The Neurodiversity in the Workplace Conference 2022

Around 1 in 7 people in the UK are neurodivergent; and may require a different approach from line managers. The Equality Act 2010 established the rights and protections of neurodivergent employees, which employers have an obligation to meet.

A neurodiverse workforce is increasingly seen as an advantage to organisations; a 2021 report by JPMorgan Chase found that neurodivergent employees could be up to 140% more productive than neurotypical colleagues, and many private sector organisations are actively seeking out neurodivergent employees to drive improvement and growth in their organisations. To benefit from these advantages and support neurodivergent colleagues, professionals from across the public, private and voluntary sectors must come together to share best practice in creating an open workplace culture, inclusive management practices and implementing effective accessibility tools.

• 75% of dyslexic people believe recruitment processes put dyslexic people at a disadvantage (Dyslexia in the Workplace Survey 2021)
• Just 21.7% of autistic people are in employment within the UK, reported the Office for National Statistics (ONS 2021)
• 72% of the UK’s employers do not include neurodiversity in their diversity policies (CIPD)
• Employers surveyed by the US Job Accommodation Network reported that up to 59% of common adjustments for neurodiverse colleagues cost nothing

Join us at The Neurodiversity in the Workplace Conference 2022 to hear the latest guidance on creating an inclusive workplace for neurodiverse employees and learn about up-to-date accessibility practices from leading experts. Engage with best practice case studies on embedding reasonable adjustments into your recruiting practices, developing a whole organisational approach to neurodiversity and training line managers to support neurodivergent employees across your organisation. You will also have the opportunity to network with senior colleagues from across the public sector, sharing strategies to better support neurodiversity in the workplace.

Why Attend:

✓ Sharing innovative tools and strategies to support neurodivergent employees at work
✓ Best practice case studies on a range of key challenges, including recruitment and increasing rates of disclosures
✓ High-level keynotes from experts in neurodiversity and workplace inclusivity
✓ Network with senior colleagues from across the public sector on how to develop an inclusive work culture
✓ CPD (gain 8 hours of CPD points towards your yearly quota)

This is a live event taking place online:
✓Access a full live event with 8 hours of CPD points from home
✓Network and connect with colleagues in breakout networking sessions and the meeting hub
✓Interact with speakers through live Q&A and networking
✓Review event materials and presentations post-event
✓Receive additional resources to boost your learning and support you in your role

For more information or to make a booking please call 0330 058 4285

• 09.00

  Online Registration

• 09.50

  Chair’s Opening Remarks

  Dr James Richards, Associate Professor in Human Resource Management, Heriot-Watt University (CONFIRMED)

  Professor Kate Sang, Director, Centre for Research on Employment, Work and the Professions (CONFIRMED)

• 10.00

  Keynote: Understanding Neurodivergence and Breaking Down Barriers to Create a More Inclusive Workplace

  • Outlining different ways neurodivergence can present and insights into how they can affect working
  • Engaging with and understanding neurodivergent employees to become a disability confident employer
  • Strategies for removing barriers to neurodivergent productivity and taking advantage of the benefits of a neurodiverse team
  • Access to Work: advice on gaining access to Government grants to cover reasonable adjustments
  • How senior leadership and line managers can reduce the stigma around neurodiversity and provide support

  Nanette Mellor, CEO, The Brain Charity (CONFIRMED)

• 10.20

  Keynote: Neurodiversity and Employment Law: Meeting Responsibilities and Ensuring Appropriate Support

  • Sharing insights into the key legal concepts surrounding neurodiversity and the duties of public sector employers
  • Resources to identify, meet and fund reasonable adjustment requirements
  • Providing robust support to undiagnosed neurodivergent employees: key tips
  • Practical measures for ensuring neurodivergent staff do not face discrimination, victimisation or harassment in the workplace
  • Tools for securing funding for a formal diagnosis of neurodivergence

  Laurence Turner, Head of Research and Policy, GMB (CONFIRMED)

• 10.40

  Key Supporter Session: Do’s & Don’t in Developing your Neurodiversity Strategy

  • What neurodiversity is and why you should care
  • Why organisations should design for neuro-inclusion, and why many are not
  • Common approaches for you to consider when creating or developing your neurodiversity strategy
  • Common mistakes and pitfalls, and how to avoid them
  • The results of what happens when you design for neuro-inclusion

  Aidan Healy, Chair, Lexxic (CONFIRMED)

• 11.00

  Questions & Answers Session

• 11.20

  Comfort Break

• 11.35

  Workshop: Making Your Workplace an Open Environment That Encourages Disclosures of Neurodivergence from Staff

  This is a practical session that will provide advice and tips on:

  • Creating coaching and mental health peer support schemes to build stronger working relationships
  • Designing and delivering neurodiversity awareness training for employees and line managers
  • Developing neurodivergent-oriented communications training for neurodivergent staff to improve working relationships

  Matt Gupwell, Neurodiversity Awareness Consultant, Think Neurodiversity (CONFIRMED)

