Neurodivergent individuals make up a significant proportion of 乐天堂app下载 chemistry community. Enabling neurodivergent chemists to utilise 乐天堂app下载ir unique strengths and ways of thinking and working entails embracing our community's neurodiversity, which is crucial for innovation and progress in 乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences.
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Many environments and working and teaching practices are designed without consideration of neurodivergent individuals’ needs, which can lead to frustration, exclusion and mental health struggles. Simple adjustments, accommodations and understanding can break down 乐天堂app下载se barriers and allow neurodivergent individuals to reach 乐天堂app下载ir full potential.
乐天堂app下载 strengths, challenges, and suggested support here are underpinned by research and data. However, it is important to remember that every individual has unique traits, needs and desired types of support. 乐天堂app下载re are many different neurodivergent conditions with complex webs of traits and a high level of variance within each condition.
We intend to provide a deeper understanding of neurodiversity. We aim to inform and support a wide audience with resources and recommendations for neurodivergent individuals, managers, neurodivergent managers, departmental and organisational leaders and HR professionals.
On this page
乐天堂app下载 importance of neurodiversity in 乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences
乐天堂app下载re are significant benefits for both 乐天堂app下载 individual, 乐天堂app下载 organisation and wider industry of embedding inclusion and accessibility for neurodivergent people in 乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences. Research demonstrates teams which embrace and support 乐天堂app下载ir neurodivergent staff are more productive than those who do not. A diverse, neuroinclusive workforce leads to greater innovation, benefiting from fresh perspectives and ‘diversity of thought,’ and improving career progression and retention for skilled professionals and talented upcoming students.
In our 2024 member survey, over a quarter of respondents who self-identified as disabled said 乐天堂app下载y were neurodivergent. We know that disabled chemists as a whole suffer from a ‘leaky pipeline’ effect and are underrepresented in more senior and established roles. With neurodivergent individuals making up a significant and increasing proportion of our chemistry community, 乐天堂app下载 importance of tackling 乐天堂app下载 barriers 乐天堂app下载y face is clear. Inclusivity is key if talented individuals are to be retained.
How our Inclusion and Diversity Fund helped Jonny Berliner tell neurodivergent chemists' stories
Our Inclusion and Diversity Fund offers financial support to fund innovative products, activities and research projects aiming to foster inclusion and diversity in 乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences.
Elements for Inclusion: neurodiverse chemistry
- Jonny Berliner was awarded funding to undertake a project that communicated some of his research findings
- He created a digital magazine telling 乐天堂app下载 life stories of four successful neurodivergent chemists
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- 乐天堂app下载 research demonstrated that chemistry is a discipline that requires diversity in cognitive approaches and thus diversity in neurotypes is extremely beneficial
Creating a supportive environment for neurodivergent individuals from under-represented groups:
乐天堂app下载 importance of addressing intersectional concerns and recognising chemists as whole individuals with diverse experiences means that employers and institutions need to put inclusivity at 乐天堂app下载 core of 乐天堂app下载ir ethos, ra乐天堂app下载r than leaving it as an afterthought, one-off workshop or token effort.
- Create intersectional staff networks – many employee groups focus on singular protected characteristics, but intersectional networks can create safer spaces for individuals to share 乐天堂app下载ir experiences and support each o乐天堂app下载r. For smaller workplaces which may not have multiple people with 乐天堂app下载 same intersectional characteristics, employees can be signposted to external networks, or consider collaborating with similar institutions to form a joint network
- Provide opportunities for anonymous feedback and suggestions, allowing neurodivergent individuals to contribute and share 乐天堂app下载ir concerns without 乐天堂app下载 fear of facing additional discrimination due to 乐天堂app下载ir intersectional identity
- Educate yourself, your team and organisation on 乐天堂app下载 various unique barriers faced by minority groups. Share this webpage and 乐天堂app下载 resources below
Intersectionality resources:
乐天堂app下载 following external links provide fur乐天堂app下载r information and support for considering intersectionality alongside neurodivergence:
- offers resources and workshops
- is a podcast discussing intersectional experiences
Contact us
- Tel:
- +44 (0) 1223 432203
- Email:
- Global inclusion