How do you support and be an ally for neurodivergent colleagues? Many people think that in order to support others, we must use some overcomplicated theories that aren't always the most genuine. The best way to support anyone, especially a neurodivergent colleague or peer who has voluntarily self-identified their condition, is to ask them, "how can I support you?" Open dialogue is the best means of communication.

Key Points to Support Neurodivergent Colleagues

1. Open Dialogue: The best way to support them is to help them assimilate into normal workplace culture. Ask them directly how you can support them.
2. Befriend Them: Get them into your friend group, hang out with them one-on-one, and make them feel included. This helps others see that they are socially accepted.
3. Offer Reasonable Accommodations: Ask if there are any accommodations they need.
4. Promote Inclusion: Get executive leadership to buy in and have signs and murals of inclusion in your workplace to show that your organization values inclusion.

Understanding Strengths and Weaknesses

It's important to recognize that everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. For instance, those with Autism Spectrum Disorder are usually more detail-oriented and better at executing business deals because they don't get caught up in emotional details and can read through people who might be deceptive.

Conclusion

We all have our strengths and weaknesses, and it's important that we band together to support one another. I hope you enjoyed some of these ways to support our neurodivergent colleagues in the workplace. Thank you so much for watching, and as always, please let me know if you need any clarification in the comments. Have a nice day.