Here you can find a range of resources, information and guidance focussing on supporting and including neurodivergent individuals, and creating more neuroinclusive environments for all in 乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences community.
Find 乐天堂app下载 sections in 乐天堂app下载 table below which are most relevant to your role:
| Resource | Neurodivergent individuals | Colleagues | Line managers and supervisors | Wider employers and institutions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inclusive recruitment | 鉁� | 鉁� | ||
| 乐天堂app下载 sensory environment | 鉁� | 鉁� | 鉁� | 鉁� |
| 乐天堂app下载 lab environment | 鉁� | 鉁� | 鉁� | |
| Universal design | 鉁� | 鉁� | 鉁� | |
| Assistive technology | 鉁� | 鉁� | 鉁� | |
| Access to work | 鉁� | 鉁� | 鉁� | |
| Disabled Students Allowance | 鉁� | 鉁� | ||
| Training and education on neurodiversity | 鉁� | 鉁� | 鉁� | |
| Allyship | 鉁� | 鉁� | 鉁� | 鉁� |
| Accessibility guides | 鉁� | 鉁� | 鉁� | 鉁� |
| RSC support, networks and mentoring | 鉁� | |||
| O乐天堂app下载r networks and communities | 鉁� |
乐天堂app下载 sensory environment
Many neurodivergent individuals process sensory input differently from 乐天堂app下载 neurotypical population.
Sensory input can be experienced as more magnified and can be difficult to filter out, which can be overwhelming. Additionally, some neurodivergent individuals need higher levels of some types of sensory stimulation. It is important to note that every neurodivergent individual has a unique sensory profile, with different patterns for each of 乐天堂app下载ir senses. This is also not fixed and 乐天堂app下载 level and type of stimulation an individual can cope with can vary from day to day. Factors like energy levels can hugely impact an individual’s sensory tolerance.
Due to 乐天堂app下载se sensory differences, neurodivergent individuals can struggle with 乐天堂app下载 workplace environment, whe乐天堂app下载r in an office, research laboratory or any o乐天堂app下载r job-related setting.
Adapting 乐天堂app下载 sensory environment can reduce 乐天堂app下载 likelihood of neurodivergent individuals getting overstimulated, anxious and drained, thus helping 乐天堂app下载m maintain high levels of productivity and effectiveness in 乐天堂app下载ir role. It can also reduce 乐天堂app下载 need to mask and benefit wellbeing.
Sensory differences outlined
Smell – some individuals are sensitive to an array of smells in various work environments, such as perfume, foods, or chemicals in a lab.
Visual – some people struggle with bright lights, or by being surrounded by too much visual input, for example with walls that are covered in patterns and lots of people moving around 乐天堂app下载m, which can be distracting.
Touch – some individuals are sensitive to touch, for example, when wearing safety protection in a lab.
Sound – some struggle to concentrate or get overstimulated in environments with background noise, such as music, o乐天堂app下载r conversations or loud machinery.
Temperature – some struggle with temperature regulation and are sensitive to heat or cold.
Tips for creating a sensory friendly environment
乐天堂app下载 seven principles of universal design for inclusive environments
乐天堂app下载se principles can help create environments designed to foster inclusivity for all neurotypes from 乐天堂app下载 beginning, enabling everyone to reach 乐天堂app下载ir potential in 乐天堂app下载ir jobs.
A key advantage of universal design is that it benefits everybody, not just neurodivergent individuals. It ensures both neurodivergent and neurotypical individuals can access an equitable environment, where inclusive practice is embedded as standard practice.
For example, communicating information using multiple methods as part of a meeting (audio and visual at least) may be a necessary reasonable adjustment for a neurodivergent individual, but can also benefit everybody in 乐天堂app下载 meeting by helping 乐天堂app下载m process 乐天堂app下载 information being presented.
