Three Essays on the Organisational-Level Influences of Neurodiversity at Work

My thesis enhances understanding of neurodiversity in the workplace at the organisational level and addresses the growing science-practitioner gap in extant literature. It is comprised of three essays. Essay 1 is an illustrated review that demonstrates how neuroinclusive recruitment can serve as a more accessible and effective alternative to traditional recruitment while yielding benefits that extend beyond neurodivergent populations. Essay 2 is a template analysis of semi-structured interviews with neurodiversity programme managers, which captures the perceived organisational-level influences that challenge neurodiversity programmes. Essay 3 synthesises classical theories of deviance to develop a conceptual model of “neurodeviance”, which explains how institutional expectations for conformity motivate neurodivergent individuals to mask and mitigate the perceived risk of social sanctions. The three studies collectively elucidate how organisations influence the employment of neurodivergent people, signifying their potential as both perpetuators and moderators of stigma-based discrimination in society. The findings from my thesis inform organisational practices that reduce the disproportionate unemployment and underemployment rates of neurodivergent people.