The Neurodivergent Employment Ecosystem (NEE) is the collection of organizations and support systems that exist today to prepare neurodivergent individuals for competitive, integrated employment, and support them throughout their employment journey. These organizations include federal & corporate employers, state vocational agencies, schools, and post-secondary institutions. Each organization, educator, case manager, trainer, advocate, parent & guardian, and future employer plays a role in whether neurodivergent individuals will succeed in the workplace or not.
The neurodiversity community represents a large, untapped workforce that has the potential and desire to attain and sustain fulfilling employment which plays a major part in their self-esteem and happiness. Educators, family, and friends are well aware of their favorable abilities, but more recently, large corporations and government employers have also taken notice. They are starting to realize and see firsthand that the ROI far outweigh the investments made in their neurodiversity programs. But, the shift in mindset, hiring practices, employability skills development, and workplace accommodations are not even close to where they need to be to move the needle for many neurodivergent individuals who are unemployed or underemployed. The problem is global and some of the root causes lie with fragmented Neurodivergent Employment Ecosystems (NEE). A systematic approach is needed to address problems that are found within any complex, dynamic systems. For neurodivergent individuals seeking competitive, integrated employment, NEE is the main system that impacts their employment outcomes.
More often than not, the Neurodivergent Employment Ecosystem (NEE) of organizations are fragmented into silos with each organization providing their own form of Employability Skills Development support to neurodivergent individuals. These programs are created and carried out in good faith, but because these programs are disparate from the overall NEE, there is never a real overarching goal that the ecosystem as a whole is working and moving together to reach. As a result of the inefficient and ineffective approach to Employability Skills Development, neurodivergent individuals are often unprepared for their future ideal jobs & professions, never really get the opportunity to live up to their potential, and the unemployment rate for the community continues to climb. To add another layer of complication to the problem, there are no governing organizations that are responsible for NEE’s, so the situation is not the fault of any organization, and the problem cannot be fixed by any organization. But, there are things that can be done now by working together, but for that to happen, 1.) Governments need to know how to support the K12 schools 2.) K12 schools need to know how to prepare students for vocations, and vocational & higher education institutions, 3.) Vocational and Higher Education institutions need to understand where incoming students are in terms of Employability Skills Development, so they can get individuals to where they need to be for a successful transition, 4.) Vocational and Higher Education institutions need to understand what soft skills employers require, 5.) Employers need to understand what accommodations and support job candidates need in the workplace, 6.) Policymakers need to understand the resource and funding needs to enable a successful NEE, and 7.) Parents & Advocates need clear communication from the NEE to help inform the public of NEE goals and NEE benefits to society. In other words, the NEE path to post-secondary success should mirror the successful path of Neurotypical Employment Development Ecosystems and we can get it there by working with and supporting a collaborative initiative between our public and private NEE organizations.
The facts speak for themselves, but they are worth mentioning to put a true perspective on the need for a connected NEE. 1 in 5 individuals are neurodivergent. That is a substantial number of people who mostly exist outside of the workforce and are in many cases, facing poverty if for no other reasons aside from not being prepared or trained to work in neurotypical workplaces. The solution to helping those that desire to work to obtain sustainable competitive, integrated employment and partial, if not complete independence is simple; as a society, we must realize that neurodivergent individuals may think differently, behave differently, and express themselves differently, but they are not different. We are all the same. We all require a structured, goal-oriented approach with the intent and purpose behind the actions to meet our full potential. This is possible through a connected, Neurodivergent Employment Ecosystem. When done with the best intentions, it works for neurotypical individuals and it can work for neurodivergent individuals.
