Neurodivergent workers and wellbeing
News
Keep up to date
As this project progresses we will provide updates here.
June 2026
Dr Raysa Rocha delivered an impact pitch at a British Academy, discussing the project and strategies for impact.
Connecting Minds, Building Futures — British Academy ECRN
On 26 June 2026, the British Academy Early Career Researcher Network hosted Connecting Minds, Building Futures: A Networking Event for ECRs in Neurodiversity Studies.
Dr Raysa Rocha served as one of the event's convenors, alongside Dr Kim Tran, University of Hertfordshire, and Dr Abass Isiaka, University of East Anglia, and presented the project's findings in a showcase and discussion format.
The event brought together early career researchers working across neurodiversity studies, fostering collegial exchange and strengthening the emerging community of scholars dedicated to advancing neurodiversity research and its real-world applications.
Pathways to research impact for Early Career Researchers — British Academy ECRN
Dr Raysa Rocha delivered an impact pitch at a British Academy Early Career Researcher Network (ECRN) event (22 June 2026).
The pitch showcased the project's reach beyond academia, presenting the pathways through which findings on neurodivergent workers' well-being, organisational justice, and workplace belonging are being translated into policy engagement, practitioner guidance, and sector-wide change.
The selection offered an important opportunity to discuss strategies for deepening and sustaining the project's impact with peers and stakeholders.
European Academy of Management Conference — EURAM 2026: LAB 7 & Paper Presentation
The EURAM 2026 Annual Conference, held at the University of Agder in Kristiansand, Norway (16–19 June 2026), marked a significant moment of visibility for this research. The team co-organised LAB 7: Co-Designing Neuro-Inclusive Workplaces in Times of Disruption — one of the most attended LABs at the conference — bringing together scholars and practitioners in facilitated co-design exercises centred on neurodivergent workers' social networks, workplace inclusion, and well-being in disrupted organisational contexts.
Dr Siddhartha Saxena also presented the paper "Neurodivergent Workers and Weak Ties: From Organisational Justice to Flourishing," sharing the project's early findings with an international academic audience and advancing the conversation on neuroinclusion within the broader EURAM theme of managing in an age of disruption.
March 2026 - Building the Blueprint for Neuroinclusive Workplaces: A Remarkable Day
Our workshop participants.
On 25 March 2026, Essex Business School welcomed dozens of extraordinary participants to our co-creation forum — neurodivergent workers, HR practitioners, neurodivergent entrepreneurs, individuals navigating the job market, academics researching neurodiversity, HR, and EDI, neuroinclusion advocates, and a representative from the CIPD. Together, we filled the room with expertise, lived experience, and a shared commitment to change.
The conversations were honest, generative, and deeply energising. What emerged from the discussions far exceeded our expectations, and we are now carrying this momentum forward. In the coming months, the research team will draw on everything we built together to develop a practical guide for practitioners — a concrete, evidence-based resource designed to support the creation of genuinely neuroinclusive workplaces. Watch this space.
November 2025 - Project Lead Attends NEA25 Conference in Durham
Dr Raysa Rocha joined neuroinclusion researchers, entrepreneurs, and advocates at the NEA25 conference, held at Durham University Business School on 27–28 November 2025. The event, organised by the Neurodiversity & Entrepreneurship Association, explored the future of neurodivergent entrepreneurship through academic research, lived experiences, and support strategies.
Dr Rocha learned about other initiatives focused on neurodivergent individuals well-being, shared the early insights from the project and joined valuable conversations with delegates committed to building more inclusive workplaces.
Dr Raysa Rocha attended NEA25 Conference in Durham...
...the event explored the future of neurodivergent entrepreneurship
9 October 2025 - Hidden REF 2025 Lightning Talk
In recognition of the project's innovative approach to research dissemination and impact generation, Dr Raysa Rocha presented the study at the Hidden REF 2025 Festival through a lightning talk that articulated the significance of developing non-traditionally submitted outputs (NTOs) alongside conventional academic publications.
The presentation emphasised how the creation of NTOs, particularly the practical guide for HR professionals and organisational leaders, extends the project's capacity to generate meaningful societal impact beyond traditional academic circles.
By engaging with the Hidden REF community, she demonstrated how methodological creativity and innovation in output design can bridge the persistent gap between scholarly inquiry and practical application, thereby amplifying the project's contribution to fostering more inclusive workplaces for neurodivergent workers in the UK.
This presentation underscored the importance of reimagining research impact pathways through outputs that are accessible, actionable, and directly responsive to the needs of practitioners and policymakers who shape organizational cultures and employment practices.
The Festival of Hidden REF featured speakers who work with Non-Traditional Outputs.
Dr Raysa Rocha presented her work on neurodivergent staff and wellbeing at the Festival.
1 October 2025 - Professor Almuth McDowall Joins Us for the CWOS Seminar
We were thrilled to welcome Professor Almuth McDowall from Birkbeck University's Centre for Neurodiversity Research at Work for a special research talk that directly dialogues with our BA/Leverhulme project on neurodivergent workers and well-being.
