Module 3: Business Case for Inclusion

Learning Objectives

By the end of this module, the learners are expected to be able to accomplish the following:

Appraise unique and distinctive qualities of neurodivergent individuals

Gain a concrete understanding of the advantages to productivity brought by neurodiversity inclusion

Evaluate the advantages of neurodiversity inclusion to their business and workforce

Assess the prospective legal and financial incentives of neurodiversity inclusion

Neurodiversity at Work

Contrary to popular notions, neurodiversity presents unique competitive advantages both financially and in terms of workplace culture. Talents associated with neurodivergence include exceptional ability to spot patterns, increased creativity, problem-solving skills, and memory. People with dyslexia, for example, tend to have strong problem-solving and spatial reasoning capabilities, while individuals on the autistic spectrum can excel in areas like rule-based thinking.

Employers who hire neurodivergent employees note them for exhibiting loyalty, timeliness, and for offering innovative perspectives to improve policies and procedures that can increase a company's net income. They also reportthat their neurodiverse teams come out more effective and productive than those without neurodiverse representation.

Productivity Assessments

A study conducted in 2020 assessed the productivity of neurodivergent employees in a Philippine drug store company. The results of the study show that their productivity is equivalent to other employees. An objective comparison of task times between neurodivergent employees and their coworkers showed no significant difference. Their disability does not affect their performance if the right tasks are given to them.

Furthermore, the supervisors of the observed participants noted that they are rarely absent and show a lot of interest in coming to work, often coming in early for the job. As employment opportunities are hard to come by for them, they appreciate the chance given to them by the company and champion this forward to their friends and family.