A ‘proudly autistic’ workplace expert says putting neurodivergent employees in a typical office is like dropping a polar bear in Austin, Texas
Daniel Wendler, a clinical psychologist and workplace advocate, emphasizes the challenges faced by neurodivergent employees in traditional office environments. He compares their experience to that of a polar bear placed in an unsuitable climate, highlighting the need for workplaces to adapt to diverse needs. Wendler argues that implementing universal design can unlock the potential of neurodivergent workers and provide a competitive advantage for companies.
- ▪Around 20% of U.S. adults identify as neurodivergent, including those on the autism spectrum and with ADHD.
- ▪Only 25% of neurodivergent employees feel included at work, with 39% planning to leave their jobs within a year.
- ▪Companies that lead in disability inclusion see faster revenue growth and improved productivity metrics.
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Daniel Wendler knows what it feels like to be a polar bear in the wrong climate.Recommended Video A “proudly autistic” clinical psychologist, author, and workplace advocate, Wendler has spent his career arguing that most companies aren’t failing their neurodivergent employees out of malice — they’re doing it by default. “Because most people are neurotypical, organizations are designed according to neurotypical needs, which means that people with neurodivergent needs get left out,” Wendler said May 20 at Fortune’s Workplace Innovation Summit. His go-to illustration: imagine taking a polar bear — an apex predator, unrivaled on Arctic ice — and dropping it in Austin, Texas. The animal doesn’t suddenly become less capable. It’s just been placed in an environment that wasn’t built for it.
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