Neurodiversity Inclusion

Creating Neurodivergent-Affirming Workplaces: A Three-Part Series

This three-part workshop series equips attendees with essential knowledge, deep self-reflection opportunities, and practical tools to build truly neurodivergent-affirming workplaces. Each session builds upon the last, guiding participants from foundational awareness to actionable change within their organizations.

This series is designed for leaders, managers, HR professionals, DEI practitioners, service providers, and employees who want to create inclusive workspaces where neurodivergent individuals can thrive—whether as colleagues, employees, or clients.

Through this series, participants will not only understand neurodivergence more deeply but also learn clear, practical strategies to implement in their organizations. This workshop is about actionable change—helping workplaces shift from accommodation-based approaches to proactively affirming all employees and clients.

This isn’t just about being “inclusive”—it’s about building workplaces where everyone – regardless of neurotype – can thrive, contribute fully, and be valued for who they are. Walk away with new skills, frameworks, and tools to make the workplace more supportive for everyone – not just those who are neurodivergent.

Session 1: Understanding Neurodivergence & Challenging Internal Biases

Laying the Groundwork for Neurodivergent Inclusion

The first session provides a strong foundation in understanding neurodivergence, exploring biases, and recognizing the impact of ableism—both in workplace systems and in our own mindsets.

Key Takeaways:

• Understand what neurodivergence is (beyond stereotypes) and explore the diversity of neurotypes.
•  Examine how our perceptions of “normal” impact interactions and workplace structures.
• Unpack subtle ableism and internalized ableism that show up in policies, communication, and workplace culture.
• Evaluate workplace norms and implied messaging
• Reflect on personal biases and assumptions and how they affect team dynamics.

Session 2: Building a Neurodivergent-Affirming Workplace

Moving from Awareness to Action

With a foundation in place, this session shifts from personal reflection to systemic change. Participants will explore what neurodivergent-affirming workspaces look like and how to create policies, structures, and day-to-day practices that foster inclusivity for everyone

Key Takeaways:

• Define what it means to be truly neurodivergent-affirming (beyond performative inclusion)
•  Learn how to design workplace environments that support different neurotypes.
• Identify barriers neurodivergent employees face and how to remove them
• Audit your own workplace and identify barriers and areas for improvement
• Learn concrete strategies for increasing inclusivity for all brains – not just those who are neurodivergent
•  Explore ways to shift hiring, onboarding, and performance review processes to be more neurodivergent-inclusive.

Session 3: Communicating & Collaborating Across Neurotypes

Sustaining Inclusion & Strengthening Relationships

The final session focuses on communication, leadership (from all levels), and ongoing change. Participants will learn how to navigate interpersonal exchanges to ensure collective understanding and address areas of mismatch.

Key Takeaways:

• Explore different communication styles across neurotypes (e.g., direct vs. indirect, written vs. verbal, high-context vs. low-context).
•  Learn how to reduce misunderstandings and foster psychological safety in teams despite difference.
•  Discover ways to support neurodivergent employees without infantilization or micromanagement
• Practice setting up neurodivergent-friendly collaboration methods
• Develop strategies for handling conflict, feedback, and different processing styles in the workplace.

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More about the facilitator:

Lacy Alana is neurodivergent psychotherapist, trainer, and multi-disciplinary artist who specializes in interpersonal neurobiology, trauma, neurodivergence, and communication science. As Lacy spent time in the clinical, educational, corporate, and expressive arts world over the last decade and a half, she recognized that she was having great success blending facets
from each discipline into the others. Thus, she provides one-of-a-kind trainings that fuse Interpersonal Neurobiology, therapeutic frameworks, applied improvisation, business communication,and pedagogy from improvisational theatre and the circus arts.

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Nonprofit Austin reserves the right to postpone this learning opportunity if there is inadequate registration.

This session may be recorded to share with attendees.