Starting the Conversation with Cool Ventures, WECA and the HR Department.

Opening up honest conversations about neurodiversity in the workplace

“We call it ‘Start the Conversation’ for a reason; because the most powerful change begins when people feel able to talk about it.” - Lucy Smith, Founder and Director of Inclusive Change Ltd

Last month, Inclusive Change delivered our Start the Conversation training for the HR Department, in collaboration with Cool Ventures and WECA.

This 45-minute session was designed to open up honest, accessible discussion about neurodiversity: what it means, why it matters, and how teams can start to embed inclusion into everyday practice. From the very beginning, it was clear that the group were engaged and genuinely keen to create change.

The session was co-facilitated by Lucy Smith, Founder and Director of Inclusive Change, and Becca Burke, ADHD Coach and Neurodiversity Specialist. They bring combined professional expertise and lived experience to create a safe space where people could explore, ask questions, and learn without judgement.

Every Start the Conversation session is different, but a few themes consistently stand out. One is the realisation that inclusion is shaped as much by environment and culture as it is by policy. Another is the recognition of neurodivergent strengths (creativity, problem-solving, and innovative thinking for example) that often go unnoticed.

The HR Department attendees also reflected on what neurodiversity means in their own workplaces, and how awareness can influence language, wellbeing and culture. It was encouraging to see HR professionals approaching the topic with such openness and interest.

We also discussed how, under the Equality Act 2010, employees do not need a formal diagnosis to request or receive reasonable adjustments. For many people on the training, that came as a relief and an important takeaway.

But, many are still missing out on vital support, either due to stigma or lack of awareness or knowledge around disability, as well as what reasonable actually means. As there’s no single definition of reasonable, that in itself can be a barrier!

Start the Conversation was created to help teams build confidence and understanding before delving into more detailed neurodiversity training. It’s especially useful for HR professionals, line managers and anyone supporting people at work.

By the end of this session, our attendees feedback that they felt more confident discussing neurodiversity, were clearer on how to reduce barriers. They also felt better equipped to identify next steps for creating inclusive systems and environments.

For organisations beginning their neuro-inclusion journey, it’s an accessible and practical place to start.

We’d like to thank everyone at Cool Ventures, WECA and the HR Department for their enthusiasm and willingness to explore this topic with honesty and curiosity.

If your organisation would like to host a Start the Conversation session, either online or in person, we’d love to hear from you. Visit our website or email [email protected] to find out more.