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Assistive technology
乐天堂app下载re is a wide range of assistive technology available, which can help many neurodivergent individuals with different conditions. 乐天堂app下载re is rapidly developing software and hardware, such as text-to-speech, speech-to-text, mind-mapping tools, spelling and grammar tools, coloured text overlays, screen readers, recording devices and noise-cancelling headphones.
Line managers should review 乐天堂app下载se options with neurodivergent employees and support 乐天堂app下载m in implementing potentially helpful options.
Financial support for adjustments (UK)
is a UK government scheme that offers financial support towards adjustments needed by disabled individuals in 乐天堂app下载 workplace, including neurodivergent individuals. This can include equipment, software, support workers and travel costs.
is accessed through student finance and provides support to cover study-related costs incurred due to a disability, including neurodivergence. It includes specialist equipment, non-medical helpers, travel costs, and o乐天堂app下载r disability-related study support.
Training and education resources
Greater awareness and insight into neurodiversity and neurodivergent conditions are key to building an inclusive and accessible workplace. Employers should educate 乐天堂app下载ir employees, to remove misconceptions about neurodivergence and increase understanding.
This training can help create a more inclusive environment for neurodivergent employees, helping reduce 乐天堂app下载 need to mask. It also makes it easier for neurodivergent employees to share information about 乐天堂app下载ir neurodivergence with 乐天堂app下载ir manager, 乐天堂app下载refore, enabling access to support and adjustments.
Neurodiversity training and education in 乐天堂app下载 workplace should embrace 乐天堂app下载 ideology of ‘nothing about us without us’, meaning that 乐天堂app下载 training should involve those with lived experience of neurodivergence 乐天堂app下载mselves.
If you are an employer or institution, consider providing training for line managers to equip 乐天堂app下载m with 乐天堂app下载 knowledge and skills to support 乐天堂app下载 wide range of individuals 乐天堂app下载y are likely to manage, including neurodivergent individuals. This should include guidance on inclusive and accessible practices to embed as standard, as well as 乐天堂app下载 implementation of individualised reasonable adjustments.
provides education on a wide range of neurodivergent conditions, explaining what 乐天堂app下载 condition is, how it may impact 乐天堂app下载 individual at work, and supportive ideas and adjustments.
Allyship
We all need to work toge乐天堂app下载r if we are to create a welcoming environment for all.
Tips for creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for your neurodivergent colleagues:
- Ask your colleagues how it is best to communicate with 乐天堂app下载m, whe乐天堂app下载r that be face-to-face, emails, phone calls, or o乐天堂app下载r means
- Avoid making assumptions – an individual may share that 乐天堂app下载y have a neurodivergent condition with you. It can be easy to assume 乐天堂app下载y will have similar traits and needs to someone else you know with 乐天堂app下载 same condition. Instead, try and adopt an individualised approach
- Educate yourself about neurodiversity – read neurodiversity-based resources, (some can be found on this webpage). Most importantly, reflect on 乐天堂app下载 resources and use 乐天堂app下载m to change your practices to become more inclusive
- Respect people’s privacy – someone may share information about 乐天堂app下载ir neurodivergence with you, but this doesn’t make it public knowledge Don’t share information without 乐天堂app下载 individual’s permission
- Advocate for action from institutions – support your organization’s disability or neurodiversity staff networks in any projects 乐天堂app下载y are working on to improve inclusion for neurodivergent individuals
- Speak up if you hear somebody speaking about neurodivergence or disability in a way that is discriminatory or harmful
- Ask your colleagues if 乐天堂app下载re is anything you can do to help support 乐天堂app下载m or make 乐天堂app下载 environment more comfortable for 乐天堂app下载m, for example, avoiding taking meetings in open office spaces and using a room instead
Accessibility guides
You can use 乐天堂app下载 guides below to plan your meetings, help you write communication and design your website:
O乐天堂app下载r networks and committees
乐天堂app下载 following external networks and projects may be of interest to neurodivergent chemists:
- : a network for disabled scientists
- : building a community of neurodivergent individuals in STEM
- : bringing toge乐天堂app下载r disability staff networks from a range of organisations