Supporting neurodiverse folks in your comms
As communicators, our role is to create great communication strategies, plans, and pieces that resonate with our audiences, and drive messages.
To do that, we need to adapt our communication to meet the needs of our audiences. As we’ve talked about previously (see our article on catering for different learners and thinkers), people learn and think in different ways, and that impacts our communication techniques.
Similarly, in order to be truly inclusive, our communication not only needs to be accessible, but meet the needs of our neurodiverse audience members. People who live with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), or other learning challenges like dyslexia, have different communication needs.
The great part is that by considering these needs in our communication, we’re creating better communication for everyone! Here’s how.
Clarity is key
For our neurodiverse friends, we sometimes need to be very clear in what we want them to know or do. This means get rid of the hyperbole, nuances, and subtleties, cut out the jargon, and get to the point. Everyone will appreciate this!
Limit the pivot
Neurodiverse people often need more time than others to adjust to change, to process their thoughts, or even to decipher written communication. So calling someone in for a ‘quick meeting’ unexpectedly, changing something without talking to them in advance, or expecting someone to have read your email in the five minutes after you’ve sent it is not helpful. Allow time for people to digest the information and to gather their thoughts.
Provide two-way, safe channels
Sometimes, our neurodiverse friends may need to check the meaning of something they’ve heard or read. Or, they may want to ask about their own communication and how it’s being received. Creating two-way communication channels - and a culture of psychological safety - will allow people to have open conversations and test their thinking. This is great for building understanding of key messages, and for leaders to know what’s working, and what needs to change in their communication.
Stick to routines
Having a regular communication rhythm brings comfort to many people, not just the neurodiverse folk! Set a rhythm and stick to it - for example, weekly meetings at the same time each week, team emails every Wednesday, one-on-one check-ins every Thursday … whatever your schedule looks like. Routines give people comfort, but they also help those who struggle with time blindness and working memory, because they get into a habit of expecting those communication opportunities at the same time each week.
In short, inclusive communication is not just kind communication, but it helps to create a culture of psychological safety. And inclusive communication makes all communication better, for everyone!
