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INTRODUCTIONS

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NICE TO VIRTUALLY MEET YOU.

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Bernard Grant, Ph.D. (they/them)

  • Award-winning writer of literary prose + articles and content
  • Editor of literary journals, literary writers, and content
  • Life coach and neurodiversity trainer
  • Autistic advocate
  • Multiply neurodivergent: also ADHD, OCD, gifted intellect, dyscalculic, dyspraxic

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Amber Johnson (she/her)

  • Strategic brand writer (self-employed)
  • Podcaster
  • Advocate
  • Proud ADHD-er
  • Mother of an Autistic-ADHD daughter

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“REPEATED CYCLE”

“You and the sun, together you rise and fall, a repeated cycle. Washed and rinsed. You heard somewhere that if the sun moved, we’d either freeze or burn, depending on its direction, on your location, and you wonder where you’re headed, how many more checks you’ll see from this job, how many more mornings you’ll wake to these sherbert walls, lime-green and orange sandwiching a slice of white.”

  • From Puzzle Pieces by Bernard Grant, Ph.D.

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Neurodiversity

is all of us

Defining a misunderstood term and concept.

  • Neurological diversity
  • The variety of all human minds on Earth
  • Human minds are not pathologies
  • Neurodiversity is an aspect of biodiversity
  • Neurodiversity and biodiversity are biological facts

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NEURODIVERSITY PARADIGM

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THE NEURODIVERSITY PARADIGM.

Adopts the social model of disability.

  • A paradigm is a model: a set of concepts and ideologies
  • Everyone follows paradigms
  • Western paradigms include: political, religious, race, and gender ideologies
  • The neurodiversity paradigm refutes the pathology paradigm created by the medical model of disability
  • A model of living free of judgment

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Words matter

Misuse of terms reflects lack of understanding.

Neurodiverse: any place with humans

Neurotypical: dominant neurotype; thinking and behavior aligning with “the norm”; not disabled by neuronormativity

Neurodivergent: people whose thinking and behavior diverge from neurotypicality; disabled by neuronormativity

Neurotypicality: dominant neurological culture; social performance

Neuronormativity: prioritizing neurotypicality as the only acceptable style of thinking and behaving

Neurodiversity Paradigm

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BEWARE OF NEURODIVERSITY LITE.

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“A hollow, substance-free kind of support for neurodiversity while pushing for or engaging in some of the things we most strongly oppose undermines our work toward full inclusion and liberation for all autistic people.”

  • Shain M. Neumeier, autistic activist and attorney

Neurodiversity Paradigm

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“RISK” IN NEURODIVERSITY LITE HIRING.

  • To employers, neurodivergences are conditions: disorders per the pathology paradigm
  • They view hiring neurodivergent people as risky (ableism)
  • Employers have to pathologize us to get support from the government; “ASD”
  • BUT HIRING ANYONE IS RISKY

Neurodiversity Paradigm

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NEURODIVERSITY HIRING PROGRAMS

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30-40%

Unemployment for neurodivergent adults and up to 85% for college-educated Autistic adults

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Neurodiversity Hiring Programs

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Problems

Current hiring

efforts are limited.

  • Tech and finance
  • Rain Man stereotypes
  • Neuronormative
  • Segregation (ex: EY)
  • Mainly internships, entry-level roles
  • Neurodiversity Lite
  • Lack of scale

Neurodiversity Hiring Programs

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CREATIVE OPPORTUNITIES ARE ABSENT.

“It is ironic that while creativity and innovation are in demand, many talent management systems are not welcoming to creative, unique, or exceptional talent.

They are designed to favor the familiar, the average, those who can do many things reasonably well, rather than some things exceptionally well.”

  • Ludmila Praslova, Ph.D., SHRM-SCP, Âû

Neurodiversity Hiring Programs

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1,500

Total US jobs created through neurodiversity hiring programs, across 100 major employers, in 2021

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Neurodiversity Hiring Programs

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WHAT’S BLOCKING PROGRESS?

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So long as the comfort of the majority is prioritized over the fundamental wellbeing of minorities, we can’t move forward.

Neurodiversity Hiring Programs

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Hope

Reasons for

cautious optimism.

  • SAP now hires “across all areas of the company”
  • Visible examples like �Yuh Lin Niu
  • Research on inclusion
  • Rise of skill-based hiring

Neurodiversity Hiring Programs

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ADHD MINDS

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ADHD IS MISNAMED AND MISUNDERSTOOD.

