It is estimated that around 1 in 7 people (more than 15% of people in the UK) are neurodivergent. Despite a greater understanding of neurodiversity amongst employers, progress is slow and uneven. For example, only 16% of autistic adults are in full-time employment, despite 77% saying they want to work.

In this session, James Scott from the Security and Online Harms directorate will talk about his experiences of being a neurodivergent member of the Civil Service. He will also set out the challenges still facing neurodivergent people in the workforce today, the benefits of greater neurodiversity in a team, and the steps that we as an organisation can take to improve neurodiverse representation, particularly at a senior level.

After James's presentation, Jess Gosling from the Arts, Heritage and Tourism Directorate and her Directorate's D&I Ambassador will join the session. Jess will be reflecting on having ADHD, dyslexia and anxiety and operating in three different departments in HMG. She will be sharing insights into how neurodiversity can affect people, misconceptions/unconscious bias around being neurodiverse as well as the experience of going through diagnosis as an adult.

Contact james.scott@dcms.gov.uk for more information. If there is anything we can do to make the event more accessible to you please let us know!