Workplace neurodiversity training is stuck at 'awareness', says psychologist Dr Amanda Mullin
- Written by: Business Daily Media
- Published in PR Newswire
Dr Mullin, founder of Mindworx Psychology and workplace training brand Think Differently, has worked with HR, learning and development and leadership teams at organisations including KPMG, Adobe, ACMA and Woolworths.
She says too much workplace neurodiversity training still focuses on awareness, posters and one-off staff sessions, without addressing what managers need to do differently in their day-to-day work. It was the conversations that followed her own awareness sessions that showed her where organisations get stuck - often raising questions about why a high-performing employee might also struggle with communication difficulties or team conflict.
"Awareness is only the starting point. The real question is what happens on Monday morning when a manager has a neurodivergent employee in their team," Dr Mullin said.
"Do they know how to communicate clearly, structure meetings differently, provide useful feedback and make reasonable adjustments?
"That is where organisations need to focus their training."
"They haven't suddenly become less capable — the demands have changed, and the support may need to change too." Dr Mullin, who has ADHD herself, created Think Differently to translate psychological expertise into practical workplace strategies, including how meetings are structured, how instructions are communicated and how performance is managed.
Her programs are designed for HR and leadership teams, with the aim of giving managers skills they can apply immediately.
Dr Amanda Mullin won Gold Awards for thought leader of the year and wellbeing business of the year at the Ausmumpreneur Awards.
