In this conversation, Duena Blomstrom and Dan Harris discuss the topic of autism stigma and the importance of neurodiversity in the workplace. They explore the journey of self-disclosure and the challenges faced by individuals with autism in the business world. They also highlight the need for leaders to create a culture of psychological safety and inclusivity. The conversation touches on the role of privilege and the importance of addressing the needs of neurodivergent individuals in all types of organizations, not just large corporations. They emphasize the need for societal change and the creation of neuro-inclusive workplaces for the benefit of future generations. The conversation explores the slow progress in creating inclusive workplaces for neurodivergent individuals and the need for a human-centric approach. It emphasizes the importance of understanding and accommodating the needs of neurodivergent employees to create happier and more loyal teams. The discussion also touches on the role of public policy in supporting neurodivergent individuals, particularly in education and early intervention. The conversation concludes with a call to embrace self-awareness and focus on strengths rather than hiding or being embarrassed by challenges.

Takeaways

• Autism stigma exists in the workplace, and there is a need to promote autism pride and acceptance.
• Disclosure of neurodiverse identity in the workplace should be encouraged to normalize neurodiversity.
• Leadership plays a crucial role in creating a culture of psychological safety and inclusivity for neurodivergent individuals.
• There is a discrepancy between diversity theater in the corporate world and the actual support and understanding for neurodivergent individuals.
• The workplace needs to adapt and provide accommodations for neurodivergent individuals to thrive.
• Addressing the needs of neurodivergent individuals should extend beyond large corporations to include smaller organizations and different socioeconomic backgrounds.
• The younger generation is more open about their neurodivergent identities and demands accommodations in the workplace.
• Creating neuro-inclusive workplaces requires societal change and a shift in how we value and support individuals with neurodiverse identities. Progress in creating inclusive workplaces for neurodivergent individuals has been slow, and there is a need for a faster pace of change.
• Understanding and accommodating the needs of neurodivergent employees leads to happier and more loyal teams.
• Public policy plays a crucial role in supporting neurodivergent individuals, particularly in education and early intervention.
• Embracing self-awareness and focusing on strengths rather than hiding or being embarrassed by challenges can lead to personal and professional growth.

Titles

• Promoting Autism Pride: Overcoming Autism Stigma in the Workplace
• Adapting the Workplace: Providing Accommodations for Neurodivergent Individuals Embracing Self-Awareness and Focusing on Strengths
• The Role of Public Policy in Supporting Neurodivergent Individuals

Sound Bites

• "Why is there autism stigma instead of autism pride in the workplace?"
• "I'm an autistic ADHDer and proudly so."
• "Leaders who are fearful to disclose their neurodiverse identities hinder the creation of neuro-inclusive workplaces."
• "The world hasn't, in my opinion, moved at the speed that it would lead me to believe that in another two or three years that my boys that are now entering the world of work are gonna find it prepared."
• "I want the question to be, how do I get the best out of you as an employee?"
• "Good organisations are doing this already, right? The best managers you work for are those that know you inside out, that you're incredibly honest with."

Chapters

00:00
New Chapter

03:50
Personal Journey and Discovering Autism

07:55
Fear of Disclosure and Imposter Syndrome

11:15
Creating a Culture of Psychological Safety

14:37
Corporate Commitment to Neurodiversity

22:30
The Future Generation and the Fight Ahead

25:35
The Debt Owed to Neurodivergent Individuals in the Workplace

28:47
Moving from Awareness to Appreciation of Neurodiversity

30:38
The Need for Public Policy to Fill Gaps and Challenges

31:34
Early Intervention and Support for Neurodivergent Children

32:36
Recognizing and Supporting Autistic Families

33:29
The Importance of Provision and Understanding Individual Needs

34:33
Investing in Neurodivergent Children for Long-Term Success

35:26
Unlocking the Potential of Non-Speaking Autistic Individuals

38:10
Leading by Example: The Impact of World Leading Provision

41:19
Recognizing the Diversity Within Neurodivergent Individuals

42:52
The Power of the 'Manual of Me' in Project Teams

44:25
Self-Awareness as a Life Hack for Autistic Individuals

46:55
The Importance of Neurodiversity in Business for Success