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About us

OUR PARTNERSHIPs

Neurodivergent people are disproportionately excluded from the workplace. In order to address this, the Centre for Neurodiversity at Work works in partnership with practitioners and employers to find practical, workable interventions and solutions.

Genius Within CIC

  • The Centre is led by Birkbeck’s Faculty of Business and Law and Genius Within CIC. These two organisations currently operate in partnership, through sponsored employee doctoral research programmes and providing field research opportunities for students.
  • The Centre and Genius Within are looking specifically at the effectiveness of coaching psychology support for neurodivergent applicants and employees. See our research output page for more details.
  • We are also working with Genius Within to explore the psychological contract between neurodivergent employees in neurotypical businesses to identify where mismatched expectations and social conventions might cause unnecessary conflict or misunderstanding. Read more from Genius Within in their funding statement.

Hays

  • We are delighted to be working with Hays, the global recruiter, to reduce barriers in selection methods. James Hallahan, Head of Technology Solutions (UK & I) tells us more about the importance of this project: "At Hays Recruitment we strive to be at the cutting edge of knowledge in our field. It's absolutely vital to have comprehensive and credible evidence on accessible, inclusive recruitment practice to support our work and our customers. By sponsoring the work of a neurodivergent PhD researcher to explore and evaluate what works best, we are investing in tomorrow's talent and driving the accumulation of practical, impactful knowledge."

Neurodiversity in business

  • We are working with the Neurodiversity in Business group, who represent the largest employers in the UK, to evaluate the effectiveness of current practice in making disability adjustments for this group.

MISSION AND ETHOS

The Centre was established to undertake research that is needed to inform interventions in the workplace that will maximise the mutual benefits of employing and retaining the untapped talent of the neurodiverse community. Typically, this includes the specialist thinking skills associated with ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Dyscalculia and Tic Disorders. However, we are also interested in associated neurotypes such as learning disabilities, sensory processing disorder, anxiety and depression.

Why is this research so urgently needed?

  • 25% of the prison population meet the clinical criteria for ADHD (Young et al. 2018)
  • A third of long-term unemployed people are dyslexic (Jensen et al., 2000)
  • Less than a third of Autistic people are in work (ONS, 2019)

We believe that good organisational practice fosters diversity throughout the employment lifecycle and embraces difference. Our Advisory Board represents lived experience and professional expertise in disability law, human resources, psychology, research, technology, policy and management.

By joining forces, we are developing an evidence-based management approach to neurodiversity and to addressing the intersectional, social justice aspects of systemic inclusion.

We will effect change by developing interventions that work, which management feel confident to deliver and which enhance the prosperity and career opportunities of neurominorities.

For any consultancy and advice questions please contact within The Birkbeck Innovation support unit.