Designing for Neurodiversity: A Human-Centered Approach for HR

Welcome & Framing

You will begin with a concise overview of neurodiversity in the workplace, exploring the barriers neurodivergent individuals often encounter during hiring, onboarding, and performance management. We will introduce the core principles of design thinking and show how empathy and rapid prototyping can transform HR processes.

Empathy Exercise

Working in small teams, you will step into the shoes of three distinct personas—a software developer on the autism spectrum, a dyslexic graphic designer, and an ADHD project manager. Through guided discussion, you will uncover the specific challenges each profile faces within conventional HR systems and workplace cultures.

Defining the Challenge

Your group will translate those insights into “How Might We…” questions, such as:

How might we design an onboarding experience that accommodates sensory sensitivities?

How might we reshape performance reviews to honor diverse communication styles?

Ideate & Prototype

With clear challenges in hand, you will brainstorm bold, creative solutions—no idea is too ambitious. After pooling your best concepts, each team will choose one to sketch or describe as a quick prototype, whether it’s a visual onboarding guide, a flexible interview framework, or a multi-modal feedback tool.

Share & Reflect

Each group will present its prototype and engage in structured feedback using the “I like / I wish / What if…” format. You will reflect together on how these concepts could be piloted, measured, and refined in real-world HR settings.

Wrap-Up & Next Steps

We will close by inviting you to select one inclusive idea to pilot immediately within your organization. You will leave with practical resources for further learning, a clear action plan, and a peer-driven community ready to support your next steps.