Profesor McDowall's talk was on "Should I stay or should I go? A relational biopsychosocial perspective on neurodivergent talent, career satisfaction and turnover intention". You can watch the recorded event on Vimeo.
- McDowall, A., N. Doyle, and M. Kiseleva. 2025. “Should I Stay or Should I Go? A Relational Biopsychosocial Perspective on Neurodivergent Talent, Career Satisfaction and Turnover Intention.” Human Resource Management 64, no. 5: 1207–1226.
26 September 2025 - Project Early Findings Ignite Momentum at Essex Business School Conference
Breakthrough insights from neurodivergent workers captivate academic audience
On September 25, Dr. Raysa Rocha took the stage at the Essex Business School Conference, unveiling compelling early findings from the groundbreaking research on neurodivergent workers and workplace well-being. The 90-minute session transformed into an electrifying exchange of ideas as scholars from diverse disciplines leaned into the research's profound implications.
The presentation didn't just share data, it sparked conversation. Academics engaged deeply with the project's innovative dual-researcher interview methodology, where at least one neurodivergent researcher conducts each session, ensuring authentic perspectives shape every insight. Dr. Rocha walked attendees through the realities of data collection: the unexpected challenges of scheduling with neurodivergent participants, the emotionally dense experiences that emerged, and the deliberate accommodations built into the research design.
What made the session particularly powerful? The collaborative energy. Attendees didn't simply listen, they questioned, challenged, and contributed suggestions that will strengthen the research's next phase. Their enthusiasm reinforced what this project represents: a genuine opportunity to reshape how organizations understand and support neurodivergent talent in the UK's technology sector.
The momentum builds toward March 2026
The journey accelerates now. The team is racing toward critical milestones: finalizing survey data collection, conducting rigorous reflexive thematic analysis of interview transcripts, and crafting studies that will redefine inclusive workplace practices. Every piece of data brings us closer to actionable insights that will transform organizational culture.
Mark your calendar: March 25, 2026 (registration). The Co-creation Event at Essex Business School promises to be the project's defining moment, where research meets practice, and neurodivergent voices directly shape practical solutions for HR professionals and policymakers.
This isn't just research. It's a movement toward workplaces where every mind thrives.
25 August 2025 - Social connections matter for the well-being of neurodivergent workers
In our article in The Conversation, "Social connections matter for the well-being of neurodivergent workers – adjustments to office settings and routines aren’t enough" we look at some of the first responses to our interviews.
Although many companies focus on physical adjustments, such as changes to lighting and provision of noise-cancelling technology, this is just one step in workplace adaptations. One of the first highlights from this research has been the importance of a diverse social environment for neurodivergent staff, who can benefit from more varied communication channels, and explicit networking pathways.
10 April 2025 - Neurodiversity Awareness Month
To mark Neurodiversity Awareness Month we published a blog on "Celebrating neurodivergent minds in academia: A symphony of different ways of being".
In the blog we discussed how neurodivergent academics can use their skills and talents to contribute to research and explore complex concepts from unexpected angles, while acknowledging the "diversity" within neurodiversity and how support that works for one person may not work for all.
21 March 2025 - Project kickoff
In celebration of Neurodiversity Celebration Week, we are thrilled to launch our British Academy/Leverhulme-funded research project: "Neurodivergent workers and well-being: Socialization and meaningful relationships in the workplace"!
About the Project
Our research team, led by Dr. Raysa Rocha (University of Essex) with co-investigators Dr. Siddhartha Saxena (Heriot-Watt University) and Dr. Louise Nash (University of Essex), is investigating how neurodivergent professionals in the UK's technology sector develop and maintain workplace connections.
This two-year study (March 2025 - February 2027) focuses on understanding the role of "weak ties" – acquaintances and distant connections – in the social networks of neurodivergent individuals across all work environments.
Why this matters
Neurodivergent workers (including those with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and others) bring valuable perspectives and talents to the technology sector but often face unique challenges in forming social connections. These connections are crucial for:
- Career development opportunities
- Information access
- Job satisfaction
- Overall well-being
By understanding these dynamics, we aim to develop evidence-based strategies for creating more inclusive workplaces that foster meaningful professional relationships for all employees.
Get involved
If you are a neurodivergent professional in the UK tech sector interested in participating in our research, or if your organization would like to collaborate with us, please get in touch with Dr Raysa Rocha at raysa.rocha@essex.ac.uk.
Next steps
Over the coming months, our team will be:
- Conducting an extensive literature review
- Partnering with technology companies and neurodiversity organizations
- Developing and piloting our survey instruments
- Beginning data collection in Spring 2025
Stay tuned for regular updates as we progress through this important work!
Social connections matter for the well-being of neurodivergent workers
In this Conversation article we look at how companies working on inclusivity for neurodivergent staff need to adapt their social environment, as well as the physical environment, to help neurodivergent staff progress and thrive in their careers.
