Joshin

Many of our members and community are worried about the executive order to scale back the U.S. Department of Education. We’re feeling it too. Over 7.5 million disabled and neurodivergent children and their families depend on the Department for vital protections, funding, and support. This news brings up a lot of questions and concerns. Here's what you should know right now: ?? Your child's IEP and 504 plans remain fully in effect ?? Federal special education funding continues unchanged ?? IDEA law still protects your child's educational rights Although the department is downsizing, it will continue to exist in reduced form and enforce civil rights laws, according to the White House. Only Congress has the authority to eliminate it entirely. For now, your child’s services and legal protections remain intact. If you’re feeling confused or worried, you’re not alone. We're keeping a close eye on what could change down the line, and we'll keep you updated as we learn more. – For more context and information, here’s a breakdown from AAPD: https://bit.ly/4ipw38I

Neuro-affirming workplaces don't happen by accident. They're built through small, intentional changes that reduce cognitive load, create clear structures, and respect different ways of thinking. Here are four ways you can better support and celebrate your neurodiverse workforce today. Swipe through to learn how ?? -- #NeurodiversityAtWork #NeuroInclusion #NeurodiversityCelebrationWeek #Neurodiversity Document description in the comments.

Want to celebrate neurodiversity? Start by recognizing that it covers more than just ADHD or autism. Here’s a great podcast episode of The Stretch, hosted by Aon, where our co-founder and COO Melanie Fountaine reminds us that neurodiversity also includes dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, Tourette syndrome, sensory processing differences, and more. Expanding the umbrella makes room for more neurodivergent people to find support and safety. ?? Listen to the episode: https://lnkd.in/gsypcPwp #NeurodivesrityAtWork #NeurodiversityCelebrationWeek #Neurodiversity

At Joshin, neurodiversity isn’t just something we acknowledge—it’s who we are. The community we support is at the heart of everything we do, and we believe neurodivergent individuals deserve solutions designed for them. This #NeurodiversityCelebrationWeek, we’re proud to stand alongside a global movement that challenges misconceptions and highlights the incredible skills, talents, and contributions of neurodivergent individuals in the workplace. And we celebrate our incredible clients who are doing this every day for their employees. Join us in celebrating the power of neurodiversity! Let’s build a world where differences are not just accepted but valued. ?? #NeurodiversityCelebrationWeek2025 #NeurodiversityAtWork Image description: Blue wavy background with text overlay, "Give people the space to show up as themselves" with the Joshin logo and "Neurodiversity Celebration Week" on the bottom.

In recognition of Neurodiversity Celebration Week, we’re proud to spotlight leaders in our community who are fostering workplaces where neurodiverse talent can thrive. Today, we celebrate Hearst. ? Hearst is actively bringing in neurodiverse talent while fostering belonging across the company through Neurodiversity@Hearst, a 15-week internship program. Here, interns gain hands-on experience, tailored mentorship, and the opportunity to contribute meaningfully while building skills for long-term success. ? Through its partnership with Joshin,?and through its comprehensive benefits program,?Heart supports disability inclusion in the workplace by providing employees and their families with access to specialized coaching, training, and caregiving resources.? ? By investing in neuroinclusion, Hearst is creating a workplace where everyone’s unique strengths are valued—fueling innovation, collaboration, and stronger teams. Isabel F., ESG Manager at Hearst shared, “We often hear how proud people are to work at Hearst because of our neurodiversity efforts and their personal relationship to neurodiversity. The program serves as a supportive structure for current colleagues and an invitation for future neurodivergent talent, ensuring everyone is valued for their unique perspectives and skills.”? ? Studies show that managers who lead through a neurodiverse lens build more productive, creative teams. With 1 in 5 people in the U.S. identifying as neurodiverse, Hearst is proving that when workplaces work for everyone—everyone benefits. #Neurodiversity #NeurodiversityCelebrationWeek #Neuroinclusion

Intersectional identities don’t fit into a single month. Black History Month. Women’s History Month. Autism Acceptance Month. ADHD Awareness Month. Black neurodivergent people, especially women, face systemic barriers in healthcare, workplaces, and daily life, every day of the year. Last month, Joshin Coach Natasha Grant Holmberg, MNLM, CESP? Holmberg from First Place AZ joined Grant Harris, MBA, Certified Diversity Executive (CDE)? for a webinar on the barriers Black neurodivergent individuals face. Drawing from her own experience, Natasha created a resource to help neurodivergent people, allies, and employers take action. Swipe through to learn more ?? ?? Watch the webinar: https://lnkd.in/gpwByHak – #BlackHistoryMonth #WomensHistoryMonth #Neurodiversity #NeurodiversityAtWork #NeuroInclusion #Intersectionality Document description in the comments.

