Wondering about the different types of neurodiversity? Here’s an overview of neurodiversity, its different types, and how it affects managing neurodiverse employees.
Creating a positive work environment depends on our understanding of the people we manage and collaborate with. A major part of this positive work experience is the feeling of belonging – being heard, accepted, respected, and valued. This sense of belonging is what helps employees to thrive.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion programs focus on this understanding of employees and embracing all parts of what makes a person who they are and what they can bring to the workplace. When you take time to fully understand someone, they are more engaged and stay with the organization longer. When people feel connected at work, they are more productive too.
The Overlooked Aspect of Neurodiversity
Despite increased awareness, neurodiversity is still underrepresented in many workplaces. Alarmingly, many neurodivergent individuals don’t even know that they are neurodiverse, potentially missing out on vital support or accommodations.
Educating your leaders and staff about types of neurodiversity will help them better understand how to achieve an inclusive workplace.
What Is Neurodiversity?
Neurodiversity is the concept that there is no “right” brain type. Neurodiversity affinity advocates that brain differences are normal and not deficits. This both recognizes and respects all humans, including those who are neurodiverse. These cognitive differences do not make anyone inferior to a neurotypical brain.
There are many different ways that a human brain can be wired. Diagnoses offer people a specific set of symptoms or experiences that they have in common so that they can understand themselves better.
There are many types of neurodiversity. Managing neurodiverse employees requires you to understand each type to make your workplace more accessible.
What Are Some Types of Neurodiversity?
While its roots started in autism, the concept of neurodiversity has grown to encompass a large range of neurological differences. Ultimately, not all types of neurodiversity are immediately apparent, making it crucial for workplaces to create an environment where individuals feel safe to share their needs.
ADHD or ADD
ADHD and ADD manifest in various ways, affecting focus, attention, and behavior. Adjusting how you communicate with these employees and how you assign work can help them immensely.
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
Those on the spectrum may experience different behavioral problems as well as social and communication challenges. A person may experience a mild or more severe case. Autism spectrum disorders include Asperger’s, Autistic Disorder, and Childhood integrative disorder, to name a few.
Dyslexia
This primarily affects reading and spelling due to differences in how the brain processes information. Simple adjustments, such as using sans serif fonts and bullet-style lists, can make written materials easier to read, which is something employers should consider when assigning projects and creating action items to work on.
Some other types of neurodiversity include dyscalculia, dyspraxia, dysgraphia, misophonia, or Tourette’s syndrome.
Embrace Brain Differences in the Workplace
Neurodiversity includes different neurological disorders that change how someone thinks and interacts at work and beyond. While the term includes a variety of different conditions, no two brains are ever the same, whether neurodiverse or not.
These differences in thinking have always existed, and these individuals have always contributed to society in positive ways. By understanding neurodiversity in the workplace and the different types of neurodiversity, you can help create a positive work environment where everyone can thrive. To dive deeper into this topic and to learn about other influential topics related to your workplace, try out a free trial of our online Diversity Calendar.
FAQs
How many types of neurodiversity are there?
There are many different types of neurodiversity. When someone is living with neurodivergence, they behave, think, and learn differently from someone who is neurotypical. Neurodiverse refers to a community of people who are neurodivergent. There are countless conditions included in neurodiversity, including autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, dyslexia, anxiety, and Tourette’s Syndrome.
What are the four characteristics of neurodiversity?
Some examples of someone who is living with a neurodivergent condition include: doesn’t engage in verbal communication, doesn’t express emotions or empathy, speaks with an abnormal tone, is intensely focused on an object, and has difficulty recognizing nonverbal cues.
What mental illnesses are labeled as neurodivergent?
Many mental illnesses are considered neurodivergent including Tourette’s Syndrome, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Anxiety, Depression, Bipolar disorder, and Dyspraxia. While some are not recognized as much as others, learning about neurodivergent versus neurotypical characteristics helps you better understand those around you as an employee or a DEI leader.
