“The reality is that two people with the same disability may have very different experiences” How to Make Workplaces More Inclusive For People with Invisible Disabilities. This article gives a concise introduction to making a workplace more inclusive. I recommend checking it out and brainstorming how you can incorporate these into your team or working environment (regardless of if you are in a leadership role or not). You will note that I prefer to not use the term ‘disability’ in my blog posts, instead preferring to use other terms such as diversability. A quick google search will help introduce you to additional terms out there.
The purpose of these brief introductions is for exactly that purpose, an introduction. The article above warns against generalising conditions, which I agree with and is a habit I’ve worked hard on breaking in recent years. As previously mentioned these posts are aimed to provide the foundation for understanding and inspire additional research and conversation amongst your peers.
Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, or ADHD, is a developmental neurominority that an individual is born with (1). It is characterised by persistent patterns of inattention and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity, impacting up to 4% globally (1) 3:1 male to female diagnosis ratio (8).
Common strengths for those with ADHD include:
Working under pressure
Visible enthusiasm and ability to complete urgent tasks
Ability to multitask and respond to changing work environments and demands
Hyperfocus, passion and courage
Common challenges for those with ADHD include:
Restless, distracted and easily bored in roles that are not sufficiently stimulating
Difficult to switch focus when hyper-focused
Organisation and time management
Emotional self-regulation
According to the DSM-5 there are three types of ADHD (14);
Inattentive type ADHD, formerly known as ADD, is characterized by difficulties in maintaining attention in under-stimulating environments with little to no signs of hyperactive and impulsive behaviours.
Hyperactive-Impulsive Type ADHD is characterised by hyperactive and impulsive behaviours with little to no difficulties in attentiveness.
Combined Type ADHD presents as a mix of both hyperactive-impulsive behaviors and inattentive-distracted behavior.
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