Glossary · UK
What is Neurodiversity Workplace Adjustment?
Practical changes an employer makes to support staff with conditions such as autism, ADHD or dyslexia, which can be a legal requirement under the Equality Act where the condition meets the definition of a disability.
Full Definition
Neurodiversity workplace adjustments are practical changes employers make to help staff with conditions such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia or Tourette's work effectively, recognising that these conditions affect how people process information, communicate and manage attention or sensory input, without affecting their ability or right to do the job well. Common adjustments include providing written instructions alongside verbal ones, allowing noise-cancelling headphones or a quieter workspace, flexible scheduling around focus patterns, assistive software (such as text-to-speech or screen readers), and structured, predictable communication from managers. Where a neurodivergent condition has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on a person's ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities, it meets the Equality Act 2010 definition of a disability, meaning the employer has a legal duty to make 'reasonable adjustments' to remove or reduce the disadvantage the employee would otherwise face — a failure to do so can be challenged as disability discrimination at an employment tribunal. Access to Work, a government scheme, can fund some adjustments and support directly.