It’s a disorder simply a neurological profile. We don’t need “empowerment.” We need understanding.

  • Damaging “hyperactive boy” stereotype
  • Disabled by rigid, stationary environments
  • Hyperfocus and creativity are key features
  • Not just “strengths and weaknesses” but a different way of experiencing and interacting with the world
  • Finding your niche is essential

ADHD Minds

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WE NEED ADHD-ERS.

Different brains pay attention to different things. �This is beneficial to society.

So-called “lack of filter” =

  • Making unexpected connections that illuminate
  • Open to possibility
  • Risk taking essential to creativity and innovation
  • Low tolerance for injustice and bullshit

ADHD Minds

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Experience

From masking weakness to embracing strengths.

  • Hated marketing–and masking
    • Lack of eye contact criticized by CEO
  • Became a writer
  • Good at making connections, concepting, synthesizing
  • Parent of a very creative Autistic child
    • She motivates me to change the world

ADHD Minds

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NEWS FLASH: “NORMAL” DOESN’T STAND OUT.

“Normal” also doesn’t exist. Divergent thinking is essential to design, advertising, film and all creative fields! I do:

  • Naming*
  • Narratives
  • Voice
  • Strategy
  • Messaging

*Can we rename ADHD? PLEASE?

ADHD Minds

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Work sample

ADHD Minds

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Unique expression

rooted in truth ❇

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AUTISTIC MINDS

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AUTISM IS A NEUROTYPE, NOT A DISORDER.

Autism, like ADHD and neurotypical, is a cognitive style based on a neurological profile.

  • Logical and monotropic minds
  • Live in our own space and time
  • Honest, direct communication: we say what we mean and mean what we say
  • Autists are disabled by a society that medicalizes Autistic people, spreading autistiphobia
  • Employers routinely reject Autistic personalities

Autistic Minds

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AUTISTIC THINKING LEADS TO UNIQUE INSIGHTS.

  • Orthogonal thinking: makes unique connections between seemingly unrelated topics
  • Detail-oriented
  • Hyperfocus and dedication, loyalty
  • Blends genres and styles
  • Works at 150%
  • Absorbs large amounts of information at all times (active nervous system), synthesizes information to create novelty

Autistic Minds

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Experience

From wordsmithing to advocating (while wordsmithing).

  • Ph.D.
  • Writer of literary arts and copy & content
  • Editor of literary journals for 10+ years
  • Life coach to Autistics
  • Nonprofit board member (Autistic Women’s Alliance & NeuroGuides: Life Guides for Autistics)

Autistic Minds

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AN UNCONVENTIONAL PATH.

  • Taught college writing
    • Some students were angry about the way I gave feedback
  • Now working as a writer
    • Turned to freelancing due to autistiphobic employers
  • Without psychological safety, I don’t work well
    • Despite depth of experience
  • Constantly reading and writing
    • Over 1,000 books in my house
    • I follow my own rules, blending literary and non-literary styles

Autistic Minds

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Persistence and logical thinking lead to creative joy ❇

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NEUROINCLUSIVE WORKPLACES

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Psychological safety

Prerequisite for neuroinclusion–and creativity.

Judgment-free environments that promote authenticity, creative and critical thinking, and open, honest communication.

Neuroinclusive Workplaces

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HIRING AND ACCOMMODATIONS.

  • Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
  • No psychological safety in most job interviews
  • Lack of accommodations
  • Social differences are disqualifying–even for highly qualified candidates
  • Interviews emphasize rapport (neuronormative)—not skills
  • Are Autists welcome in creative fields?

Neuroinclusive Workplaces

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EVALUATING EMPLOYERS.

RED FLAGS

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Refers to individuals as “neurodiverse.”

Requires proof of disability.

Neurominorities described with medicalized and pathologizing terms, ie “disorder.”

Uses “neurodivergent” and “neurodiversity” interchangeably.

Expects neurominorities to perform neurotypicality.

GREEN FLAGS

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Offers accommodations.

Asks how you work best.

Honors limitations and communication styles.

Full range of jobs open to neurodivergent people, including creative and leadership.

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Neuroinclusive Workplaces

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What’s a good job for neurodivergent professionals?

Any job they want.

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QUESTIONS?

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THANK YOU! LET’S CONNECT.

Writerly Nourishment

Amber Johnson Writes

Neurodivergent Creatives �LinkedIn Group

10 Ways to Support Autistic �College Students�by Bernard Grant, Ph.D.

Autism as Advantage: The Case for Neurodiversity in Design �by Amber Johnson

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