Neurodiversity training and awareness are becoming more common in workplaces than ever before. It brings understanding, empathy, and a more inclusive environment. However, there is more to neurodiversity than what can be read in a brochure.
The best teachings come from the people behind the writings. That is why it can be so impactful to bring a neurodivergent speaker to your workplace. This is a significant reason I provide speaking and education workshops to workplaces.
There are many benefits to hearing from me rather than passing a booklet around.
You’ll Hear First-Hand Experience
While traditional education can help you and your team understand terminology and situations, there is nothing more impactful in neurodiversity education than first-hand knowledge and lived experience. Bringing in a speaker like me brings an extra level of knowledge, understanding, and perspective that you might not get otherwise.
If you want to learn about creating a neuroinclusive workplace, talk to neurodivergent people. We can speak from experience, talk personally about stereotyping and stigmas, and show that inclusivity is for everyone, not just us.
It Moves Away From Textbook Training
I advocate for workplaces to get neurodiversity and inclusivity training, however they can. If that means working with textbooks, videos, and booklets, then it is okay. Training and education in itself is better than none at all. However, words on a page can only bring so much understanding to the real world and the people living in it.
Moving away from textbook training by bringing in a speaker and educator brings a whole new level of education that you would not get otherwise. At the end of the day, you are educating yourself on people, people that are likely already on your teams, and the best way to learn about people is from people.
Questions Can Be Answered Then and There
Neurodiversity and inclusivity training is going to open a lot of cans of worms. Your team members (and likely yourself) are going to have questions. A lot of the time, you might not have those answers, and the answers might not be in the booklets.
That is why having a speaker and educator present, like myself, can be extremely beneficial. Not only can we bring personal experience and perspective to the workplace, but we are there to answer questions. I would rather answer a room full of questions from people who genuinely want to learn and better their workplaces than to read from a textbook.
Awareness and Impact Are Visualized
For some, learning about something can be challenging if it is just words on a page. Neurodiversity is all about supporting all ways of intaking information. Some might not understand neurodiversity, the challenges people face, or the impact the training has just by reading. It could take an extra step.
Having a physical person there, a neurodivergent individual, to speak and educate can make neurodiversity awareness more prominent and bring a substantial impact to those in the workplace. Having a knowledgeable individual in front of you can make a world of difference.
So, What’s Stopping You?
Education is the first step towards awareness and change. If your goal is to create a more inclusive workplace, it could be time to bring in a neurodivergent speaker and educator like me. Whether you reach out to me or another neurodivergent individual, the impact you will bring to your present and future workplace will be great. Sometimes, all you need to do is make that first step.
I would love to come speak at your workplace, help raise awareness, answer questions, and educate about neurodiversity. If you are curious about what this looks like for your workplace, don’t be afraid to message me or contact me at my website, Haley Moss.