NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
Theme : Human Rights of Neuro-diverse people, Bodies Constituted For The Vulnerable Sections
Paper : GS - 2
Discrimination in employment is a worldwide phenomenon. Gender, ethnic, racist discrimination are well known but discrimination towards neurodiverse persons are hardly debated in public forums.
Neurodiversity is a notion that every person interacts and experiences their surroundings differently; there is no right way of thinking, learning, or/and behaving. These differences should not be construed as defects or disorders.
Neurodiversity in the workplace refers to including people with neuro-divergent conditions such as attention-de?cit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorders, dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia and Asperger’s Syndrome.
TABLE OF CONTENT
- Context
- Neurodiversity and Neuro diverse workplaces
- What are these Different Conditions?
- Neurodivergent vs Neurotypical
- How are things changing at Workplace?
- Road Ahead
Context :
Discrimination in employment is a worldwide phenomenon. Gender, ethnic, racist discrimination are well known but discrimination towards neurodiverse persons are hardly debated in public forums.
Neurodiversity and Neuro diverse workplaces :
- Neurodiversity is a notion that every person interacts and experiences their surroundings differently; there is no right way of thinking, learning, or/and behaving. These differences should not be construed as defects or disorders.
- Neurodiversity in the workplace refers to including people with neuro-divergent conditions such as attention-de?cit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorders, dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia and Asperger’s Syndrome.
What are these Different Conditions?
- Autism: A mental condition in which a person finds it difficult to communicate or form relationships with other people. Signs of autism include not responding to their name, avoiding eye contact, not smiling when you smile at them.
- Dyslexia: a difficulty that some people have with reading and spelling signs include confusion over letters that look similar and putting letters the wrong way round , confusing the order of letters in words, reading slowly or making errors when reading aloud
- Asperger’s syndrome: A developmental disorder related to autism and characterized by awkwardness in social interaction, pedantry in speech, and preoccupation with very narrow interests. Less severe symptoms than Autism syndrome.
- Dyscalculia: A brain disorder in which a wide range of difficulties with math, including weaknesses in understanding the meaning of numbers, and difficulty applying mathematical principles to solve problems.
Neurodivergent vs Neurotypical :
- More efficient: Studies have shown that teams with both neurodivergent and neurotypical members are far more efficient than teams that comprise neurotypical employees alone.
- Ability to focus: Neurodivergent individuals possess excellent attention to detail and an uncanny ability to focus on complex and repetitive tasks over a more extended period than their neurotypical peers.
- Ability to work at faster speed: A study by the University of Montreal found that in a test involving completing a visual pattern, people on the autism spectrum could finish their task 40% faster than those who were not on the spectrum.
- Robust spatial reasoning: People with dyslexia can think about objects in three dimensions and analyses such objects even with limited information.
- Out of box thinking: They have problem-solving capabilities which allow them to see multiple solutions to a problem. They are often out-of-the-box thinkers with average or above-average intelligence
How are things changing at Workplace?
- Competitive environment: Organizations embracing neurodiversity enjoy a competitive edge in several areas such as efficiency, creativity, and culture.
- Various MNC’s hiring programs: Companies such as Deloitte, Microsoft, SAP, JPMorgan Chase, and E&Y have introduced neurodiversity hiring programs.
- Indian company: Indian-origin companies Hatti Kaapi and Lemon Tree Hotels have also included a neurodiverse workforce.
Road Ahead :
- Many employees with neurodiversity may find the hustle and bustle of a traditional office disturbing. Therefore, neurodivergent friendly offices catering to the employees’ diverse sensory responses can help ensure that these employees are comfortable in office spaces.
- Creating the right environment is an ever-evolving exercise that requires openness and a will to change on the employer’s part.
- To ensure higher profitability and be respected as a responsible employer globally, companies need to widen their definition of inclusivity by providing higher participation of a neurodiverse workforce.