27 March 2023

Top Tips for Making Hybrid Working Neurodiverse Friendly

  • Give plenty of notice of changes in working patten eg changes of days, times and venues  
  • Ask staff members if they would find working from a particular workstation more advantages, this may be due to issues around lighting levels or sound
  • Allow for regular breaks and ensure lunch breaks are taken
  • Ask staff members if they need any reasonable adjustments in the office
  • Make sure there is a quiet space available to work away from distractions such as doors, phones, or loud machinery
  • If you are using a new meeting place or office space, give staff members the opportunity to visit before hand
  • Think about room set up, don’t block the exit, make it easy for people to leave if they need to
  • Remember that staff members with a neurodiverse condition may need to wear headphones for lots of different reasons in the workplace, don’t assume they are listening to music or are deliberately ignoring you
  • Remember one sizes doesn’t fit all and be as flexible as you can.

Top Tips Making Meetings Neurodiverse Friendly

Tips for all meeting types

  • Give plenty of notice for the meeting 
  • Inform staff members what is expected of them during the meeting and if they need to prepare anything in advance  
  • Have a clear agenda with timings. Make sure enough time is booked for the meeting including regular breaks
  • Ask staff members if they need any reasonable adjustments such as the formatting of papers or slides, easy read, audio or film versions of handouts, paper work printed on coloured paper or changing background colours on presentation slides.
  • Share essential reading well in advance of meetings highlighting important parts
  • Give instructions one at a time, slowly and clearly without distractions
  • The chair of the meeting should ensure that only person talks at a time as someone who is  Neurodiverse can find it harder to recall to their point when interpreted
  • Avoid interrupting a person who is writing, allow the person to pause and write down what they need to before asking your question or changing topics
  • Share minutes / instructions as soon as possible after the meeting remembering to accommodate for  any reasonable adjustments
  • Ensure there is the opportunity to ask questions after the meeting.

In person meetings

  • Make sure there is a quiet space available for the meeting away from distractions such as doors, phones, or loud machinery
  • If you are using a new meeting place give staff members the opportunity to see the meeting room before the meeting
  • Think about room set up, don’t block the exit, make it easy for people to leave if they need to
  • Allow staff members the choice of if they stand or sit during meetings.

Virtual meetings

  • Record the meeting so team members can watch back afterwards
  • Avoid the use of distracting backgrounds
  • Ask staff members to turn on the audio cancelling function in teams or stay on mute to reduce any distracting background noise
  • Make sure the close caption (subtitles) option is available
  • Ensure that any comments in the chat function are read out verbally.

 

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