Embracing Neurodiversity: Lessons from Burnt Saucepans

One day, as I opened the door to my house, I was greeted by an alarming burning smell. My first thought - dial 000. My house was about to go up in smoke. Then, I heard it, my husband Jeremy Nagel ’s voice. "Honey, I'm cooking!" But he’s calling out from his study upstairs. The only thing he should be cooking there are his thoughts. Ahh, now I realised - he’s left the stove on, again! I ran to the kitchen -- there it was, the charred remains of our dinner! Another saucepan into the rubbish bin - that’s three he’s destroyed this month.

Welcome to my world, living with an ADHD and autistic husband. This little episode is more than just a funny mishap. It's a window into the daily challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals and their families.

So why did I marry him? I knew he was like this - he was late for our first date.

But I fell in love with what sits behind his mishaps, I fell in love with his whacky sense of humour, I fell in love with a man who’s even nerdier than me!

Neurodivergence, encompassing ADHD, autism, bipolar disorder, and more, represents a spectrum of experiences. Traits like being ‘quiet’ or ‘overenthusiastic’ are misunderstood as problems but dive a little deeper and you’ll be surprised!

Jeremy might leave the stove on, but he's an innovator. After nearly turning our house to ash, he now cooks with an electric steamer that turns itself off if it runs out of water.

He even got us fire blankets in the kitchen—two of them!

In his work as a programmer, Jeremy would start coding, get into hyperfocus, and miss meetings or be a bit too blunt with his bosses, which caused him to lose his first few jobs. However, this drove him to start his own business, eventually selling his startup to a large company.

He’s even got a new business now, building an app called Focus Bear to stop people like him from getting distracted and running late for meetings. It works! He hasn’t forgotten our date nights since then.

Did you know that 20% of the population are neurodivergent? You probably know someone yourself. They might seem ‘unusual’ or act differently, yet they can display remarkable focus on the subjects that they are interested in. The key is to shift our focus. Instead of treating neurodivergent individuals differently, let's seek out their strengths. Their attention to detail and creativity can make them powerhouses in the right situations.

To embrace neurodiversity in the workplace, we need to make changes, such as:

1. Designing quiet spaces for focused work. By implementing quiet spaces, we can provide a sanctuary for those who require minimal distractions to focus effectively.
2. Encouraging use of noise-cancelling headphones. It allows individuals to control their auditory environment, reducing stress and increasing productivity.
3. Offering flexible work arrangements (such as working from home when needed) is also crucial, as it acknowledges that the traditional 9-to-5 setting may not be optimal for everyone. Such accommodations enable neurodivergent employees to work during hours when they feel most productive and comfortable.

These simple changes can help those who perform best in calm environments, and that includes many of us! We all struggle to concentrate if there’s a lot of background noise. It affects neurospicy people more—they’re essentially canaries in the coal mine. If we make conditions better for them, everyone benefits.

Furthermore, these adjustments should begin right from the recruitment process. It's about transforming how we identify and onboard talent. Imagine a recruitment process where we let people show their competency, instead of asking them to articulate their skills. Let candidates bring in their portfolios, instead of asking theoretical questions. Share the interview questions beforehand. Neurodivergent people often need time to think. You’re trying to get to know them. It’s not a Toastmaster's Table Topics contest (impromptu speech)! If we make changes like these, it will allow neurodivergent individuals to shine.

The charred remains of dinner in my kitchen are more than just a testament to forgotten stovetops; they're a call to action for all sectors of society to recognise and harness the potential of neurodiversity. We must move beyond mere accommodation to a proactive celebration of the diverse minds among us. It is essential for every organisation, community, and institution to lead the way in cultivating environments where everyone, regardless of neurotype, can thrive and contribute their unique strengths.

Embracing neurodiversity unleashes a wellspring of innovation, creativity, and resilience that can drive us forward in ways we have yet to fully comprehend. Let’s commit to building a future where the value of every individual is not just acknowledged but actively sought out and nurtured. Together, let's build a world where everyone can find their own way to shine and make a difference. We can all succeed and leave a positive mark on the world.