In today's corporate world, inclusivity reaches far beyond gender, race, and age. It now also involves understanding and embracing the full spectrum of human neurological development, otherwise known as neurodiversity. Benefits advisors, responsible for guiding clients through complex benefits policy landscapes, play an essential role in cultivating workplaces that celebrate and support neurodiverse employees. To champion this cause, it's crucial to comprehend what neurodiversity truly means, the unique strengths neurodiverse individuals bring to the workplace, and strategies to cultivate an inclusive environment.

What is neurodiversity?

The neurodiversity umbrella concept encompasses those with neurological differences such as ADHD, autism, dyslexia, learning disabilities, developmental disabilities and other neurocognitive variations. Human brains think and learn differently – they are as naturally diverse as our fingerprints. In fact, Australian sociologist Judy Singer first used the word "neurodiversity" in 1998 to describe the wide range of brain functions and the development that naturally occurs in the human population. It has recently become more commonly used and accepted as part of an effort to steer away from descriptors such as "normal" or "abnormal."