Advance: The Disability Consultants was founded in 2019 to help give organisations the confidence, knowledge and skills necessary to understand Neurodiversity and Neurodivergent people in the workplace. I had found from my own employment experiences that I was often seen as Oliver a disability and a problem. Oliver who didn't fit into Neurotypical workplaces or teams. Oliver was dismissed from one job after a 10 minute performance review with no warning that he would be dismissed. In one job Oliver was being bullied but was accused by his line managers of being the bully despite evidence that showed he was being bullied. In both instances Oliver's line managers professed to have a competent working knowledge of Neurodiversity in the workplace. We realised that when we launched Advance: The Disability Consultants that organisations lack the knowledge and understanding of Neurodiversity and how to create Neuroinclusive workplaces. Our mission as an organisation is to ensure that future generations of Neurodivergent people do not have the same barriers and obstacles that Oliver and many millions of others who are Neurodivergent have experienced just trying to access the labour market. As Oliver puts it I am disabled because society chose to disable me by putting barriers in my way to being successful in the workplace. Until Neurodiversity and Neuroinclusion are seen as the cultural norm in the workplace we will carry on our journey helping give organisations the necessary skills and knowledge required to become Neurodiversity Confident Employers.  The statistics of Oliver's workplace experiences bear this out:

• 30 - 40% of Neurodivergent people in the USA are unemployed.

• 1 in 5 Neurodivergent employees in the UK have been the victims of bullying in the workplace.

• Only 33% of HR professionals have had Neurodiversity Training.

• Only 23% of HR Professionals have had Neurodiversity Training in the last 12 months.

• Only 29% of Senior Leaders have had Neurodiversity Training in the workplace.

 

​​If you are wondering how your organisation might benefit from our support please get in contact with us so we can start the journey of making your organisation "Neurodiversity Confident".