So, what is neurodiversity (ND) and how does it relate to disability? We sat down with Joshin on our podcast, "The Stretch," to discuss how companies can build an inclusive workforce, and what that looks like for someone who is neurodivergent. “Neurodiversity is the diversity of our brains and minds,” explains Melanie Fountaine, Co-Founder and COO. “[ND] means that our minds function in ways that diverge from significantly dominant societal standards, of what 'normal' is.” As we approach Neurodiversity Celebration Week (March 17 - 23), we'll use this month to highlight the impact of neurodiversity in the workplace, showcasing ways employers can engage and support their workforce and foster a culture of inclusion and belonging. Follow along to hear from industry experts and gain insights on trending survey data as we challenge the market to think differently. Listen to our full podcast episode with Joshin: https://lnkd.in/gsypcPwp #neurodiversity #InclusionMatters #CelebrateNeurodiversity #NeurodiversityAtWork #NeurodiversityAwareness #NeurodiversityAdvocate #NeurodiverseWorkplace

Believe Black people. When they say they’re in pain. When they say they’re disabled. When they say they’re autistic. As a Black autistic man, Joshin Advisory Council Member Grant Harris, MBA, Certified Diversity Executive (CDE)? knows what it means to have his experiences questioned. To be told, in both subtle and direct ways, that he doesn’t fit the expectation of what neurodivergence or disability looks like. Right now, identity is being challenged on a large scale with DEI rollbacks, and with that, intersecting identities are being erased and questioned. But you can’t erase who people are. People who carry multiple identities navigate systemic barriers many of us don’t experience. Our organizations and communities are stronger when we recognize and honor people in their entirety, not just for what is easiest for us to see. We’re grateful to learn from Grant, both on our Advisory Council and as part of our latest webinar, "Recognizing Systemic Barriers through Black Neurodivergent Perspectives," alongside Joshin Coach Natasha Grant Holmberg, MNLM, CESP?. ?? Watch on-demand: https://bit.ly/3EUYMDw – #BlackHistoryMonth #Neurodiversity #NeurodiversityAtWork #NeuroInclusion #DEI #DEIA

Join us in one hour at 12pm CT for a webinar on “Recognizing Systemic Barriers through Black Neurodivergent Perspectives” this Black History Month. This webinar will explore the complex landscape of identity, examining how race and neurodivergence interacts within social, educational, and professional environments. Participants will: ??Gain critical insights into the lived experiences of Black neurodivergent folks ??Learn strategies for recognizing and dismantling systemic barriers. Join us for a transformative conversation that amplifies Black neurodivergent voices and promotes meaningful understanding. Our expert panel includes Grant Harris, MBA, Certified Diversity Executive (CDE)? from GTH Consulting and Joshin Coach Natasha Grant Holmberg, MNLM, CESP?. — ?? Save your seat: https://bit.ly/3Qvi057

At Joshin, we are concerned about what’s happening to our community. Since January 20th, many policies are now directly at stake, and several statements have been harmful. From the devastating aircraft collision near Washington DC, for which the disability community was not directly responsible, due to commentary following the tragedy, stigma perpetuates?(Source: The Washington Post) To talk of closing the Department of Education, which has a direct impact on funding equitable education for students with disabilities through special education programs and IEPs (Source: NPR) - many of which you could have benefited from without realizing it in some form. To most recently, a lawsuit of 17 states versus the US government to get rid of Section 504, which prohibits discrimination of people with disabilities applying to programs involving federal financial assistance (Source: DREDF) Joshin condemns these actions. These statements and potential reversals rewind the progress made for people with disabilities which ensure we, they, our children, belong and can participate fully in America - and the impact is profoundly harmful. To the Disability and Neurodivergent community, this is a lot. Find kinship in one another - feel the feelings and continue to foster those spaces to grieve, share stories, and press on. We are resilient, we are worthy, and we can and will get through this with one another. We cannot do this alone. To companies, leaders, and allies, what can you do? ? Address the elephant in the room: your disabled and neurodivergent employees are not okay. Check-in with them. Create spaces for safe, confidential self-disclosure even if the highest position of power prefers otherwise, and don’t do it to be performative. ? Talk with, and empathize with your disabled and neurodivergent employees: More and more, companies on a macro-scale are excluding us. Whether it’s folding to the latest leadership, pivoting on DEI, or fear of getting it wrong, your intent has impact. Engage in unfamiliar conversations, learn from people you don’t normally interact with, and build bridges with communities you’re not part of. Joshin is deeply appreciative of policy educators and resources through National Organization on Disability (NOD), Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF), American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), National Disability Rights Network, and so many more doing this meaningful work at the local, state, regional, and national level. We’re in this together. ----------- Image Description: A photo of Disability Rights Advocate, Judy Heumann speaking into a microphone with the quote, “When other people see you as a third-class citizen, the first thing you need is a belief in yourself and the knowledge that you have rights.