Why It Is Important to Understand Neurodivergent Language as an Employer

As an employer, it is your duty to create a safe, inclusive, and welcoming workplace for all who come into your organization. So, are you doing everything in your power to make that happen? This goes beyond work happy hours and pizza parties after a good quarter. To foster an environment like that, you must look inward at your team members and see what they need from you.?

You might see that you need to strengthen your understanding of neurodivergent language. If your team is diverse, you will likely need to learn new things, adapt to new accommodations, and be ready for change. So, if you have neurodivergent individuals on your team, it is so important to understand neurodivergent language – not only for yourself but for everyone on your team.?

When You Understand Neurodivergent Language, You Will…?

Promote a More Inclusive Environment?

Neurodivergent language is a way of speaking that helps you be more inclusive, respectful, and accepting of neurodivergent individuals. The words you choose can make a world of difference for those who work in your organization, are in the hiring process, or could be potential customers. Not only will this help you attract diverse talent, but it will also help you retain them.?

Learning and incorporating neurodivergent language can promote a more inclusive environment as it will not only be a trait you pick up as an employer but also something passed down to management and other team members, ensuring that everyone is involved with the inclusivity of the business. By bringing in neurodivergent language, you can help neurodivergent individuals feel welcomed and supported in their workplace.

Foster a Workplace Where Constant Education is Prioritized

Inclusivity is not a one-and-done deal. People's needs are always changing, and as an employer, this could require constant education on your part. Fortunately, education is a tool that all businesses should prioritize, no matter what it is about. When we are learning, we are growing.?

Understanding neurodivergent language is a starting point to learning everything else that comes with appropriately leading neurodivergent employees. Additionally, learning and understanding neurodivergent language can lead to a positive domino effect, as your other leaders and team members will do the same and go out of their way to educate themselves on all things neurodivergent to help create an inclusive workplace. Constant education is essential in any growing business, especially when it comes to properly supporting and growing your diverse group of employees.?

Connect With Your Neurodivergent Employees Better?

As a leader, a level of connection with your employees is almost required if you want to have a thriving workplace and business. However, this connection looks different for everyone, so by understanding neurodivergent language, you can have a better foundation for connecting with your neurodivergent employees.?

This connection can also help ease your neurodivergent employees' possible anxieties about requesting accommodations, allowing them to ask and gain the support they need to work at their best. When you show your neurodivergent employees that you are open to learning and implementing inclusive language in the workplace, you show them that they are in a safe and accommodating environment.?

Communicate More Effectively?

Above all else, understanding neurodivergent language can help improve communication with your team. When you understand certain terms, disabilities, needs, support systems, and language requirements, you will be able to communicate more effectively. You will learn that many neurodivergent individuals will communicate much differently than their neurotypical coworkers, and this is your opportunity to adapt and implement new strategies to accommodate them.?

The ability to communicate with your team members is nonnegotiable in the workplace, but it is time to recognize that communication looks different for everyone. Understanding neurodivergent language can be your best option to get a head start on supporting your current and future neurodivergent employees.?

Understanding neurodivergent language as an employer is essential to creating a supportive, accommodating, and inclusive workplace. If you have further questions or wish to learn more about neurodivergent language, send me a message or contact me at my website, Haley Moss.