In this FREE webinar AbilityNet and Genius Within explored how a shift to home working has brought both challenges and benefits for neurodiverse workers. We shared data on neurominorities and explored the services both organisations can offer in terms of support.

1. AbilityNet LIVE! The new normal?
Sarah Botterill, Free Services Marketing Manager; ; Jacqui
Wallis, Commercial Director for Genius Within; Charlie Eckton
consultant psychologist for Genius Within;
Rina Wharton, Accessibility and Usability Consultant AbilityNet
09 June 2020

2. Neurodiversity: Is the New Normal here to stay?| 09 June 2020
Housekeeping
• Live captions are available during the webinar
• Please use the Q&A window to ask questions NOT the chat window
• Slides, a transcript and recording will be made available post-
webinar – you will be notified via email
• There will be a feedback form to ask any follow up questions

3. Neurodiversity: Is the New Normal here to stay?| 09 June 2020
Welcome: The new normal
• Introducing AbilityNet, and how we can help
• Asperger’s and the workplace: Rina Wharton
• Genius Within: Neurodiversity in the workplace, is the new normal
here to stay?
• Support from Genius Within
• Workplace assessments from AbilityNet
• Q&A

4. Neurodiversity: Is the New Normal here to stay?| 09 June 2020
About AbilityNet, and how we can help
• Our mission is a digital world accessible to all
• Supporting people at home, at work and in education
• Network of 300+ trusted (DBS-checked) volunteers.
• Call FREE on 0800 048 7642
• FREE online support through My Computer My Way,
My Study My Way, and via a series of FREE factsheets
• We can also help with a Disabled Student Assessment

5. Neurodiversity: Is the New Normal here to stay?| 09 June 2020
Making a difference to our clients
80% of clients said that they were “better able to use technology”
thanks to help from our volunteers
78% find it easier to manage daily life
86% felt more knowledgeable
76% felt more independent
69% felt less isolated

6. Neurodiversity: Is the New Normal here to stay?| 09 June 2020
• @Mark
For details of future webinars
https://abilitynet.org.uk/free-
resources/webinars

7. Neurodiversity: Is the New Normal here to stay?| 09 June 2020
• @Mark
Poll 1

8. Neurodiversity: Is the New Normal here to stay?| 09 June 2020
Rina Wharton AbilityNet
• What is your role at AbilityNet, and what made you
want to work for us?
• As someone with Asperger's has this affected your
experience of work? Has it influenced your view of
the need for making reasonable adjustments?
• How do you maintain a social connection while
working from home?
• What advice would you give employers?

9. Neurodiversity: Is the New Normal here to stay?| 09 June 2020
Is the new normal here to stay?

10. Neurodiversity: Is the New Normal here to stay?| 09 June 2020
• @Mark
“Forcing people with cognitive disabilities and fatigue to
concentrate in an open plan office is like telling someone with
hearing loss to “listen harder,” or making someone who excels
at a sales pitch through body language observation to write a
power point. It’s borderline discrimination and an obstacle to
talent,” Dr Nancy Doyle, CEO and founder Genius Within

11. Neurodiversity: Is the New Normal here to stay?| 09 June 2020
Introducing
Genius Within
Genius Within supports neurodiverse
employees.
Jacqui Wallis –Commercial Director
Charlie Eckton –Consultant Psychologist
Introducing Genius Within
Genius Within supports neurodiverse
employees.
• Jacqui Wallis, Commercial Director
• Charlie Eckton, Consultant Psychologist
How do you support adults with neurodiverse
needs particularly in the workplace?

12. Neurodiversity: Is the New Normal here to stay?| 09 June 2020
• @Mark
The ‘old normal’
disability insights

13. Neurodiversity: Is the New Normal here to stay?| 09 June 2020
15-20%Estimated whole population
prevalence
Introducing neurominorities

14. Neurodiversity: Is the New Normal here to stay?| 09 June 2020
83%
Disability Insights
Source: Business Disability Forum
Of disabilities are acquired
(average age 53)

15. Neurodiversity: Is the New Normal here to stay?| 09 June 2020
Impact of disability
Source: Business Disability Forum
90% 1 in 7 £26bnof disabilities
are not visible
cost to economy
each year
Have mental
health needs

16. Neurodiversity: Is the New Normal here to stay?| 09 June 2020
Only 10-15%
of autistic people have a job
Impact in the workplace
Snowling et al 2010
National Autistic Society, 2016
28%of long-term
unemployed
are dyslexic

17. Neurodiversity: Is the New Normal here to stay?| 09 June 2020
• @Mark
Is the new normal here to stay?

18. Neurodiversity: Is the New Normal here to stay?| 09 June 2020
Neurodiversity and the pandemic (Q&A)
• How has the pandemic impact people with neurodiverse needs?
• One of the significant shifts in home working has been to move
towards video conferencing.
• How might this impact an adult with neurodiverse needs, and how
can employers adjust to make things easier?
• In the shift to home working what types of reasonable adjustments
might help someone with neurodiverse needs?

