Imagine a workplace where you belong, where you can thrive, be seen and accepted for being you and where you always have the courage to say what you are thinking.
Neurodiversity Toolkit
Imagine a workplace where you belong, where you can thrive, be seen and accepted for being you and where you always have the courage to say what you are thinking. That is the ambition of The Cumberland. We want to create a culture where everyone is valued for their uniqueness. We have committed to put a spotlight on challenging topics that hinder belonging in the workplace. One such focus has been neurodiversity.
Prior to the pandemic there was no awareness of or data on colleagues who were neurodiverse. They managed their work and condition independently and behind closed doors. But the pandemic drove a change in how we worked, and as we have re-entered the workplace, we noticed an increase in colleagues requiring support with their work and performance. With the help of our Occupational Health nurse, we recognised the need to better support the diagnosis of neurodivergent conditions and to support colleagues who had already received a diagnosis but felt reluctant to talk about it.
We saw this as an opportunity to help those with neurodiverse conditions and educate those who are neurotypical. We created a toolkit which includes stories from colleagues, strengths and challenges of neurodiverse conditions, benefits to the workplace, signposting to resources and guidance on disclosing neurodiverse conditions. We also set up training and 121 sessions with Owl Blue, a charity who work with neurodiverse people and their families. Overall, we feel we have made a positive impact as the feedback we have had has been overwhelming. One colleague said it was “life changing”, providing them with support that they have never been able to access. Another said that “…it was like their life now made sense.”
