty with math).
ADHD, Autism, Dyspraxia, and Dyslexia all fall within the spectrum of “Neurodiversity” and are all neurodiverse conditions. Neuro-differences are recognised and appreciated as a social category similar to differences in ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, or ability.
Does Google hire autistic? ›We know that people with disabilities make great Googlers, and we intentionally seek out people with different backgrounds and experiences. Learn more about some of the ways Google ensures our hiring process is fair and accessible, and our workplace works for everyone.
What is Neurodiversity in the workplace? ›Neurodiversity describes the natural way that people think, learn, perceive the world, interact and process information differently.
What is the most common neurodivergent? ›Among adults, dyslexia is the most common type of neurodivergent condition. Approximately 10% of adults are diagnosed with dyslexia. Around 4-5% of the population has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A further 1-2% of people has an autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
What is the symbol for neurodiversity? ›The rainbow infinity sign is the symbol for neurodiversity. The full spectrum of colors represents the diversity of the autism spectrum as well as the greater neurodiversity movement.
Is neurodivergent gifted? ›Giftedness is a form of neurodiversity; the pathways leading to it are enormously variable, and so are children's resulting learning needs.
Are neurodivergent people smart? ›Many people who are neurodivergent have higher-than-average abilities—for example in pattern recognition, visual-spatial thinking, memory, or mathematics.
Does PTSD count as neurodivergent? ›PTSD and C-PTSD are now considered by many to be within the umbrella of neurodivergence, but fall under the category of acquired neurodivergence.
What are the symptoms of autism in a child? ›- not responding to their name.
- avoiding eye contact.
- not smiling when you smile at them.
- getting very upset if they do not like a certain taste, smell or sound.
- repetitive movements, such as flapping their hands, flicking their fingers or rocking their body.
- not talking as much as other children.
How do you work with neurodivergent people? ›
- One: Understand the Breadth and Depth of Neurodiversity. ...
- Two: Reach Out Directly to Subject Specialists for Advice. ...
- Three: Take Steps to Create a Supportive Environment. ...
- Four: Walk the Extra Mile by Providing Extra Mentoring.
Neurodiversity isn't the same thing as disability. Though, people who have neurodivergent features may need accommodations at work or school.
What are the benefits of neurodiversity? ›When companies embrace neurodiversity, they gain competitive advantages in many areas — productivity, innovation, culture and talent retention, to name just a few.
What does Hyperlexia mean? ›Hyperlexia is advanced and unexpected reading skills and abilities in children way beyond their chronological age. It is a fairly recently named condition (1967) although earlier descriptions of precocious reading do exist.
What does Stimming mean? ›About stimming and autism
Stimming – or self-stimulatory behaviour – is repetitive or unusual body movement or noises. Stimming might include: hand and finger mannerisms – for example, finger-flicking and hand-flapping. unusual body movements – for example, rocking back and forth while sitting or standing.
One such consequence is neurodivergent burnout – a state of complete emotional, physical and mental exhaustion2. Fortunately, CareClinic can better help you understand yourself, and how you navigate life and help you track unhealthy habits or symptoms that precede a potential burnout episode.
What is the official color for autism? ›On world autism awareness day, April 2nd, you may see plenty of blue being shown off to support autism awareness. The color blue's association to autism originated with the autism advocacy association known as Autism Speaks. Their “Light it Up Blue” campaign calls for people to wear blue to promote autism awareness.
Is there a Neurodivergent Emoji? ›The symbol for infinity enclosed within a circle or square. Originally encoded as a symbol to represent acid-free paper, this permanent paper sign was later given emoji presentation to form an infinity emoji. May also be used by members of the autism rights movement to represent neurodiversity.
What animal symbolizes autism? ›More recent research has used the house mouse (Mus musculus) to model autism because it is a social species. Other strains of mice used include mu opioid receptor knockout mice, as well as Fmr1 knockout mice; the latter are also used as animal models of Fragile X syndrome.
