Designing for neurodiversity in the workplace

A new report from global architecture firm HOK highlights a growing awareness regarding "neurodiversity" in the workforce and offers design strategies for creating workplaces that cater to and facilitate the spatial needs of neurodiverse individuals.  According to the report, "'Neurodiversity' refers to the natural range of variation in human neurocognition. It’s an umbrella term for people who aren’t neurotypical, and includes such conditions as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, dyspraxia (a neurologically based physical disorder) and Tourette syndrome, among others. Approximately 15-20 percent of people are 'neurodivergent.'" The firm's report argues that adapting workplaces to the the needs of neurodiverse communities not only helps individuals thrive in the workplace, but that "accommodating the different wiring of neurodiverse people can provide a huge competitive advantage" for businesses due to the fact that, according ...