International Women's Day: Neurodivergent in the Workplace

This International Women’s Day, we’re shining a light on the real barriers neurodivergent women face in accessing and thriving in employment. 19% of neurodivergent women report difficulty in finding full-time work, but our Steps to Work programme is here to help young people overcome those barriers to employment.

What issues do Neurodivergent women face?

Women are often misdiagnosed, or diagnosed late

On average, autistic women are diagnosed 7 years later than autistic men, if they're diagnosed at all. Diagnostic criteria for conditions like ADHD and autism were largely developed based on male presentations, which means symptoms in women and girls are frequently overlooked or misattributed. This means that many Autistic women are navigating a world that wasn’t built for them, and they are doing it unsupported and alone.

Women may be more likely to mask

Masking is a coping mechanism where autistic people adapt their behaviour to "fit in" with neurotypical society. This can include mimicking others' behaviour, forcing eye contact, suppressing soothing stims or rehearsing conversations in advance. While all autistic people may mask, it is especially common in women and girls due to sexism and social pressure to conform. Masking is exhausting and can lead to burnout and poor mental health. 

The cost of a late (or missed) diagnosis

When girls grow up without a diagnosis, their struggles are often dismissed as them being ditzy or lazy. Framing neurodivergent traits as character flaws can cause lasting damage to self-confidence and self-esteem, making it harder for women to thrive in the workplace or chase career opportunities.

How do our programmes help neurodivergent women?

Confidence building

One of the biggest barriers neurodivergent young people face isn't an inability to do the job, it's a lack of confidence. Through our 12-month programme, trainees undertake classroom-based learning to become work-ready, followed by an internal placement at Strawberry Field and then external placements with our Employment Partners. Along the way, they gain valuable workplace skills, but more importantly, they build the confidence and self-belief to succeed.

Reasonable adjustments

Our Steps at Strawberry Field programmes help neurodivergent young people navigate hiring processes that are often designed with neurotypical people in mind, ensuring they have the support and adjustments they need to succeed. This can look like help with job searching, mediating with employers and advocating for neurodiverse applicants.

Education

The Steps at Strawberry Field team is committed to helping employers better understand and support neurodivergent staff. Alongside our work with young people, Strawberry Field offers Neurodiversity Awareness Training for businesses, helping employers recognise neurodiversity in the workplace and create more inclusive, supportive environments for neurodivergent individuals.

Taking the next steps

Our programmes and support encourage the girls and all trainees we work with to reflect on how and why they may mask whilst at the same time, creating and holding a safe, supportive space where they can explore this further and consider different ways of being.  We empower them to reshape their personal narratives, build self-awareness, and develop the confidence to be their authentic selves.

If you are a young person experiencing barriers to employment, come and take the next step with us. Our Steps to Work programme supports young adults who have learning differences, neurodivergence or other barriers into paid employment. Come to one of our open days to learn how we can support you into paid employment.