All posts by Dr. Maureen Dunne Cathy Schwallie Farmer

Dr. Maureen Dunne: Dunne has lectured on neurodiversity, entrepreneurship and innovation at the local, national, and international level. She founded The Transition 2 Success Project providing grants and resources to promote the success of teens with autism spectrum disorders as they transition to college and/or apprenticeship work opportunities. She is also co-founder and managing partner of the Autism Angels Group (AAG) bringing together capital and talent for economic opportunities and technology-driven solutions that positively impact the autism community. Cathy Schwallie Farmer: Farmer is a long time Autism Advocate. She has two brothers on the spectrum. She is the co-founder and managing partner of the new Autism Angels Group where the group seeks to invest, advise, advocate and support Autism Innovation/trends, ASD workers, research and entrepreneurs. https://www.autismangelsgroup.com/

Neurodiversity: An Organizational Asset – by Maureen Dunne, Cathy Schwallie Farmer

neurodiversityIntroduction

We make the case here that neurodivergent thinkers should be an important part of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) policies because every organization stands to benefit from the inclusion of different cognitive perspectives in creating the organization’s culture.

This argument can be made from several different angles. For example, it can be made from the standpoint of a single organization, competing with other organizations in a commercial or industrial pursuit. It can also be made from the standpoint of the larger society, which stands to benefit from more innovative and equitable organizations.

Wouldn’t we all prefer to live in a world that values individuals for the skills and talents each of us uniquely possesses? Wouldn’t we all prefer to live in a world where seeming misfit pieces of the puzzle find a suitable home in the tapestry of the larger machine that is a 21st century economy?

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