KATHERINE MCCORD

NEURODIVERSITY: THE CATALYST TO INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY

KATHERINE MCCORD

COO: THE OCTOPUS MOVEMENT

The human mind is a wonderland of potential and possibility. The neurodiverse community is the epitome of this truth.

Neurodiversity, a term originally coined by Australian Sociologist Judy Singer to communicate that neuro difference does not mean deficit, has evolved to describe a medically visible or diagnosable difference in how the brain processes information or stimuli (think ADHD, Autism, Dyspraxia, and even Epilepsy) and still very much reflects Ms. Singer’s theology that differences and disabilities are not deficits.

Yes, disability and even hardships can derive from neurodiversity, but that is not the full story. In fact, the scientific community agrees and is starting to find links between neurodiversity and exceptional abilities, even human evolution!

PLOS Genetics and Harvard Medical School have found genetic evidence that Autism, and possibly other neurodiversities, are linked to the same genetic factors that cause human evolution, separating us from other primate species, as well as higher intelligence. Other neurodiversities produce valuable benefits as well. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder for instance has, among other talents, been found to generate the ability to create nearly infinite scenarios, offering the ability to nearly see into the future and design and plan accordingly. Dyslexia is known to breed excellent spatial thinking and creativity. Tourette Syndrome and the self care surrounding the condition can cause strong cognitive control. Bipolar Mania states allow for super human production and creativity. The benefits of neurodiversity go on and even include: strong empathy, hyper focus, 3D planning and modeling, artistic traits, etc. Each individual is unique, but each possess their own gifts.

Now, take these remarkable traits and apply them to science, technology, medicine, inclusion, innovation, and sustainability. Imagine the electric effects!

Interestingly, we are not limited to our imagination. The greatest human advances have already come from within the neurodiverse community.

Albert Einstein, Alan Turing, Benjamin Banneker, Heddy Lamar, Bill Gates, and Stephen

Hawking were (or are) all neurodiverse or suspected as neurodiverse based on later review of symptoms. Even famous creators such as Satoshi Tajiri, Mozart, Will Smith, and Gina Davis and creative entrepreneurs such as Richard Branson and Jessica Alba are part of the community. Wherever there is growth, innovation, or invention neurodiversity is present.

HOW DO WE FIND AND CULTIVATE THIS TALENT?

It may surprise you to learn that per the CDC, approximately 20% of the world’s population has some form of neurodiversity. Some estimates, through accumulative data, suggest even higher numbers, nearing 30%. The neurodiverse talent pool is prevalent! Yet, according to the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics and similar data from the BBC, approximately 7.6% of this community cannot find employment, and another 50% or so cannot find full time work.

HOW CAN THIS BE?

The answer is simple. The hiring and professional systems have not been designed for them.

For example, as a People Operations Consultant I frequently hear managers, HR, and even interview coaches across the globe talk about the importance of eye contact during interviews.

This always causes my heart to sink. Eye contact can be very difficult for people in the disability and neurodiverse communities.

Diagnosis from Autism to Epilepsy and Cerebral Palsy can make maintaining eye contact uncomfortable or even impossible for individuals. Because society teaches that eye contact is part of reliability and trust, these candidates are then deemed, even if unconsciously, untrustworthy, and thus lose the opportunity. There are countless examples of similar problems throughout the professional realm.

I once had an executive announce to me in a networking Zoom call that they would never hire a person with Bipolar. Now, this was particularly amusing to me as I have a Bipolar diagnosis and this person had tried to hire me on a previous occasion. I asked why they said this, and they replied, “they are dangerous and erratic. You cannot trust them with your brand.” I smiled and said, “and yet you tried to hire me…” Their jaw dropped. Priceless. I then proceeded to educate them about why what they said was incorrect and harmful. They didn’t change, but others in that meeting did.

The system and society’s understanding of neurodiversity and disability are broken to the detriment not only of these communities, but to society itself. Without these wonderful, out-of-the-box individuals, we would still be cave people.

How do we fix the problem? … Simple!... We fix it by utilizing neurodiversity!

Several years ago when I was working to revolutionize HR Technology. I held a focus group to and one attendee, Mervyn Kennedy-MacFoy, asked to submit his feedback at a later time. I assumed that he was busy, and agreed. Two days later, I got an email from Mervyn. It was full of data, charts, graphs, and brilliant ideas that resulted in a whole new inclusion-based feature for the technology which he, without any prompting, designed! I asked him about it, and he said, “I want to be part of the solution. Inclusion takes all of us.” I offered him equity and he joined the team.

Jes, a remarkable young woman from Malaysia, saw people in the Bipolar and mental health community struggling. Having read and personally found that laughter and performance could be strong healing tools, she founded Bipolar Comedy Club, a first of its kind with wonderful results.

The neurodiverse community is the solution to these predicaments of lack of inclusion and limited innovation, and many, many more. As a society, we must simply learn to respond with curiosity, not ego, to gain the full potential of neurodiversity. This means not taking questions of “why?” or expressions of need as threat or insult, but instead as opportunities to grow, expand, and include. This simple adjustment gives room for others, of all communities, to participate and launch us to greatness.

The human mind is ripe with potential. Let us run towards that potential, embracing and encouraging neurodiversity!

Different is not a deficit. It’s a superpower.