Practical tips: how to make your office inclusive for the neurodiverse

As someone who specialises in designing offices using psychological insight, Becky Turner has a few tips on how employers can improve the design of their space for people who are neurodiverse.

The first step is to make your workplace one that offers plenty of choices for employees.

“Reflecting all forms of neurodivergence in the workplace can seem overwhelming – especially as what one neurodivergent person needs can be very different to another – but it needn’t be,” she says. “From a design perspective, neurodiversity can be accommodated in many ways, with variety and choice being the ultimate indicators of a neuro-inclusive workplace.”

In terms of office design, Turner recommends:

the careful use of colour and patterns to cater for people who may become overstimulated
prioritising wayfinding to make moving through the office as simple as possible
paying attention to office acoustics to minimise reverberation
including hyper-minimal spaces that offer visual and audio privacy
differentiating quiet work settings, such as a booth for focused work
wellness or retreat spaces to ensure colleagues can access the supportive environment they need
bring zones of dynamic energy into the workplace to support those who seek out stimulation. This may be a social or café space, as well as dedicated collaboration areas that encourage movement and energy.

The most important thing? Communication so that the design can really be tailored to the people currently working there.

“There is so much that can be done to support the neurodivergent community in the workplace, but if you were to do one thing, it would be to engage with colleagues and any (neuro)diversity networking groups,” she sums up. “Giving a voice to colleagues and asking for their input is one of the greatest ways to set about creating a truly inclusive workplace.”

Are we really supporting neurodiversity in the workplace?