Neurodiversity at Work: A UK Employer Guide
What Is Neurodiversity?
Neurodiversity refers to the natural variation in human brain function and behaviour. The term encompasses:
- Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) โ approx. 1 in 100 people in the UK
- ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) โ approx. 4% of adults
- Dyslexia โ approx. 10% of the population
- Dyspraxia / Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) โ approx. 5%
- Dyscalculia โ approx. 3โ6%
- Tourette's Syndrome โ approx. 1 in 100
Estimates suggest 1 in 7 people (15%) in the UK is neurodivergent in some way. Many people are undiagnosed.
Legal Framework
Most neurodivergent conditions qualify as disabilities under the Equality Act 2010 if they have a substantial and long-term effect on day-to-day activities. This means:
- Reasonable adjustments are a legal duty, not a discretionary benefit
- Neurodivergent employees must not be treated less favourably because of their condition
- Indirect discrimination applies: a policy that disadvantages neurodivergent employees requires objective justification
ACAS Guidance: ACAS published updated neurodiversity at work guidance in 2023 (available at acas.org.uk).
Why It Matters for Business
Research from CIPD (2023) found: