Inclusive Team Management Practices to Help Neurodivergent Women Thrive

Description: Neurodivergent women encounter added burdens and biases in the workplace that can affect their sense of belonging, their ability to thrive, and ultimately, their retention within an organization. Team members with neurodivergent conditions (including autism and ADHD) face difficulties navigating a world structured for neurotypical functioning. Neurodivergent women have a higher tendency to mask, or place effort into appearing neurotypical; internalize setbacks; avoid asking colleagues for help when needed; and suffer from depression and anxiety.

This presentation will introduce neurodiversity and appropriate terminology; dispel common misconceptions of neurodivergence; explain the benefits of neurodiverse-inclusive teams; cover the issues surrounding a diagnosis requirement for accommodations; and provide examples of inclusive universal design practices in team structures, communication, and expectations that can help neurodivergent members thrive. The presenter, though not an expert in this field, draws from her own experiences and relevant literature to produce an overview of this complex area.