1. Neurodiversity in Action The Workplace  The Neurodiverse are leaders in technology and business Steve Jobs (Apple Mac) Bill Gates (Microsoft)  City University report - 35% of entrepreneurs are dyslexic (Professor Logan 2009)  Own more than one business- grow them more quickly  Start their businesses right after school  Excel in oral communications, problem solving, delegation, and spatial awareness  300,000 dyslexic entrepreneurs (Halfpenny, J Halfpenny C. 2012)

2. YET there are still barriers  The Neurodiverse face barriers due to the lack of understanding of skills and abilities by employers, networks, educationalists, businesses and policy makers Source; In their Element the case for investing in Dyslexic Entrepreneurs. (Halfpenny & Halfpenny 2012)

3. Neurodiverse Talents  Resilience  Mental flexibility  Ability to overcome difficulties  Problem solving  Spot opportunities  Develop vision  Form relationships to motivate  Negotiate and delegate

4. A new approach to the workplace  ‘There is an urgent need for comprehensive methods of intervention and remediation”  An innovative approach such as focusing on end results, rather than the methods applied  John Cass Business School in 2011

5. We know the barriers  Forms and applications  Communication interactions- email- interviews  Incremental loss of confidence to achieve ability  Issues around disclosure  Training which requires functional Maths/English in a linear based exam tests - The new Apprenticeships  Lack of consistency in systems : Access to Work- JCP-recruitment

6. The Loss to the nation  This situation has significant economic repercussions with the Dyslexia Institute in 2007 estimating that unrecognised dyslexia cost the UK economy £1 billion per year  World Foundation data in 2015 - 20% of the UK's population is estimated to be functionally illiterate

7. The Loss to the nation  This situation has significant economic repercussions with the Dyslexia Institute in 2007 estimating that unrecognised dyslexia cost the UK economy £1 billion per year  World Foundation data in 2015 - 20% of the UK's population is estimated to be functionally illiterate Source: Economic and social cost of illiteracy

8. The cost  Cost to the UK economy approximately £81 billion each year  The highest cost in Europe (World Foundation)  Poor literacy and numeracy is ruining lives and is linked with an array of poor life outcomes, such as poverty, unemployment, social exclusion, crime and long term illness. (IoE)

9. Systems need consistency  Access to Work are still requiring assessments for medical evidence of a condition. Any case studies are now sent to DAN to forward to AtW (DAN 2016)  JCP- disability advisors are being phased out to be employment coaches with an emphasis on internet job search  For those who do not have the literacy abilities/ and no IT skills- this means they are marginalized. (the poor & elderly)

10. Parliamentary question-Tabled on: 13 November 2015  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many apprentices who have dyslexia have received support from the Access to Work fund in each of the last five years.  Answer: The overall number of people with dyslexia who are helped by Access to Work has been steadily increasing. In 2014/15, 4,560 people who reported dyslexia as their primary condition were supported by the scheme.

11. The NEETs  The EHRC Triennial Review Developing the Employment Evidence Base (Policy Studies 2010) states that having a disability doubles the incidence of *NEET status compared with those without *NEET- Not in Employment, Education or Training

12. We have increasing extremes  Those who have and those who have not  The Neurodiverse if not given opportunities earlier in life have a higher chance of unemployment  Yet there is little data to tell us the actual figures  Systems that lack consistency  Despite this the Neurodiverse contribute substantially to this economy

13. What is wanted  Accessible data  Workplace based on results not methods  Consistent systems for support in employment  A group of Blue Chip businesses which sign up to all of the above

14. A Vision  In 50 years the world could be a very different place. Text speak communications through mobile devices will be the preferred form of communications with no more paper letters.  Spelling will no longer be so important due to the speed of communication and the requirement for bite sized chunks of information to convey immediate messages. It will be vital to be up to speed within a world of global communications.