Neurodiversity in Practice

 

 

Neurodivergent people can face barriers at every stage of their journey, from education and training, through preparing for employment, to being in the workplace. 

 

Those barriers are generally not caused by a lack of ability or potential. They arise because environments, expectations and communication do not always take different ways of thinking, processing information and working into account. 

 

Neurodiversity in Practice is our practical workshop series designed for the people who can make a difference. 

 

Rather than focusing heavily on labels or diagnosis, our workshops explore what neurodiversity can actually look like in everyday situations, where misunderstandings can occur and what professionals can do differently. 

 

Each workshop is tailored to its setting, using realistic scenarios, practical activities and strategies that participants can apply straight away. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A learner who appears disengaged may be overwhelmed. Someone who continually misses instructions may be struggling to process them. A learner who is regularly late, disorganised or unable to meet deadlines may be experiencing barriers that are not immediately visible. 

 

Without the right understanding, these behaviours can easily be interpreted as a lack of effort, poor attitude or unwillingness to engage. 

 

This workshop helps education and training professionals look beyond the behaviour and consider what might be happening underneath it, while still maintaining appropriate expectations and boundaries. 

 

 

Explore neurodiversity and how common neurodivergent profiles, including ADHD, autism and dyslexia, may present in adult education and training. 

 

Explore behaviours that can easily be misinterpreted and consider the impact this can have on engagement, confidence, progression and retention. 

 

Develop practical approaches for supporting different processing needs, communication preferences and ways of engaging with learning. 

 

Consider how to respond when behaviour, communication or engagement becomes difficult, without immediately assuming that the learner simply "won't" participate. 

 

Explore practical adjustments that can remove unnecessary barriers while maintaining the integrity and expectations of the programme. 

 

Whether you work in further education, private training, apprenticeships, healthcare, construction, beauty or another adult learning environment, this workshop will help you understand your learners better and create more opportunities for them to succeed. 

 

 

 

 

 

Appointments missed. Forms unfinished. Job applications started but never submitted. Someone who talks confidently one week but appears completely overwhelmed the next. 

 

When supporting people towards employment, it can be easy to interpret these behaviours as a lack of motivation, commitment or willingness to engage. 

 

Sometimes, something very different is happening. 

 

This workshop is designed for work coaches, employment advisers, careers professionals, employability tutors, support workers and anyone helping people overcome barriers and move towards work. 

 

It explores how neurodivergence can affect communication, organisation, executive functioning, confidence, job searching, applications, interviews and engagement with employment support. 

 

 

Explore how ADHD, autism, dyslexia and other neurodivergent differences may affect someone's experience of employment support and their journey towards work. 

 

Consider what may sit behind missed appointments, unfinished actions, difficulty following plans, inconsistent engagement or reluctance to participate. 

 

Explore practical ways to make conversations, instructions, appointments and action plans clearer and more accessible. 

 

Consider how to provide the right level of structure and support while encouraging independence, confidence and ownership. 

 

Explore practical ways to support neurodivergent participants with CVs, applications, interviews, job searching and preparation for the workplace. 

 

The aim is to help employability professionals recognise potential barriers, avoid unnecessary misunderstandings and adapt their approach so that more people have a genuine opportunity to progress. 

 

 

 

 

 

A member of staff may be excellent at their job but struggle with changing priorities. Another may communicate very directly, become overwhelmed in meetings or need instructions presented differently. Someone else may appear disorganised despite working incredibly hard to keep everything together. 

 

Without an understanding of neurodiversity, differences like these can quickly become performance, conduct or relationship issues. 

 

And sometimes, they never needed to. 

 

This workshop helps managers and employers understand neurodiversity in the workplace and develop practical approaches to communication, management and inclusion. 

 

 

Explore how ADHD, autism, dyslexia and other neurodivergent differences may affect communication, organisation, concentration, sensory processing and working practices. 

 

Consider how neurodivergent traits can sometimes be interpreted as poor attitude, lack of commitment, difficult behaviour or underperformance. 

 

Develop practical strategies for giving instructions, setting expectations, providing feedback, managing workload and holding effective conversations. 

 

Explore the purpose of reasonable adjustments, the importance of individual conversations and practical examples of adjustments that may help remove workplace barriers. 

 

Consider how everyday management practices, rather than expensive or complicated interventions, can make work more accessible for different people. 

 

This workshop is designed to build confidence rather than make managers frightened of saying or doing the wrong thing. 

 

Participants leave with a better understanding of neurodiversity, practical strategies they can use with their teams and greater confidence in having constructive conversations with neurodivergent employees. 

 

 

 

Someone's neurodivergence does not disappear when they leave education, start looking for work or get their first job, but the barriers they experience can change. 

 

That's why Neurodiversity in Practice is available in three versions, each designed around the real situations professionals encounter in their own setting: 

 

Education – supporting people to learn and achieve. 

 

Employment Support – supporting people to move towards and into work. 

 

The Workplace – supporting people to thrive once they're there. 

 

All three workshops are practical, interactive and focused on what participants can actually do differently after the training. 

 

 

Neurodiversity in Practice can be delivered for organisations and teams, with examples and activities tailored to your sector and working environment. 

 

 

Contact The EMG to discuss your organisation, your team and which Neurodiversity in Practice workshop is right for you.