How can technology meet neurodiversity to create equitable workplaces?
A Case Study conducted with BIM4Water
Case Study Authors
Clare Taylor, Chair of BIM4Water and Head of Digital Delivery at MWH Treatment, and Dr Susan Lattanzio (University of Bath)
Context
It is forecast there will be 27,000 vacancies in the Water Sector over 2020-2029 period, with 48% of the workforce retiring in the next 20 years. Despite this, research shows that 85–90% of neurodivergent individuals are unemployed or underemployed. Change is required, not only for the benefit of these individuals but to address the resource challenges that the sector faces. A shift towards digital innovation and transformative solutions can enable change.
Objective
The collaboration and active partnership between BIM4Water and MSI: Centre for People-Led Digitalisation (PLD) aimed to enhance the employment prospects of neurodivergent individuals, enabling them to access and thrive in the workplace, raise sector awareness and equip them with the knowledge to recruit without boundaries and tackle the resource shortages head on. Instead of focusing on individual businesses, we co-created research to produce evidence and new knowledge that would have a significant impact across multiple sectors.
Approach
Our collaboration began with the co-creation of a student project titled "How can technology meet neurodiversity to create equitable workplaces?" This project was undertaken by Sam Stephens, a final-year BEng student at the University of Bath.
In the project, Sam designed digital solutions to assist neurodivergent individuals in the workplace. These solutions included using AI tools like ChatGPT to make emails more accessible and suitable for the intended audience, creating watchable emails for those with ADHD who prefer visual content, and gamifying tasks to enhance employee enjoyment and engagement. These ideas were then tested by people in industry to evaluate their usefulness and viability.
Our approach has led to fantastic outputs and our partnership’s successes to date include, but not limited to:
Student project “How can technology meet neurodiversity to create equitable workplaces?”, University of Bath, final year BEng student
Research awarded the Geoff Herrington Award
Publication of article “Lets put STEAM in the Water Sector engine”
Digital Construction Week presentation and panel discussion at People and Change theatre, including guest blog and publication in BIM Online Today
Facilitating the creation of digital connection space at Autodesk with multi-sector audience to create a digital glossary
Launch of second research project with PhD student on discovering digital solutions for autism employment
Current PhD project around measuring digital burnout in the workplace and identifying factors to reduce it. This project will first look at the general population and then autistic individuals specifically.
Digital construction Live award submission for Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion
Insight
A key insight from Sam's project is that digital solutions benefit not only neurodivergent individuals but everyone. This underscores the importance of creating more equitable workplaces for neurodivergent people, as it leads to overall positive effects.
Sam's project ignited a passion among all participants and led to numerous speaking and public engagement events. Our message emphasises that digital roles foster open-minded thinking and thought leadership, providing a platform where both neurodivergent and neurotypical individuals can communicate and collaborate in a safe, supportive, and innovative environment.
Through this relationship we have presented and promoted at sector wide events – to educate, raise awareness and provide the guidance for employers to broaden their recruitment horizons. We have multi-sector partnerships with different communities for a diverse outreach, this partnership broadly covers water, energy, telecommunications and academic sectors.
Our PhD researchers are now providing their expert knowledge within industry, supporting HR and People Teams to make positive changes, creating diverse resource sourcing channels, and implementing bias-free recruiting practices. From this we have seen positive recruitment case studies from outside of the traditional sector placements, such as hospital gaming technologists, architectural visualists, crime scene surveyors.
Additional Resources
Video: How can technology meet neurodiversity to create equitable workplaces? - Sam Stephens, 2023
PBC Online: BIM Online Today June 2023 - How can technology meet the needs of neurodivergent workers?
PCB Online: Let’s put STE(A)M in the water sector engine
Impact
“The partnership between BIM4Water and the PLD aims to create systemic change and a legacy of impact. We are striving for broad, impactful reforms that affect the entire structure and operations of the sector, rather than just small, isolated changes.
To achieve this, we needed knowledge and evidence. While autism is well-researched, our understanding of neurodiversity and the challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals is still developing. With an estimated 15-20% of the population thought to be neurodivergent, it is crucial to ensure these individuals are not disadvantaged and to recognise the valuable skills they bring to the labour market and more importantly the Water Sector.
The student project was just the start of our journey. Since then, BIM4Water and the PLD have taken every chance to promote our work and the key message: workplaces that improve opportunities for neurodivergent people improve opportunities for everyone, and the digital realm can nurture these opportunities.
Acknowledging the importance of this work, the PLD has continued to support this research, including providing an autistic person with a fully funded PhD studentship to continue this project. They have also recruited a second autistic individual to examine whether digitalisation intensifies work and, if so, how the impact might be mitigated.
This change will not happen overnight, but gradually, with each panel discussion, public engagement event, social media post, and focused piece of research, we are making progress towards our goal..”
Clare Taylor, Chair of BIM4Water and Head of Digital Delivery at MWH Treatment
For further information on this case study please contact the PLD at P-LD@bath.ac.uk
Acknowledgement
The work reported in this paper was supported by the Made Smarter Innovation: Centre for People-Led Digitalisation, at the University of Bath, University of Nottingham, and Loughborough University. The project is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Grant EP/V062042/1.