What IQ is gifted? ›Although there are no standard IQ levels of intellectual giftedness, some experts suggest the following IQ ranges: Mildly gifted: 115 to 129. Moderately gifted: 130 to 144. ighly gifted: 145 to 159.
What are the 5 Overexcitabilities? ›
Five Overexcitabilities
Kazimierz Dabrowski identified five types of “overexcitability” that he believed connected strongly to giftedness: intellectual, psychomotor, imaginative, sensual, and emotional.
The child may be both gifted and have ADHD, which presents as an inconsistent (or even average) performance across school subjects. It can be difficult to correctly address a common situation like this even for experienced teachers.
Who are some famous neurodivergent thinkers? ›- Alan Turin. Alan Turing is regarded as one of the most innovative thinkers and brilliant mathematicians of the 20th century due to his work at Bletchley Park during World War II. ...
- Albert Einstein. ...
- Henry Ford. ...
- Richard Branson. ...
- Bill Gates.
Driven by both genetic and environmental factors, an estimated 15-20 percent of the world's population exhibits some form of neurodivergence. Neurodivergent conditions, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD)4 are overrepresented in STEM fields.
Is bipolar considered neurodivergent? ›Types of Neurodivergence
Some other conditions such as schizophrenia, OCD, anti-social personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, dissociative disorder, and bipolar disorder can be classed as a form of neurodivergence too.
Some well-known forms of neurodivergence include autism, dyslexia, Asperger's syndrome, ADHD, epilepsy, and Tourette syndrome (TS) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
What is acquired neurodivergence? ›Acquired neurodiversity
Includes neurological differences that can develop as part of a health condition or injury. Acquired neurodiversity relates to conditions that can be resolved as an illness or injury heals, as well as conditions that can worsen as an individual's health deteriorates.
A recent study in the journal Molecular Psychiatry found that older fathers, and older or teenage mothers had a higher risk of having children with autism. But Baio, believes much of the increase they have seen since 2000 comes from growing awareness of autism and more sensitive screening tools.
What is hand leading in autism? ›Abstract. Children with autism use hand taking and hand leading gestures to interact with others. This is traditionally considered to be an example of atypical behaviour illustrating the lack of intersubjective understanding in autism.
How do people with autism think? ›Analytical Thinking: People with an autism spectrum disorder think in a logically consistent way that leads to quick decision making. These thinkers can make decisions without experiencing the framing effect that inhibits most neurotypicals from making decisions without bias.
How can neurodiversity be supported in the workplace? ›
Implementing awareness training programmes, management plans and comprehensive workplace assessments for all staff are some of the best ways to support neurodiversity.
What are the benefits of neurodiversity for employers? ›The increased ability to work remotely and to manage workplace interaction online during the pandemic facilitated working and greater productivity for many neurodivergent workers. For many it demonstrated that working flexibly can improve opportunities and outcomes for both employers and neurodiverse workers.
Does anxiety count as neurodivergent? ›But the definition has since expanded to include other conditions in advocacy movements and social justice circles. “With this definition, anxiety can be considered a form of neurodivergence, although it may not be as commonly recognized as ADHD, autism, or trauma,” she says.
Can you be neurodivergent and not autistic? ›As there is no official definition of neurodivergent, various people and groups have different ideas of what it is. You absolutely are neurodivergent if you have been diagnosed with a developmental or learning disorder, such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, or Tourette's syndrome.
Can you become neurodivergent later in life? ›Can You Become Neurodivergent? Many forms of neurodivergence are an innate part of how the brain develops and functions. While these differences may go unrecognized or undiagnosed in childhood, that doesn't mean they were not there and suddenly appeared in adulthood.
What percentage of adults are neurodivergent? ›Learning about neurodiversity can help you move the focus from impairments towards everyone's different abilities. It is thought that up to 15% of the population are thought to be neurodiverse. The remaining majority are neurotypical.
