The Job Accommodation Network Launched a New Webpage on Neurodiversity

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Patricia Tsipras

October 16, 2023

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM).  An initiative of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), NDEAM celebrates the contributions of America’s workers with disabilities and highlights supportive, inclusive employment policies and practices that benefit employers and employees.

The ODEP-funded Job Accommodation Network (JAN), which provides accommodation solutions, strategies, and guidance on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA’s), has launched a new webpage on neurodiversity.

Neurodiversity is the term used to describe the natural way that people think, learn, perceive the world, interact, and process information differently and uniquely.  The term is often used to refer to people on the autism spectrum, but it also includes people with cognitive, intellectual, developmental, and neurological conditions that shape how they think and learn.  It includes people with autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and learning disabilities, such as dyslexia.

JAN’s new webpage features resource links and examples, describes common workplace situations faced by neurodivergent workers, and identifies accommodation ideas to help workers perform their jobs effectively and maximize their talents and skills.

Employers:  take time – especially this month – to review your policies and practices to ensure that they convey a commitment to an inclusive culture and train your managers and Human Resources professionals on the ADA’s reasonable accommodation process.

*Special thanks to Ava Petrellese, our Paralegal, and to Brooke Palma, our Office Administrator, for their contributions to this article.