Neuropool at the launch of NTT DATA’s Neurodiversity Network

On 9 December 2022, NTT DATA UK published an account of the event it held at its offices to launch the NTT DATA Neurodiversity Network. Neuropool joined the event as guests. This summary is based on that post, written by the event’s host, Joulie Gindi, Associate Director – Technical Solutions Architecture at NTT DATA UK&I.

What the network set out to do

NTT DATA UK gave four aims for the launch:

• Increase understanding and awareness of neurodiversity

• Learn from the first-hand experience of colleagues and of the guests from Neuropool

• Find ways to better support neurodiverse colleagues, both as a company and as individuals

• Help the company recruit more neurodiverse talent

How the event opened

The event started with a quiz run by Neuropool, who shared the results at the end. NTT DATA’s leadership team had a strong presence on the day.

CEO Fernando Apezteguia spoke first. He shared his positive experience of working with a neurodivergent workforce in Brazil, where the company hired employees on the autism spectrum and the results were better than anyone anticipated. He stressed that the right environment allows all talents to thrive, and that teams need variety of thought.

Neuropool’s sessions

Neuropool’s CEO, Jack Dyrhauge, spoke next about Neuropool’s aspirations, where it is on that journey and how other UK organisations are doing. He ended on a positive note about workplaces that are investing and proactively taking the same journey, naming EY, IBM and Universal Music Group among others.

Hannah Burrage from Neuropool then took the room through design and accessibility: enabling neurodivergent colleagues through a better working environment and better representation of their authentic selves. As the post notes, a better working environment is also welcomed by neurotypical colleagues and by people who do not have a diagnosis, which makes it inclusive for all.

Talks from the NTT DATA team

Joulie Gindi explained what autism can mean through personal experience and two analogies: a “spiky profile”, where someone excels at some things but not others, and the brain as a set of pigeonholes. She shared funding figures, including that less than 9% of autism funding goes into services that assist or enable autistic people. She also explained why masking is detrimental and does not encourage diversity of thought.

Thomas Wilkes compared neurodiversity with biodiversity and contrasted the medical and social models of disability. The medical model puts the responsibility on the individual. The social model enables people through their environment, such as a ramp or a lift for a wheelchair user.

The team’s presentation closed on the point that neurodiverse people are not failed neurotypical people, but people failed by environments designed around rigid neurotypical norms. Costanza Termine then passed on the team’s appreciation.

CTO Tom Winstanley concluded the event by sharing his own experiences with people close to him, and how awareness and a supportive environment can make a difference. A Q&A session followed.

Source: Neurodiversity Launch Event @ NTT DATA, NTT DATA UK, 9 December 2022.