I am looking for some perspective and advice if you have any, in light of some recent current events:

26 Comments

1. Chriscodyc1May 31,2025 at 1:36PM UTC

   I would want to know in what way you feel neurodiversity is not being respected in places you have worked before I would attempt a response to this question.

2. AnonymousJune 1,2025 at 3:04AM UTC

   Big companies often train about what discrimination entails. They mainly say it is treating someone differently over someone's race, religion, color, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and even age, but leaves out nurodiversity. People wouldn't DARE use a minority racial slur, but the R-word is still a part of day to day vocabulary everywhere. Some companies do have a diversity team which has events for literally every group under the sun. For instance they celebrate international woman's day and pride month (as they should) However, whenever the topic turns to nurodiversity, I can already hear the crickets. And YES, in spite of the efforts to honor diversity, bigotry sill exists and always will, but Noone considers it to be bigoted to ask their peer, "are you autistic or something?" People are also free to practice their culture at work but God forbid we stim or fidget.
   (For example).

3. AnonymousJune 1,2025 at 12:36PM UTC

   It appears you are actually somewhat protected under the ADA. Here's what I found: Neurodivergence can be considered a protected class under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). While neurodivergence is not a disability per se, many conditions associated with neurodivergence, like ADHD or autism, are considered mental impairments and thus are protected by the ADA.

   This means individuals with these conditions are protected from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in the workplace and may be entitled to reasonable accommodations.

   The ADA defines a disability as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Many neurodivergent conditions, like ADHD, autism, and others, can meet this definition, particularly if they impact major life activities like working, learning, or communicating.

   Employers are required to provide reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities, which can include modifications to work environment, tasks, or schedules. Neurodivergent individuals may need accommodations to support their unique strengths and compensate for areas where they may experience challenges.

   The ADA prohibits discrimination based on disability, which includes neurodivergence. This means employers cannot discriminate against neurodivergent employees in hiring, promotion, compensation, or other employment decisions.

   While not legally required, disclosing neurodivergence to employers can help ensure that appropriate accommodations are made and can foster a more inclusive and understanding workplace.

   The application of the ADA and the need for accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis, depending on the specific needs and circumstances of the individual.

   You may want to contact the ADA for more guidance. Also, you may not be aware the April is designated as Austism Awareness Month. You may be feeling isolated but you are actually more seen than you understand yourself to be.

4. AnonymousJune 1,2025 at 7:44PM UTC

   The ADA is a farce otherwise I would own several companies, including the federal government. I called it as I see it.

5. AnonymousMay 31,2025 at 1:40PM UTC

   Respectfully I disagree. Diversity isn’t being celebrated anywhere that’s why DEI was needed. It’s truly sad because you need intelligent diverse voices in the room to make true advances.

6. AnonymousJune 1,2025 at 7:43PM UTC

   DEI was never about promoting neurodiversity. In my case even the other diversity groups disliked neurodiversity I know this because I had to choose between female, Black, Hispanic, Native American, or neurodiversity. I am heterosexual, however the DEI LBTQ was never welcoming either.

7. AnonymousMay 31,2025 at 2:26PM UTC

   I would say you are really off on your read of diversity being honored. It's been my experience that little to no diversity is honored in the work place if it can be avoided, hidden or explained away

8. AnonymousMay 31,2025 at 3:46PM UTC

   Age diversity is certainly not being respected

9. AnonymousJune 1,2025 at 2:10AM UTC

   Good point.

10. AnonymousJune 1,2025 at 7:34PM UTC

    You are correct especially about age unless you look gorgeous. No offense lay off those baked goods , make sure to walk drink your water , do strength training especially if you’re over 40. Make sure to dress well and always continuing to learn. Update your wardrobe including makeup. These are some of the things that maybe helpful to ageism.

11. AnonymousMay 31,2025 at 4:12PM UTC

    Everyone thinks their own situation is the least addressed and they experience the most unfairness or are slighted the most.

    We all struggle and must compensate and adjust our life one way or another.

    I think social media has us all believing that everyone else's life is easier, more supported and comfortable. It's simply untrue.

12. AnonymousJune 1,2025 at 2:31PM UTC

    Wow, you've made a LOT of incorrect assumptions in this post. So much for respecting diversity.

