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How is neurodiversity generally viewed in the profession?

A Rabbi who I met once told my the following, namely not to spend a lifetime trying to learn skills and things which do not come or flow entirely naturally, but focus instead on and play to your born gifted strengths and talents. 

What my main career related issue is, and which most other people do not encounter so many difficulties with, it that essentially, I do not understand or pick up on the rules of the game in connection with how to make friends, build and manage relationships, what to say and what not to say in any given work or social situation or progress relationships from that of an acquaintance level. In short, I don't understand or know how to socialise with other people which also partly explains why I have had so much time to do studies instead. 

Outside of work it's not so much of an issue, but it can be an issue at work and I am also not interested in the back office side of HR IT or HR Systems. I am not the stereotypical or a technical geek either in that aspect. Working just with computers is not my forte.         

Therefore, although with having such a condition you can in a sense 'get away' with more than people who don't have it, as they can do it yet I can't, could I potentially use it in any given work situation by being upfront from the outset and telling everyone that if things go this way, I have neurodiversity, explain to them exactly what it is, and that as a result I differ somewhat significantly from the mainstream, being also a member of a separate group of people?  

It's more of a hidden condition, but at work it can present problems, or indeed problems in getting work in terms of how you come across.       

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  • Johanna

    | 0 Posts

    CIPD Staff

    5 Jul, 2019 13:10

    Hi Andre thanks for your post, your neurodiverse skillset is something to be celebrated and it's great to have you on the community explaining some of the challenges you encounter. It's entirely up to you of course, but I think it's very helpful to others if you do explain up front what your 'hidden' condition causes you to find tricky - eg the issue about missing certain social cues. I think you'll find people will be receptive to learning more about it and will be able to understand your personal communication style better - and what makes you, *you*!

    One thing I can help you with if you're interested is an introduction to your local CIPD branch careers and mentoring advisor. If you'd like me to help set this up please let me know. Also we have some neurodiversity information for employers and managers here that you might be interested to see: www.cipd.co.uk/.../neurodiversity-work

    All the best Johanna, CIPD Social and Community Manager
  • The short answer is that I don't think it is generally seen in the profession. I only heard the term about 2 years ago and most people are not that hot on their CPD.
    Having said that most practitioners will know someone or have encountered someone at work with a neurodiverse brain.
    Many of us will have experience of challenging line management about their concerns/prejudices.
  • In reply to Johanna:

    Hi Joanna,

    Yes, I am interested in finding out more about this. I am involved in several branches and have recently joined the Bracknell one as part of the Thames Valley group, which is the closest to where I live and work.

    Best wishes

    Andre.
  • Johanna

    | 0 Posts

    CIPD Staff

    9 Jul, 2019 14:29

    In reply to Andre:

    Ok leave it with me I will have a chat with the contact there (I originally thought you were with the West London branch but no worries.) Can you please email me on digitalcomms@cipd.co.uk with your best email address.

    Thanks Johanna
  • Johanna

    | 0 Posts

    CIPD Staff

    11 Jul, 2019 08:53

    In reply to Andre:

    Hi Andre hopefully you'll have seen my email in your inbox introducing you to the Bracknell and Windsor group Chair, who looks forward to meeting up for a chat :)
  • Hi Andre

    My personal take is that the 'term' as a whole hasn't had enough exposure in a wider public context. Employers are likely more aware of the individual neurological conditions that make up the term such as Dyslexia or Autism rather then the term itself, but they may not necessarily understand how to adapt their thinking and practice to support those individuals.

    I would like to believe that knowledge of the term will increase in time and that more is done to work with and support those individuals in not only finding work but thriving in the workplace.

    We recently had our monthly wellbeing newsletter from our EAP provider and there was an interesting statistic that highlighted the employment issue.

    'The National Autistic Society’s Autism Employment Gap Report (2016) found that just 16% of adults on the autistic spectrum are in full time work and 77% of those unemployed want to work.'

    If anyone is interested in reading more about neurodiversity here is the link www.healthassured.org/.../

    It looks like you're on the right track with Johanna's help so best of luck.

    James