Embracing Difference: Neurodiversity in the veterinary workplace
Recent data from the RCVS Chronic Illness and Disability Survey highlighted the large number of neurodivergent individuals and people living with chronic illness within the veterinary professions.
Neurodiversity for Veterinary Leaders
Helen Allwood, The Vet Project
Helen Allwood will provide an introduction to neurodiversity for leaders. You will learn about neurodiversity, what it is and some useful terminology around it.
Reasonable Adjustment Requirements and Requests
Kirstie Pickles, Unedited Minds
Employers have legal responsibilities to provide reasonable adjustments for disabled workers. However, employees are often unsure of the process, and there is little guidance regarding reasonable adjustments in the clinical veterinary environment. Additionally, adult-diagnosed neurodivergent individuals are often unsure of what accommodations to request since they have lived without accommodations for so long. This session will outline employers’ legal requirements and the process of requesting reasonable adjustments, with particular reference to neurodivergent individuals.
Building Neurodiverse Teams That Thrive
Mark Gill, Goddard Veterinary Group
Explore the transformative power of embracing neurodiversity in the workplace. This presentation advocates for creating inclusive environments where individuals with diverse neurological backgrounds can excel. By acknowledging and accommodating differences in thinking styles, communication preferences, and problem-solving approaches, organisations can unlock a wealth of innovation and creativity. This session offers practical strategies for fostering collaboration, understanding, and respect within neurodiverse teams.
Olivia Anderson-Nathan, Affinity Futures, will chair the post-presentation Q&A session involving the contributors.
Learning outcomes
- Confidence to talk about neurodiversity with appropriate terminology.
- Understand employer responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010 and learn the types of reasonable adjustments possible in clinical practice.
- Practical actions you can take to build thriving neurodiverse teams.
