The Northern Ireland Neurodiversity in the Workplace Conference 2025
Hilton Belfast, Northern Ireland 5 February 2025, 9:00am - 4:00pm
8:45am
Delegate Registration and Networking
9:50am
Chair’s Welcome Address
Dr Raymi Doyle, Research & Development, Consultant Psychotherapist, Clinical Supervisor and Neurodiversity Practitioner
10:00am
Opening Keynote: Understanding Employer’s Duties Towards The Neurodivergent Workforce
- What are the employers’ legal duties towards employees?
- Discrimination at work statistics across Northern Ireland
- The power of conflict resolution in discrimination cases
Colin Caughey, Director of Public Policy, Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
10:20am
Neuroinclusion In Practice: Implementing Neuroinclusive Policies Across Large Organisations - Case Study of Northern Health and Social Care Trust
- What is the Public Health Approach to Autism?
- How we deliver the Regional DoH Autism strategy through a multiagency partnership across the NHSCT area
- How we support our neuro-diverse staff?
Jayne Colville, Public Health Autism Coordinator and Michelle Morris, Senior Human Resources Manager, Northern Health and Social Care Trust
10:40am
Building a culture of neuroinclusion in the workplace
This session will explore what is meant by neuroinclusion and why building a neuroinclusive organisation has wide ranging benefits not just for autistic and neurodivergent people, but across the whole team and business. The session will provide key practical examples of good practice approaches and explore the support that is available for organisations to build a culture of acceptance, respect and inclusion across their services.
Emma McAllister, Training Development Officer, Autism NI
11:00am
Questions And Answers Session
11:15am
Break and Networking
11:45am
Beyond The Label: The Impact of a Late ADHD Diagnosis
- What data do we have regarding late ADHD diagnoses in NI and what does it tell us?
- Understanding the complexity of the ADHD diagnosis process
- The impact on employees going through the process, and how they can be effectively supported in the workplace
Gary Gates, PhD Researcher on ADHD Late Diagnosis, Co-founder Neurodiversity ‘SPARK’, u-Hub Board Member, Ulster University NeuroNetwork Committee Member
12:05pm
Appreciating ASD: A Journey of Understanding and Acceptance
Christine White, Director, Diversity Mark
12:25pm
Approaching The Reasonable Adjustments Conversation
- Understanding the definition of ‘reasonable adjustments’ and what they mean in the context of neurodiversity
- Is a diagnosis, or a disclosure of a diagnosis necessary to implement reasonable adjustments?
- Practical conversation on navigating the reasonable adjustments conversation
Andrea Brown, CEO, Disability Action NI
12:45pm
Questions And Answers Session
1:00pm
Lunch And Networking
2:00pm
Attracting Neurodivergent Talent – Don’t Miss Out!
- What are the advantages of a truly neurodiverse workforce?
- What are the main barriers to neuroinclusion in the workplace?
- Understanding how making changes to your recruitment process can open your organisation to neurodivergent talent
Cara Marks, Senior Business Director, Hays Recruitment & Co founder of SPARK
2:20pm
Beyond Neurodivergent-Friendly: Where Work Works for the Whole Crew
- Realising there is no such thing as a "ND Friendly Space/Safe Space" as lovely as it sounds to the Corporate World
- Common challenges that neurodivergent employees face in the workplace and solutions to implement immediately without having to spend billions of software or redesigning your office facilities
- Bridging the gap – Neurodiversity is EVERYONE not one policy/procedure for one section and ANOTHER for everyone else.
Jude Morrow, Neurodivergent Consultant & CEO of Neurodiversity Training International
2:55pm
Questions And Answers Session
3:10pm
Break and Networking
3:40pm
Understanding and Implementing Neuroinclusive Communication Styles
- Understanding the variety of communication styles among autistic individuals
- Common misconceptions about autism that may create additional barriers to effective communication in a workplace
- Practical strategies for neuroinclusive communication
Claire Thompson, NCPS Neurodiversity Ambassador, Doctoral researcher-Ulster University, HCPC reg Art Psychotherapist & NCPS accredited Counsellor
4:00pm
Understand The Needs Of Your Neurodivergent Employees: Best Practice For Education & Engagement
- Understanding how to go from Awareness to Action with your company policies.
- Strategies for effective engagement with your employees that will inform your policies.
- Incorporating lessons learned and designing an effective feedback loop for continuous improvement.
Danny Trigg, ADHD Coach in Training, ADHDer, Neurodiversity Advocate, Senior Associate in Financial Services
4:20pm
Questions And Answers Session
4:30pm
Chair’s Summary And Close
Dr Raymi Doyle, Research & Development, Consultant Psychotherapist, Clinical Supervisor and Neurodiversity Practitioner