The Inclusive Innovation Playbook

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Exploring Diversity

Neurodiversity

Explore unique needs and common solutions influenced by neurodiversity

What is neurodiversity?

When we speak of neurodiversity, we mean the variation in how different people perceive the world and respond to it. No one brain is the same, therefore how we all think, reason, process information, express emotion, is unique. There is no one style of cognitive functioning. For example, some people’s memory is much better served by learning with visual aids whereas others prefer using mnemonic devices.

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Some people’s neuro-profile adds up to a neurodevelopmental (or neurodivergent) condition, such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia or Tourette’s. Each of these conditions has some common traits but there is also a huge variation in traits’ manifestations, intensity and effect on the person’s life. Often neurodivergent conditions co-occur for people, as having one heightens the chance of also having another, and there is also a higher prevalence for mental health difficulties, like anxiety or depression.

Within the neurodivergent community, there is also a much higher percentage of people identifying as gender non-binary, as well as having a non-normative sexual identity/orientation, than in the non-neurodivergent population. This highlights the need for an

intersectional approach⁠

to diversity, taking into account the whole person and not just one of their identifiers.

For a long time, neurodivergence has been viewed from the lens of the medical model of disability. It sees the source of disablement in the differences people have due to their conditions and therefore seeks to treat or change them to adapt them to a societal “norm”. The social model, on the other hand, puts responsibility for change firmly into society’s hands. Seeking to understand the lived experiences of disabled or neurodivergent people, in order to design more inclusive solutions. While we are moving more and more to adopting the social model of disability as a society, we still have a long way to go, which is reflected in the official terminology that is still adopted, including words such as disorder and deficit.

Not only is it harmful and stigmatising to boil down neurodivergence to the challenges and barriers an individual might experience as a result, but it is also reductive. While we know that someone’s neuro-profile is unique and therefore it is wrong to generalise, there are some common cognitive traits that have consistently been found to be more prevalent in neurodivergent individuals. Some of the cognitive advantages associated with certain conditions include:

detail-orientation for autism,

creativity for ADHD,

visuospatial awareness for dyslexia

auditory and memory skills for dyspraxia.

Being able to approach a problem from a different angle, also called lateral thinking, is something that many neurodivergent people are exceptionally good at. And after all, finding unexpected and novel solutions to a problem lies at the heart of innovation.

As with understanding any form of diversity, lived experience is really important. For a long time, neurodivergent people were cut out from the discussion about themselves. Now thanks in part to the internet and in part to growing awareness and a changing Zeitgeist, the neurodivergent community is able to speak up for itself, tell its stories and share its experiences and the nuanced variety that lies within that. If possible, you should always seek feedback from neurodivergent colleagues and friends on anything you are trying to make accessible and inclusive to all.

Common challenges

Some of the challenges that neurodivergent people can face when interacting with digital products and services are common to other disabilities as well and have been covered in the previous chapter. Here below you can find some challenges that are commonly and more specifically encountered by neurodivergent users:

Language used: Vague and ambiguous language which is asking the user to infer things can be a real challenge for someone who is neurodivergent. This often becomes apparent in instructions.

Overwhelming visuals and auditory: Many digital products today use strong visual and auditory cues to battle for the attention of the user, but this can be challenging for neurodivergent individuals, as sensory sensitivities are common across the whole neurodivergence spectrum. It can cause extreme stress and anxiety that prevents them from using the technology. Non-inclusive design includes:

Automated playback, especially with no trigger warning and no control for the user.

Specific fonts and colours, often difficult for someone with dyslexia or Irlen’s syndrome.

Barriers build around the inability to change the font format and lack of integration with assistive technology apps.

Unclear setup and structure: non-user-friendly design often makes it difficult to navigate or work a product, which can be particularly difficult to deal with for neurodivergent users.

Large blocks of text with minimal formatting: This format of text is difficult to follow and get information from.

High-pressure interactions that require quick or immediate action: these can initiate the freeze response in many neurodivergent people and lead to high anxiety.

Lack of understanding of neurodevelopmental conditions: this can lead to involuntarily cutting out a whole subsection of potential users, while in other cases harmful stereotypes can actively cause discrimination. This may alienate not just your neurodivergent users but also allies who might boycott a non-inclusive brand.

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Feedback please⁠

: Let us know what other challenges people face because of neurodiversity.

Inclusive solutions

When thinking of how to create inclusive solutions for neurodivergent users, the key underlying design choices centre around simplicity, clarity and offering options. Many of the considerations discussed in the previous chapters work to enable users of all facets of diversity, including neurodiversity, but here are some examples of specifically neuroinclusive solutions:

Clear accessibility button to be able to change design features: Features that should have the option to change (not an exhaustive list):

Font – including serif, sans-serif,

OpenDyslexic⁠

Bionic Reading⁠

Background colours – light and dark mode,

Text colours

Contrast

Text size

Underline/highlight links

Text to voice

There are many different accessibility widgets that can be integrated into existing websites and software. See the

Accessibility Resources⁠

section for more details.

Clear, concise language with diagrams and pictures to aid understanding: For example, when a user needs to set something up, break the tasks down into small steps, number each step, provide screenshots/diagrams to show the step. Or, if describing a physical location, include information on how to get there with different transport options as well as pictures and information on what to expect when you arrive.

Reminders and prompts: Have options for notifications which are easy to enable/disable by the user. Minimise pop-up messages. Have clear ‘x’ buttons to close any pop-up information.

Clear, logical and consistent layout on how to find things: Ensure buttons are large enough to see easily and don’t require precise mouse movements.

Automated playback: Don’t automatically play sounds and videos. If you have this feature, use trigger warnings and make it very clear how to stop the playback.

Make visuals clear and high quality: Avoid pixelated images and make smooth animations, that are not too hectic. Add buffer time to process animations.

Variety of information formats: Use images, not just text, for universal design.

User testing: Applying across all identity dimensions, testing your products or services with as diverse a group as possible, including representation from people with various neurodivergent conditions, will inevitably bring up new issues and solutions that will ultimately make your tool accessible to a wider range of users.

Education on neurodiversity: Spreading awareness and understanding of neurodivergent conditions will lead to a higher sensitivity to potential challenges and solutions when designing a user interface or product.

Give people time to complete tasks: If there needs to be a time restraint, make the time available clear. Avoid using arbitrary time frames (i.e. this is how long it usually takes) and ensure the timeframe is realistic as a neurodivergent user may need more time. Also ask how long the person thinks it may take if they have done it before. Use precise times (e.g. 2 hours) rather than vague indiciations.

Reread your content for accessibility: before sending out content for production check for ambiguity and clarity. Imagine being the person reading it. Think 'am I being clear about what I want from the user and the interaction required of them?’

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Feedback please⁠

: Let us know what other inclusive solutions we should include.

What is neurodiversity?

Common challenges

Inclusive solutions

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