Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2025

Neurodiversity Celebration Week (17 – 23 March 2025) is a time to recognise and celebrate the unique strengths and contributions of neurodivergent individuals. It’s also an opportunity for Trade Unions & employers to raise awareness, promote understanding and celebrate differences.

We are raising awareness of the fact that there are 24 free of charge open to all online events for Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2025. The events cover key topics of neurodiversity, with the aim to educate and inspire.
2025 Events Schedule | Neurodiversity Celebration Week

Supporting CWU members in the workplace

Whilst lots of neurodivergent people would not consider themselves disabled; it could be that nonetheless they meet the wide definition of “disability” under the Equality Act 2010. The definition covers non-visible, mental impairments where they have a substantial and long-term adverse effect on a person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.

The most simple and straightforward reasonable adjustments can (and often do) make a massive difference to neurodivergent colleagues in their workplaces.

• Flexible working schedules – to accommodate energy levels and focus times
  Quiet rooms or Quiet spaces or noise-cancelling headphones – for sensory-sensitive employees
• Clear communication styles, using the ‘Show me – tell me’ Approach to training can bring benefit to both the Employee and Employer.
• Personalised sensory profiles – allowing employees to specify environmental preferences and other support needs.

Dyspraxia

Dyspraxia is a neurodivergent condition that affects how the mind processes actions. It usually affects coordination, manual dexterity, movement, balance & organisational abilities. Dyspraxia can affect adults and children across a range of intellectual abilities and is a lifelong condition. It is a common disorder. It is thought that around 6% of the population have dyspraxia, which equates to Approximately 1.6 million workers in the UK, with many workers being severely impacted by the condition. Yet, despite it being as prevalent as dyslexia and significantly more so than autism, dyspraxia is much less well known about. Colleagues with Dyspraxia will often face unnecessary barriers whilst at work because of having this condition and often face unconscious bias.

Driving & learning new skills is often taken for granted but is more difficult for someone with Dyspraxia, if unnecessary work barriers remain there becomes higher risk of developing mental health problems, which can include anxiety, depression, and social withdrawal.

What causes Dyspraxia? There is no known cause, however you may be more likely to develop it if you were born prematurely. The condition is also more common in men and often runs in families.

Recently updated ACAS guidance can be accessed via the link below
Making your organisation neuroinclusive – Neurodiversity at work – ACAS