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The 3 published responses are all reasonable, but they all miss an important point, which is that it is not just a matter of what you should do but a much stronger duty than that.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) section 27 requires those with disability which would include all forms of neurodiversity to have access to reasonable accommodations and equal access to education and employment. These in the United Kingdom are enshrined in the Equality Act 2010.
One of the best ways you can support neurodiverse colleagues in the NHS, which has an appalling record of discrimination, is to understand the Equality Act 2010 and be willing to support and advocate for colleagues and be willing to witness against discrimination by employers in grievances, disciplinary processes and even at tribunals.
Recent results using the Disability Discrimination Awareness Questionnaire show that the understanding of the Equality Act and the duties it puts on all doctors regarding both patients and colleagues is, in my opinion, woefully inadequate.
So maybe the 1st step to supporting neurodivergent and other disabled colleagues is to ensure that we and our employers get comprehensive training in the expectations of the Equality Act 2010.
Re: How can I support a neurodivergent colleague?
Dear Editor
The 3 published responses are all reasonable, but they all miss an important point, which is that it is not just a matter of what you should do but a much stronger duty than that.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) section 27 requires those with disability which would include all forms of neurodiversity to have access to reasonable accommodations and equal access to education and employment. These in the United Kingdom are enshrined in the Equality Act 2010.
One of the best ways you can support neurodiverse colleagues in the NHS, which has an appalling record of discrimination, is to understand the Equality Act 2010 and be willing to support and advocate for colleagues and be willing to witness against discrimination by employers in grievances, disciplinary processes and even at tribunals.
Recent results using the Disability Discrimination Awareness Questionnaire show that the understanding of the Equality Act and the duties it puts on all doctors regarding both patients and colleagues is, in my opinion, woefully inadequate.
So maybe the 1st step to supporting neurodivergent and other disabled colleagues is to ensure that we and our employers get comprehensive training in the expectations of the Equality Act 2010.
Competing interests: No competing interests