I once had an old boss who told me that the company loved my skills but not my “crazy”. Fun times. Don’t be my old boss. Read this article and you are already setting yourself up to foster diversity and innovation a lot more than he ever could. I noticed that every time inclusivity comes up, conditions like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) aren’t really discussed. Here are a few resources to help you get started. Who knows, maybe in a few years, I will be able to review tneurodiversity-ux-and-accessibility-resources-to-help-you-get-startedhis introduction
ADHD brains function, learn, and process information in distinctive ways
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affects millions of people worldwide. Stéphanie Walter shared some cute slides on Twitter that do a great job at portraying and explaining the different aspects of ADHD. Balancing high-pressure tasks with a brain that craves novelty and easily becomes overwhelmed is a lot. But through trial and error, you can find ways to harness the unique and valuable perspective and solutions ADHD folks can conjure up.
Work, dopamine and success
Yes, ADHD is qualified as a disability but it’s far from being all doom and gloom. Famous entrepreneurs turned their neurodiversity into an asset. The Talented Ladies Club highlights six well-known neurodivergent entrepreneurs.
Neurodiversity in the workplace
Neurodiversity in the Workplace part 1 covers everything from the challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals in traditional hiring processes to the benefits of inclusive practices for all employees.
Biases related to eye contact, attire, voice quality, and adherence to social norms often result in ADHD folks not getting the job. I trained myself as a child, at the age of 6 to be specific, to hold eye contact. I don’t like it, but I quickly caught on that this was a must for me to survive school. Now, I let my eyeballs do their thing when I talk because I carved out a career where I can. Not everyone has that privilege and I hope this can help you hire more folks like me. Here is a site to help neurodivergent folks find jobs Unique job site can help neurodivergent people find meaningful work
Now, let’s go back to part 2 of the Neurodiversity in the Workplace series. It goes into how you can offer accommodations for neurodivergent folks in your company, why you should do so, and what you can gain from it. Hint: Building for ADHD will make your product better for everyone
A survival guide if you work in technical marketing
Hannah Brady’s article ADHDSEOWTF: How to Do SEO With ADHD is a great read. Navigating the demands of a career in SEO can be challenging, especially when your brain is wired to resist the very tasks required to thrive. Whether you're a freelance SEO specialist, an in-house content writer, or a tech SEO, Hannah’s candid advice can help you thrive in your role without burning out.
Penninah Jones's talk from the UXinsight conference explores the harmful effects of current research methods on neurodivergent professionals and suggests solutions. She makes a compelling case for more accessible UX industry standards. With disorders like ADHD and Autism being underdiagnosed, it's crucial to adapt research processes and practices to be inclusive.
Here are some more links you should check out
How to Recruit and Onboard Neurodivergent People by Jennifer Riggins
The link between ADHD and dopamine – Medical News Today
ADHD Focusing & Motivation Strategies... That Actually Work by Alina Kislenko on Udemy
Reaching ADHD folks
Accessible text: tips for copy pros and amateurs
A study found that a whopping 77% of those in the marketing industry display four or more ADHD symptoms. This means that a lot of marketers are creating content that is already accessible to folks with similar brain wirings. Want to really make sure you match the vibes? Here’s a beginner's guide to accessible text. I promise it’s 10 minutes well spent. You’ll find actionable tips to help make text more accessible for humans, including ADHD folks.
How to be an inclusive conference speaker
There’s a book for speakers to make more inclusive talks available at https://inklusiv.ca/personas/. I was interviewed to help create it.
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