Dan Harris
CEO and Founder, Neurodiversity in Business
One in five adults in the UK identify as neurodivergent. This includes autistic people, dyslexic people and other neurotypes such as ADHD, dyscalculia, dyspraxia and tic disorders.
Despite growing awareness, the neurodivergent community still needs empowerment, recognition, help and guidance. This becomes clear when navigating an increasingly complex workplace; a factor highlighted in our recent report, produced in partnership with Birkbeck’s Centre for Neurodiversity Research at Work.
Neurodivergent workplace struggles overlooked
The 2024 Neurodiversity in Business and Work Report was based on over 1,000 interviews and highlights the challenging circumstances our community faces. For example, in 2024, neurodivergent employee wellbeing dropped from 2023 levels, with the average rating dropping from 3.02 to 2.8. Contributing factors included sleep and mental health challenges, which neurodivergent people often experience more intensely due to sensory distractions, leading to a sense of overwhelm.
While neurodivergent employees report significant challenges at work, the research data shows that their colleagues are often unaware of these struggles — especially when they don’t translate into visible behaviours. For many neurodivergent employees, having an outlet to raise these challenges is vital.
Line managers were shown to be
a great source of support for many
neurodivergent employees.
Investing in line managers
Line managers were shown to be a great source of support for many neurodivergent employees. To ensure this support continues, we must invest in their skills to listen, deliver adjustments and manage fairly. Other measures such as training, conflict management and organisational climate more generally also need additional resources.
Driving neuro-inclusion forward
The research is not all doom and gloom; the insights from this study are already impacting the next generation of inclusion initiatives, helping to bridge these gaps and create a more supportive environment for neurodivergent individuals.
This is not just a corporate issue — it’s a human one. At Neurodiversity in Business, we are playing our part to harness the collective effort of employers, workers, communities and society as a whole. Our membership — from multinational businesses and SMEs to individuals — strives to create a world that celebrates the diversity of human thought. Let’s work together to create a society where the one in five neurodivergent individuals are included, valued and celebrated for their unique contributions in the workplace.
