In our journey towards creating truly inclusive workplaces, understanding Neurodiversity allyship has become increasingly important. But what does it mean to be a Neurodiversity ally, and how can we meaningfully support our Neurodivergent colleagues? We spoke to some of our colleagues to find out.
Understanding allyship
At its core, Neurodiversity allyship isn’t about achieving perfection – it’s about commitment to learning and growth. As Hannah Arnold, Head of Media and Content at the John Innes Centre, reflected: “You don’t have to get it right every time, but you do need to be open to learning, and supportive of everyone, as you won’t necessarily know everyone’s neurotype.”
This understanding is crucial, because fear of making mistakes often prevents meaningful engagement with Neurodiversity discussions. She continued: “I have often heard people not wanting to engage in discussions or challenges about Neurodiversity and other areas of EDI because they are so scared of getting it wrong, but that is a sure-fire way not to learn or make things better!”
The role of privilege in allyship
Understanding and acknowledging privilege plays a vital role in effective allyship. As one researcher reflected, gaining “a greater appreciation of […] privilege and how to use it to be an ally for those without such privilege” is fundamental to supporting colleagues effectively. This awareness helps us understand different perspectives and experiences, leading to more meaningful support and advocacy.
Lauryn Williams, Communications Assistant at the John Innes Centre, emphasised it’s important to: “Recognise your privilege and use this to support others who may be less privileged than you in certain spaces.”
Understanding privilege helps us see things from other peoples’ perspective enabling more effective allyship.
Active allyship in practice
Being a Neurodiversity ally involves:
Understanding and using appropriate, respectful language (there are helpful online glossaries that can help)
Creating inclusive environments and practices
Challenging discriminatory behaviour when encountered
Supporting those affected by discrimination, even when immediate intervention isn’t possible
Advocating for Neuroinclusive policies and practices
Recognising that Neurodiversity encompasses a wide spectrum of experiences and needs.
The power of communication
Effective communication lies at the heart of meaningful allyship. As one participant of our ‘How to be a Neurodiversity Ally’ training course at JIC observed: “Discussions about language and terminology provide greater understanding of Neurodiversity and how to communicate with others.”
This includes:
Learning about appropriate and respectful terminology
Understanding different communication preferences and needs
Creating accessible materials and inclusive spaces
Being open to feedback and willing to adapt communication styles.
Beyond good intentions
True allyship goes beyond simply having good intentions. Dr Karim Gharbi, Head of Technical Genomics at the Earlham Institute, encapsulated this when he said: “Allyship is more nuanced than I had realised. It takes a certain degree of self-reflection to unlearn unconscious bias and turn positive intent into positive action.”
A colleague added that it’s particularly valuable to understand “how to be inclusive regardless of declared status” highlighting that allyship means creating welcoming environments for everyone, whether they have disclosed their neurotype or not.
Looking forward
The Understanding, Valuing and Celebrating Neurodiversity project at the John Innes Centre, developed by Leah Milner-Campbell and Dr Clare Stevenson, represents one step in this ongoing journey. As the programme prepares to roll out allyship training across four BBSRC institutes during April-May 2025, there is a growing recognition of the importance of Neurodiversity allyship in scientific institutions.
However, the journey of allyship extends far beyond any single programme or initiative. As Hannah stated: “If everyone opts out of difficult conversations we will never put others first, and won’t improve as a society.”
Being an ally means committing to an ongoing journey. The path to meaningful Neurodiversity allyship isn’t about reaching a destination of perfect understanding, but rather about maintaining a genuine commitment to growth, learning, and active support. It’s about creating spaces where all neurotypes are not just accommodated but valued and celebrated for their unique contributions to our workplace and society.