It is estimated more than 15% of people in the workplace have a neurodiverse condition such as ADHD or autism. And a recent survey found that three-quarters of employees hide their dyslexia at work.
Neurodiverse conditions such as autism, ADHD and dyslexia can result in staff absenteeism. This, in turn, impacts productivity within a small to medium company, as well as affecting staff morale.
Perfect Support’s Joe Best: “Our sessions help employees to develop successful coping strategies and improve performance”
How Perfect Support helps
Perfect Support offers workplace wellbeing coaching strategies by coaches and assessors who are working towards the right solution for the employee’s needs and assist in helping them stay productive in their working environment.
Possible solutions range from introducing the right hardware, such as an ergonomic chair or keyboard or assistive technology, through to one-to-one support (Strategy Coaching) – all tailored to help managers identify and facilitate neurodiverse needs among their team.
Changing corporate attitudes around awareness is the mission behind Perfect Support, which has a network of 14 coaches across a wealth of specialisms. These include ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, autism, bipolar disorder, stress, anxiety, depression and grief.
Statutory requirements for children, not adults
Perfect Support’s Joe Best says: “Although the process of an autism diagnosis for a child is difficult, once in place there are statutory requirements from the government and education bodies that ensure they receive the care and support they need.
“For an adult, the opposite is the case. The diagnosis process may be easier, but once it’s in place there are no statutory requirements for the support of that adult.
“Furthermore, if they are in the workplace it can be difficult to find the right support that is tailored specifically for them.”
He adds: “This is where Strategy Coaching comes in. The Strategy Coach will work directly with the client, firstly to identify their role, and then their strengths and difficulties for completing that role. Ultimately, they will then provide practical and realistic strategies for that client to implement in their role.”
Significant benefits for organisations
A recent report by Lancaster University and commissioned by Perfect Support, states: “Ensuring neurodiversity among a workforce can bring significant benefits for organisations.
“Dyslexic individuals, for example, are inherently creative, think ‘outside the box’ and are great at seeing patterns in ‘big data’, all valuable skills for any workplace. For this reason, people with dyslexia are increasingly being sought by employers. Companies are having recruitment drives aimed specifically at people with dyslexia.”
Shockingly low numbers
Many autistic people are able and willing to work, yet the numbers who are employed are shockingly low: only 29% of autistic people are in full or part-time employment, even though the vast majority want to work.
Perfect Support coaches particularly concentrate on issues around memory skills, time management and personal organisation by playing to their own strengths.
Joe explains: “People are struggling in the workplace, and it’s not their fault. If they’ve got a neurodiverse condition, they can still do that job, they just need a bit of guidance. Our sessions help employees to develop successful coping strategies and improve performance.
“We also investigate the benefits of a neurodiverse workforce, helping everyone to acknowledge and realise the positive impact that diversity has on productivity, creativity, and achievement of workplace targets. Each session is specific to the individual, improving processes to manage the fluctuating nature of these conditions.”
Better understanding
He adds: “Participants will develop a better understanding of the challenges that can be faced by neurodivergent individuals in the workplace, by appreciating more about each condition and learning about the experiences of someone with them.
“Our coaches and assessors will explore tools and interventions to support neurodiverse colleagues, alongside steps that can be taken to make interactions and environments more accommodating. This means their experiences at work are more positive and rewarding and their skills appreciated and recognised.
“We believe our cost-effective programmes reduce both absenteeism and presenteeism, therefore improving productivity and profit for business.”
Find out more
For more information, visit: https://psupport.co.uk/