13. AnonymousJune 1,2025 at 7:37PM UTC

    Those are not incorrect assumptions from my experience. However you can be like me and be extroverted and out shine everybody and top bosses do not like that especially when you dressed well speak well and still look like a bad ass for having cancer.

14. AnonymousJune 1,2025 at 7:29PM UTC

    Unfortunately this has been a struggle I have had to face since I was born. This is the reason at times I have cried when I see those St. Jude and Shinner children commercials. Those children will never have an opportunity employers already have you pegged at least that has been my life story. Unless you’re a Stephen Hawking or even a Elon Musk your are screwed. If you are a women you have an opportunity to marry up. From my experience unless you first become famous , have an excellent career, military service or went to the right schools then disclose your challenges you may have a chance. Otherwise good luck fighting all the way and most cases either get ready to scrub floors , be on social security or in my case get ready ever few years look for employers to offer you separation packages.

15. AnonymousJune 1,2025 at 10:58PM UTC

    Haven’t you heard? Diversity and Equity are no longer recognized as deserving of consideration..elections have consequences!

16. AnonymousJune 2,2025 at 10:52AM UTC

    Your experience isn't the same in all companies. Bring awareness to your leaders, bring trainings, articles, bring education. Go to them with a plan and how it will bring value to the end user, maybe it will attract neuro-divergent customers, you may not know it, but that's okay. Present it, own it, be a part of the conversation. They don't know what they don't know. Don't buy into that DEI is to no longer be recognized, don't go down that road. BRING this forward. Easier said than done, I get it. Great a support group within your own work community, peers who may also be experiencing challenges, strength in numbers. DO NOT focus on DEI, focus on the value it to attrition, focus on people work for people. You are empowered.

17. AnonymousJune 2,2025 at 12:32PM UTC

    As a 60-year-old who still hasn’t found work in over 10 years, please explain to me how age is honored in the workplace?!

18. AyianJune 2,2025 at 12:40PM UTC

    Some jobs do value neurodoversity, but they are more often in the nonprofit sector. Neurodoversity is often excluded or limited in expression in for profit models due to ableism and a lack of adequate legal protections. Due to our recent losses in legal protections of protected classes, it may be quite some time before we see any tangible progress on neurospicy folk in the workplace.

19. AnonymousJune 2,2025 at 12:45PM UTC

    I'd argue that age is not honored as a diversity element, but on neurodiversity...even before the recent edicts from the new US regime, an employer as large and influential as the United States Air Force was quietly not recognizing neurodiversity such as dyslexia and not providing either a supportive environment or accommodations to help. In an instance I'm aware of, a dyslexic employee was let go because the immediate line manager would neither acknowledge or work with the condition. He went so far as to have it defined as an 'illness'. He refused any move to transfer the employee to an area of work where they excelled and brought great credit to the USAF, and insisted that they work with the bete noire of the office, spread sheets and numbers. The employee was let go with little fanfare and higher officials just did not want to know and ignored the whole situation. This nasty and ignorant line manager, who made a practice of assassinating employees he didn't like and was incompetent himself, is still employed by the USAF.

20. AnonymousJune 3,2025 at 8:02AM UTC

    Wow.

21. AnonymousJune 3,2025 at 8:02AM UTC

    Do you have any other examples from the airforce?

22. AnonymousJune 2,2025 at 1:14PM UTC

    The company where I work does count neurodiversity as a DEI characteristic, so there are places that already do this. What specific outcomes are you looking for at your employer when you say "honored in the workplace"? If it's accommodations, then that's an HR issue not a diversity issue, and can require your doctor to fill out medical forms. If it's creating employee networking groups, then why not be the one to offer to start the group at your workplace?

23. AnonymousJune 2,2025 at 5:25PM UTC

    This is a loaded question. You need to understand that all diversity enjoy varying degrees of visibility and can also be "unfairly" ignored or not considered. So this is a bit of bait. To have a serious conversation we would need to look at which aspects of diversity you are referring to that enjoy honor because I'm not seeing it. It is highly specific to industry and company.

24. AnonymousJune 2,2025 at 7:45PM UTC

    How do you define honored?

25. AnonymousAugust 17,2025 at 2:15PM UTC

    In big tech, white males who behave badly in the workplace and get called into HR can get out of any situation by saying they have autism or ADHD

26. AnonymousAugust 25,2025 at 8:27PM UTC

    That behavior is awful and is insulting on so many levels.