Webinar: ADHD Safe Work – More than just noise cancelling headphones with Catherine Lee

Every employer knows that if a job candidate or employee discloses that they have a disability, then the employer must make reasonable adjustments to help them perform in the job. So if someone says they have ADHD you just give them a pair of noise-cancelling headphones, right? Because that’s what we did for the last guy with ADHD and he was happy with that.

But what happens if the disability is a mental health or neurodivergent condition, such as ADHD and the candidate or employee does not tell their employer?

What happens if the candidate or employee does not know they have ADHD?

What if the candidate or employee knows they have ADHD but does not consider it to be a disability as far as their work is concerned?

Most adults with ADHD do not disclose their condition to their employer because they either fear discrimination and judgement or because they do not believe it affects their work performance and so they should not have to disclose their own personal medical information. And who can blame them?

Much of the current advice provided to adults with ADHD in relation to telling their employer is:
1) Here are some tips and tricks about how you can perform effectively at work; and
2) Here are the pros and cons of disclosing to your employer. But think carefully about it. It’s probably best not to if you think you don’t think your employer will be accomodating.

In this webinar, presented as part of the Attention Deficit Disorder Association webinar series, Catherine explains some of the barriers to disclosure, the problems that non-disclosure can cause for both the worker and the employer, and introduces the Neurodiverse Safe Work Initiative, which has been established to make workplaces safe, healthy and inclusive for neurodiverse workers.

Learning Objectives of the ADHD Safe Work Webinar:

Learn about “The Vicious Cycle of Non- Disclosure” and why it’s a problem for adults with ADHD and their employers
Learn why reasonable adjustments like noise-cancelling headphones may not go far enough to ensure worker safety
Learn two approaches employers can adopt to create work that is safe, healthy and inclusive for everyone, even their ADHD workers who may not need noise cancelling headphones!

Here’s what some of the webinar attendees had to say …

I liked how you presented a balanced view – outlining how all parties need to be engaged and proactive.

You’re doing brilliant work!

I wanted to thank you first and foremost congratulate you on the ADHD Safe Work eBook and other initiatives…I am very much aligned with what you are doing and applaud you for the excellent work.

Thank you. That was so informative and validating. Hopefully American companies will be willing to make the effort. It still seems the management systems are really neurotypical dominated.

You delivered it expertly with quality, engaging content. Coupled with our catch-up last week, it helped me evolve my thinking around the existing gap in managing the safety of work for people with neurodiversity traits.

Thank you so much for having such a great understanding of these issues.

What was obvious to me (and no doubt others watching) were:

Your knowledge of the topic.
The practicalities, challenges but also opportunities ND/ADHD presents in the workplace.
Your obvious passion for the topic.

Thank you very much for the ADDA webinar tonight. I smiled when I saw the topic in today’s emails as I was having exactly this conversation today with two of my management team.

Your work is very important!

Congratulations on a great presentation on Thursday…..I thought it was very informative and engaging.

WOW! Thank you!

Touché Catherine

Well done! I thought the presentation was excellent and your Q&A very good as well.