In summary:
- About 10-20% of the global population is neurodivergent, making inclusion and accessibility crucial for professional events and conferences.
- Creating neurodivergent-inclusive spaces doesn't have to be a significant investment.
- By the end of this article, you’ll know the key considerations and adjustments you can make to create environments where neurodivergent people can participate fully and comfortably.
- This includes clear communication, sensory considerations, flexible participation options, registration and check-in process, language and accessibility, staff and volunteer training, scheduling and breaks.
For an event to be truly inclusive, it must consider accommodations beyond physical support, such as those that cater to cognitive and sensory inclusion.
Many traditional events, such as conferences, have overlooked the ways in which neurodivergent people experience and process their surroundings and, as a result, can often unintentionally create barriers or friction points.
Fostering neurodiversity-inclusion in event planning and delivery is no longer just an ethical consideration – it's a strategic advantage, enhancing participation, engagement and overall event success.
To help promote inclusivity throughout the community, the Australian Psychological Society (APS) has introduced comprehensive guidelines, 'Designing neurodivergent-inclusive events: Creating accessible experiences for all', tailored to supporting event organisers to create accessible experiences for all.
These guidelines, created in consultation with a range of experts, aim to create environments where neurodivergent people – such as those living with Autism, ADHD, dyslexia and other neurological differences – can participate fully and comfortably in events.
Dr Zena Burgess, CEO of the APS, emphasises the significance of these guidelines.
"It is estimated 10-20% of the world's population is neurodivergent. That means that for an event with, say, 2000 delegates, there could be up to 400 attendees living with some form of neurodiversity. Creating inclusive spaces where they can both engage with the sessions and take time out as needed, just makes sense.
Practical tips: Addressing common barriers
Neurodivergent people often face challenges in traditional event settings, says Dr Burgess.
"Sensory overload, unpredictable schedules and unclear communication can impact neurodivergent attendees' experience. Our guidelines provide strategies to mitigate these issues, fostering a more inclusive atmosphere."
There are often misconceptions regarding the accommodations required to create a more inclusive, safe and enjoyable experience for people who are neurodivergent, Dr Burgess says.
"Designing inclusive event spaces requires moving beyond standard accessibility checklists and embracing a broader perspective on cognitive and sensory diversity." Dr Zena Burgess, CEO, APS
“Some people think they'll need to invest a huge amount of time or money into making an event truly neuroinclusive. While support will differ greatly for all individuals, it can often be as simple as ensuring there is a dedicated quiet space to help someone regulate their nervous system.
"True neuroinclusion begins with a mindset shift – one that challenges organisers to ask, 'Have we genuinely considered the experiences of those who navigate the world differently from us?' Designing inclusive event spaces requires moving beyond standard accessibility checklists and embracing a broader perspective on cognitive and sensory diversity."
For organisers seeking actionable steps, the guidelines offer several recommendations, including:
1. Clear communication
Consideration: Many neurodivergent attendees rely on predictability and structure to navigate events comfortably. A lack of clear communication can cause stress and disengagement.
Adjustment: Provide comprehensive pre-event materials, including schedules, venue layouts, speaker details, session formats and potential sensory triggers.
Offer this information in multiple formats – text, visual and video – to cater to different processing preferences.
2. Sensory considerations
Consideration: Sensory overload is a common challenge for neurodivergent people. Factors like bright lighting, loud noises, strong scents and crowded spaces can be quite overwhelming.
Adjustment: Designate quiet zones where attendees can decompress, use adjustable lighting where possible and ensure noise levels are managed appropriately.
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Consider providing noise-cancelling headphones or encourage attendees to bring their own.
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Place tactile tools in various spaces (such as stress balls or fidget spinners) to offer focus and wellbeing for neurodivergent attendees.
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Placing sensory products on every table can normalise the use of fidget and other items, so that those who need them don't feel singled out.
3. Flexible participation options
Consideration: Some neurodivergent attendees may struggle with long, structured sessions or social interactions. Others may experience fatigue or anxiety in large group settings.
Adjustment: Offer virtual attendance options, recorded sessions and breakout spaces for those who need to step away. Provide multiple modes of engagement, such as written Q&A submissions instead of verbal participation and allow for movement during sessions. Sharing information post-event can also help people catch up or revisit at their own pace. The upcoming APS member symposium will achieve this via AI-generated summaries of each session.
4. Registration and check-in process
Consideration: Traditional event check-in areas can be chaotic, with long queues and excessive sensory input, making arrival stressful for some attendees.
Adjustment: Provide an express or low-stimulation check-in option. Allow pre-event registration to minimise wait times and offer digital check-in for those who prefer minimal face-to-face interaction.
5. Language and accessibility
Consideration: Complex or ambiguous language can create barriers to understanding event materials and presentations.
Adjustment: Use plain language in all communications and provide visual supports, such as infographics or symbols, to reinforce key messages. If possible, offer live captions or transcripts for presentations.
6. Staff and volunteer training
Consideration: A lack of awareness among event staff can result in unintentional exclusion or miscommunication.
Adjustment: Train staff and volunteers on neurodiversity awareness, including strategies for supporting neurodivergent attendees. Appoint a neurodiversity liaison who can assist with queries and accommodations.
7. Scheduling and breaks
Consideration: Long sessions with back-to-back content can be overwhelming and reduce engagement for neurodivergent people.
Adjustment: Offer frequent breaks, provide clear transition warnings before sessions change and allow attendees to move around as needed. Flexible session lengths and alternative formats (e.g., short bursts of content instead of long lectures) can improve accessibility and engagement with the content.
For more detailed recommendations, refer to the full guidelines.
Go beyond the event
A truly inclusive event doesn't end when the conference does. A commitment to neuroinclusive events means taking the time to collect feedback, engage in self-reflection and learn from what did or didn't work in the past.
And, importantly, ensure consultation with the communities being supported.
"Event planners should engage with neurodivergent communities to understand their needs better," says Dr Burgess.
"This collaboration promotes a culture of acceptance and continuous improvement, and might provide specific direction around the types of accommodations needing to be considered for a specific community or group.”
Aligning with broader inclusion efforts
These guidelines align with wider societal initiatives to support neurodivergent people, as well as the APS’s existing work in this space.
“It's crucial to recognise that neurodivergent people bring unique strengths and perspectives. Our guidelines contribute to the broader movement of embracing neurodiversity, ensuring that societal structures evolve to support and celebrate all individuals," says Dr Burgess.
The APS also helps psychology professionals to support neurodivergent people via a range of other resources, including:
You can read the full professional resource here and feel free to share it with your own networks to encourage the facilitation of more inclusive events.