What is the difference between neurodiverse and neurodivergent? ›The word "Neurodiverse" refers to a group of people where some members of that group are neurodivergent. A neurodivergent person is defined as one whose neurological development and state are atypical, usually viewed as abnormal or extreme.
Why does neurodiversity matter in the workplace? ›While there is good evidence that neurodiversity benefits businesses by driving creativity and innovation, it also enriches company culture by modelling the unique talents and behaviours that help build a sense of belonging and purpose – which, in turn, impacts the wider workforce.
Does anxiety count as neurodivergent? ›But the definition has since expanded to include other conditions in advocacy movements and social justice circles. “With this definition, anxiety can be considered a form of neurodivergence, although it may not be as commonly recognized as ADHD, autism, or trauma,” she says.
What are neurodivergent interests? ›Neurodivergent people often have special interests that are outside the mainstream, or that are considered quirky or odd by others. This can make it difficult for neurodivergent people to find others with similar interests, but it can also make their special interests all the more special to them.
What is my neurodiversity? ›
You absolutely are neurodivergent if you have been diagnosed with a developmental or learning disorder, such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, or Tourette's syndrome. You may decide to consider yourself neurodivergent if you have no diagnosis but think, behave, or interact in ways that are outside the norm.
What is considered Neuroatypical? ›If a person without a mental health condition like autism is neurotypical, neuroatypical is the opposite. That is to say, a person with a neurotypical has a brain structure that is different from what the medical community views as normal or neurotypical.
Is neurodivergent gifted? ›Giftedness is a form of neurodiversity; the pathways leading to it are enormously variable, and so are children's resulting learning needs.
Does PTSD fall under neurodivergent? ›PTSD and C-PTSD are now considered by many to be within the umbrella of neurodivergence, but fall under the category of acquired neurodivergence.
Does trauma make you neurodivergent? ›Neurodivergence is the state of being neurodivergent and can be genetic and innate (such as autism) or produced by experiences (such as trauma). Some forms of innate neurodivergence, like autism, are part of a person's core being.
What does Stimming mean? ›About stimming and autism
Stimming – or self-stimulatory behaviour – is repetitive or unusual body movement or noises. Stimming might include: hand and finger mannerisms – for example, finger-flicking and hand-flapping. unusual body movements – for example, rocking back and forth while sitting or standing.
Neurodiversity isn't the same thing as disability. Though, people who have neurodivergent features may need accommodations at work or school.
What are autistic people good at? ›Autistic people may display a range of strengths and abilities that can be directly related to their diagnosis, including: Learning to read at a very early age (known as hyperlexia). Memorising and learning information quickly. Thinking and learning in a visual way.
What does Hyperlexia mean? ›Hyperlexia is advanced and unexpected reading skills and abilities in children way beyond their chronological age. It is a fairly recently named condition (1967) although earlier descriptions of precocious reading do exist.
What are neurodivergent traits? ›- a lack of babbling or pointing by the age of 12 months.
- poor eye contact.
- no single words by the age of 16 months.
- no two-word phrases by the age of 2 years.
- no smiling or social responsiveness.
- not responding to their name.
What is neurodivergent burnout? ›
One such consequence is neurodivergent burnout – a state of complete emotional, physical and mental exhaustion2. Fortunately, CareClinic can better help you understand yourself, and how you navigate life and help you track unhealthy habits or symptoms that precede a potential burnout episode.
What do Neurotypicals think about? ›Neurotypical individuals tend to create subconscious generalizations about what everyone is thinking and feeling based on themselves and those around them who frequently match their own neurology.
What is a neurotypical brain like? ›The word “neurotypical” refers to people who have brains that function in a similar way to most of their peers. Individuals who are neurotypical develop skills, such as social or organizational skills, at around the same rate as others their age.
Is depression a form of neurodivergence? ›Other types of neurodivergence include Tourette's, dyspraxia, synesthesia, dyscalculia, Down syndrome, epilepsy, and chronic mental health illnesses such as bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, borderline personality disorder, anxiety, and depression.