• 12.25

  Lunch Break

• 13.15

  Keynote: Supporting and Celebrating Neurodiversity in the Workplace

  • Tips for ensuring the individual needs of neurodivergent staff are met and supported
  • Building a neurodiversity support network to improve staff inclusion and raise awareness of neurodivergence
  • Creating a safe space to enable the disclosure of neurodivergence by staff: advice for senior leaders
  • Working with neurodiverse staff to inform and develop effective inclusion policies

  Jess Gosling, Co-Chair, Civil Service Neurodiversity Network (CSNN) and Senior Innovation Policy Advisor, Civil Service (CONFIRMED)

• 13.35

  Case Study: The Whole-Organisation Approach: Delivering Wrap-Around Support for Neurodivergent Colleagues

  Benjamin Ford, Neurodivergent Cognitive Behavioural Therapist, North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust (CONFIRMED)

• 13.55

  Key Supporter Session: Using Technology to Help a Neurodiverse Workforce Thrive

  • Embracing and supporting diversity, including disability and neurodiversity, can help organisations reach and attract staff from a wider talent pool. It encourages employee loyalty and retention, positive brand awareness, and new ways of thinking.
  •  Hear from one of Texthelp’s accessibility and inclusion specialists on the role of technology in supporting DE&I efforts. From recruitment and on-boarding, right through to staff development and retention, the right tools can help.
  • Listen as they share best practices from organisations such as the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, South Yorkshire Police and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.
  • This session will also discus tools and solutions that can be used by D&I Specialists and HR professionals to improve disability inclusion.

  Ryan Kirkpatrick, Inclusive Solutions Specialist, Texthelp (CONFIRMED)

• 14.15

  Questions and Answers

• 14.35

  Breakout Networking: Creating Inclusive Workplaces: Overcoming Challenges in Supporting Neurodiverse Employees

  This session will provide you with the opportunity to discuss the main challenges you face in developing an inclusive neurodiverse culture. Allowing you to share your experiences and encourage cross sector collaboration.

• 15.05

  Comfort Break

• 15.20

  Case Study: What Neurodiversity Practice Can Learn from Wider Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Research

  • Outlining the importance of the wider equality, inclusion, diversity and belonging (EDIB) agenda and growing emphasis on the experience of neurodiverse workers
  • Tracking practice’s movement ahead of research: the lack of robust evidence for specific programmes to support neurodiversity at work
  • The presentation reports on a rapid evidence assessment to draw out what the field of neurodiversity can learn from existing more mature research on EDIB
  • Mentoring, employee support groups, and organisational culture: recommendation for organisational practice and policy

  Almuth McDowall, Professor of Organisational Psychology, Birkbeck University of London (CONFIRMED)

• 15.40

  Questions & Answers Session

• 16.00

  Chair’s Summary & Close

  *Programme subject to change without notice

Who Should Attend?

Delegates who will have an interest in this event will be people who work in Inclusion and Diversity, Recruitment, or Human Resources

*This Conference is open to Public, Private and Third Sectors

For more information or to make a booking please call 0330 058 4285

We are now taking bookings for our wide range of sponsorship and exhibition packages; we also offer bespoke packages tailored for your organisation.

Why Sponsor and Exhibit at this event:

✓ Network with key decision makers across the Education Sector
✓ Meet your target audience in the Sector
✓ Listen and Learn from leading industry experts across the Sector
✓ Opportunity to demonstrate your products or services
✓ Speak alongside industry leading experts
✓ Work with your dedicated account manager to generate the maximum amount of leads

Exhibition and Sponsorship Packages:

Strategic Headline Sponsor:

• 20-minute speaking slot followed by Q&A
• 3x2m Exhibition Space (In the Refreshments and Catering room)
• Pre show marketing email to all registered delegates
• Post show inclusion on presentation email
• Branding on Website and Event Guide (Logo and 100 Word Profile)
• A4 Insert or A4 Chair Drop
• 5 Delegate Conference Passes
• 1 Speaker Pass

Key Supporter Package:

• 20-minute speaking slot followed by Q&A
• Branding on Website and Event Guide (Logo and 100 Word Profile)
• A4 Insert or Chair Drop
• 1 Speaker Pass
• 2 Delegate Conference Passes

Exhibition Stand:

• 3x2m Exhibition Space (In the Refreshments and Catering room)
• Power, Wifi, Table and 2 Chairs (If required)
• Branding on Website and Event Guide (Logo and 100 Word Profile)
• 2 Delegate Conference Passes
• 1 Stand Manager Pass

Insert or Chair Drop:

• 1 Delegate Conference Pass
• A4 insert into delegate pack or A4 Chair Drop

For more information or to discuss your requirements, please contact the team on 0330 0584 285, or sponsorship@governmentevents.co.uk or complete our enquiry form and we will contact you.

• Private Sector Rate: £599.00+VAT
• Public Sector Rate: £399.00+VAT
• Voluntary Sector Rate: £329.00+VAT