Neuroinclusion in Healthcare: Can Neurodiversity Accommodations Work?

Many professionals who work in high stress, fast paced and constantly changing environments believe that neurodiversity accommodations are simply not realistic in their workplace. Roles in healthcare, emergency services, social care and other complex settings are often seen as too unpredictable or pressured to allow for tailored support. As a result, neurodivergent employees may struggle in silence, assuming that disability adjustments are only suitable for desk based or highly structured roles.

This belief is understandable, but it is also mistaken.

At Genius Within, we consistently see that neurodiversity accommodations are not only possible in high stress environments, but can significantly improve performance, wellbeing and retention when they are thoughtfully designed and implemented.

To expand on this I spoke with Genius Within Psychologist and Researcher Clare Mottram who has recently been working to create a version of the Genius Finder platform specifically for healthcare professionals.

This misconception about accommodations often stems from a narrow view of what accommodations look like. Many people imagine adjustments as rigid, one size fits all solutions such as reduced workloads or fixed routines. In reality, effective neurodiversity support is flexible, practical and deeply tailored to the individual and their working context. This actually makes the practise particularly well suited to dynamic environments rather than incompatible with them.

Healthcare is a perfect case study. Clinical settings are unpredictable by nature. Priorities change rapidly, workloads fluctuate and staff are expected to process complex information while managing emotional and physical demands. These conditions may amplify challenges for neurodivergent professionals, presenting issues that need a work around. Neurodivergent professionals also have a multitude of strengths, however, that make them ideal team members for these kinds of challenges. We don’t want to be in a situation where we are losing strong people from the talent pool simply because we couldn’t find the right strategy to accommodate them.

Genius Within has worked with a wide range of healthcare professionals including doctors, nurses, paramedics, therapists and managers. Through this work, we have seen first-hand that meaningful accommodations do not need to disrupt patient care or operational demands. Instead, they can be seamlessly embedded into existing systems and practices.

I asked Clare to share some examples from her research, she said:

“We worked with Birkbeck University to conduct a 12-month research project to better understand the suitability of the Genius Finder in its existing form and how we could enhance it to better meet the needs of healthcare clients. We conducted a range of methods, including surveys, interviews and workshops, both before and after to ensure that our customised strategies had hit the mark.

One of the key updates we made was a response to the lack of quiet spaces available for some of the roles. the types of examples that were shared included trying to find cupboards to make notes and calls and finding that they were already taken!

Where we would usually encourage someone to find a corner desk out of the way or a quiet meeting room, instead we worked with what was available and suggested standing with your back to a wall to reduce the field of distractions by 180 degrees.

Another update was ensuring timely patient care and highlighting the need to respond swiftly in some scenarios, whilst encouraging people to ask for thinking time when the situation permitted.”

Crucially, these strategies are not generic. They make sense in this particular environment but might not make sense elsewhere.

Genius Within specialises in understanding both the neurodivergent profile of the individual and the realities of their role. We often discover that people already have their simple tips and tricks they’ve been doing secretly that we can expand on and share with others that could benefit. By working collaboratively with employees and organisations, we can design solutions that fit the context rather than forcing the context to change.

Clare told us about some of the responses we have received from healthcare professionals during the rounds of refinement:

“The first round of feedback highlighted that whilst the Genius Finder is seen to be a valuable tool, some of the strategies were less suitable for some healthcare roles. The environments themselves are often difficult to change such as lighting, heat, and sounds. In addition, there are often constraints such as policies and procedures to be followed, mobile working, paperwork demands and the understandable need to put patient safety first. Given the variance in say clerical, patient facing and blue light (A&E and paramedic) roles, more niche wording was needed to help the strategies resonate.

Whilst we had fewer responses to the ‘after’ research, the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. All respondents reported feeling confident to implement the updated strategies and that the healthcare version would have a positive impact on their wellbeing and performance. They would all recommend it other NHS staff.

The client shared a really powerful comment from one individual who said that it was a really valuable tool to help all employees. It empowers people to advocate for their strengths and needs, to start a dialogue around change and to facilitate their personal growth in a demanding environment.”

 In healthcare settings where staff are under immense pressure, tailored neurodiversity strategies can lead to improved confidence, better judgement, increased productivity and reduced burnout. Many professionals report feeling more in control of their workload and better able to use their strengths, even when conditions are demanding.

There is also a broader organisational benefit. When neurodivergent staff are properly supported, teams function more effectively. Communication improves, knowledge is retained and costly turnover is reduced. Rather than being a risk, neurodiversity becomes an asset, even in the most challenging environments.

The idea that high stress, variable workplaces cannot accommodate neurodiversity is a myth rooted in outdated assumptions. With the right expertise, creativity and commitment, accommodations can be customised for any environment.

High pressure does not have to mean high exclusion. With tailored strategies, neurodivergent professionals can thrive anywhere, including the places that need their skills the most.

To find out more about our healthcare focused edition of the Genius Finder platform you can fill out an enquiry form here.