19. Neurodiversity: Is the New Normal here to stay?| 09 June 2020
Common issues across all
67%
wellbeing
78%time management
83%organisational skills
92%Memory/concentration

20. Neurodiversity: Is the New Normal here to stay?| 09 June 2020
• Assistive technology
• Environmental flexibility
• Executive functions coaching
(memory, concentration, time
management etc.)
• Formal training
(in-house or commissioned)
• Literacy coaching
• Schedule flexibility
• Supervisor input
• Workstation adaptations
How can employers make adjustments

21. Neurodiversity: Is the New Normal here to stay?| 09 June 2020
• Many employers have had to adjust quickly in a time of crisis. What
happens next? Are these changes sustainable?
• How will work/home boundaries change longer-term?
• How can we best use technology going forward?
• Is it possible to balance social connection without fatigue?
What we can learn from this time (Q&A)

22. Neurodiversity: Is the New Normal here to stay?| 09 June 2020
Learning from the pandemic
Five tips for adjusting to the so-called ‘new normal’:
1. Transition to more remote support
2. Provide choice
3. Accept that one size does not fit all
4. Recognise that flexibility is important
5. Notice the changes

23. Neurodiversity: Is the New Normal here to stay?| 09 June 2020
Creating sustainable inclusion
Exclusion
Compliance
Deliberate
inclusion in
teams
Systemic
inclusion
for all

24. Neurodiversity: Is the New Normal here to stay?| 09 June 2020
• @Mark
Poll 2

25. Neurodiversity: Is the New Normal here to stay?| 09 June 2020
Working systemically
reduces the cost
of inclusion by
30%
The benefits of a systemic approach
Assumptions Actions Results
1 2 3

26. Neurodiversity: Is the New Normal here to stay?| 09 June 2020
Final thoughts on inclusion
1 in 5
of consumers
have a disability
lost revenue
from being
exclusive
Estimated lost
revenue in
supermarket through
inaccessibility
Of disabled
people found
accessibility
barriers in e-
commerce
£2bn £501m 73% £935m
Estimated lost
revenue in
banking through
inaccessibility
£16bn
UK only estimated e-commerce

27. Neurodiversity: Is the New Normal here to stay?| 09 June 2020
Genius Within: adapting to the new normal
• Built with remote delivery in mind -1:1 coaching blended with online module
- for adults with neurodiversity iGenius
• https://www.geniuswithin.co.uk/neurodiversity/igenius-our-latest-product-to-
support-you-to-be-at-your-best-in-work/
• Starting the conversation – group sessions – Awareness Training at group
level – for teams of up to 20
• Understanding what adjustments you might need to start that conversation
- free Genius Within Adjustment Screener
• https://www.geniusscreening.com/

28. Neurodiversity: Is the New Normal here to stay?| 09 June 2020
• @Mark
Poll 3

29. Neurodiversity: Is the New Normal here to stay?| 09 June 2020
Workplace assessment (Teresa)
• How can AbilityNet support people who are working from home?
• What is the Working from Home Review?
• What types of recommendations might come out of the review?
• What types of adjustments might employers need to make?

30. Neurodiversity: Is the New Normal here to stay?| 09 June 2020
Further support from AbilityNet
• Freephone support: Call us on 0800 048 7642 during UK office
hours, Monday – Friday or by email enquiries@abilitynet.org.uk
• AbilityNet Live! www.abilitynet.org.uk/abilitynet-live
• My Computer My Way: https://mcmw.abilitynet.org.uk/
• My Study My Way: https://abilitynet.org.uk/HE-services/my-study-
my-way
• FREE Factsheets: https://abilitynet.org.uk/free-resources/abilitynet-
factsheets

31. Neurodiversity: Is the New Normal here to stay?| 09 June 2020
Specific resources AbilityNet
• Ambient apps to improve focus and help you study
• Factsheet autism and computers
• Factsheet dyslexia and technology
• Factsheet learning difficulties and computing
• Top ten hacks to help disabled people working from home

32. Neurodiversity: Is the New Normal here to stay?| 09 June 2020
Genius Within
”Inclusion is a moral, social and economic imperative. We all lose
when human potential is squandered.”
www.geniuswithin.co.uk | ClientServices@geniuswithin.co.uk
GeniuswithinCIC @geniuswithinCIC Genius Within CIC @GeniusWithinUK

33. Neurodiversity: Is the New Normal here to stay?| 09 June 2020
• @Mark
Q&A

34. Neurodiversity: Is the New Normal here to stay?| 09 June 2020
• @Mark
For details of future webinars
https://abilitynet.org.uk/free-
resources/webinars

35. Neurodiversity: Is the New Normal here to stay?| 09 June 2020
• @Mark
Donate and support AbilityNet
www.abilitynet.org.uk/donate

36. Neurodiversity: Is the New Normal here to stay?| 09 June 2020
• @Mark
Thank You