Contributors
From 16 to 20 March, Womble Bond Dickinson's Disability & Neurodiversity Network is marking Neurodiversity Celebration Week for the fifth year running.
As Disability Confident Leaders, we are once more celebrating neurodiversity with multi-coloured umbrellas across our UK offices to visually represent and celebrate our different minds; and we're also launching an inspiring self-awareness initiative – "what makes you, you" – designed to empower colleagues to better appreciate their own strengths and unique talents.
For years, the Network has actively promoted neuroinclusion, with initiatives ranging from myth-busting, introducing reasonable adjustment policies and workplace adjustment passports, and adopting the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower.
The Network continues to build on initiatives and since last year has:
- Rolled out mini sensory kits and quiet rooms for events across all WBD UK offices
- Held creative awareness-raising events including learning over Lego, donut pledges, and wellbeing dice
- Expanded its Accessibility Toolkit
- Held internal discussions on "Neurodiversity, organisation and time management", and
- Spoken at external events, collaborating with client panels and other lawyers.
Legal Director, Michelle Essen, who chairs the Network, explained:
"Continually raising the bar on neurodiversity-awareness normalises conversations and reinforces safe spaces; and doing this in a way that engages and energises people means they actively consider what inclusion truly means.
Our recent "Dos and Donuts" encouraged people to focus on DOs - making pledges to support colleagues who are neurodivergent or have disabilities and long-term conditions - while inviting further discussion over Donuts.
And for our Wellbeing Dice initiative, for International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we gave our people colourful dice to roll and cards with numbered wellbeing activities to follow.
These activities sparked open discussions and created supportive communities, which everyone could understand and benefit from - and our "what makes you, you" insights will build on this further".
The Network is firmly supported by the wider business. Paul Britton, Head of WBD's DEI (Diversity Equity and Inclusion) Team, adds:
"As part of our DEI Strategy, we aim to enhance our inclusive recruitment practices, embed inclusion into our recognition and reward processes, and create an inclusive and respectful environment for everyone at the firm. Being neuroinclusive forms an important part of helping us achieve these aims, and the work of our WBD Disability & Neurodiversity Network, as well as the wider business, is vital for helping us celebrate and raise awareness of neurodiversity."
WBD's Inclusive Recruitment Lead, Charlotte Hall, who is also part of the Network's Steering Group, expands:
"Neurodiversity and neuroinclusion are central to our Inclusive Recruitment Strategy, ensuring recruitment processes are accessible to everyone so we can recruit the best talent. We work with Neurodiversity Jobs UK and inclusive recruitment agencies to broaden our talent pool and improve the quality and consistency of adjustments.
We engage neurodivergent students through partnerships with UK universities, supporting events and contributing to blogs that highlight strengths and available adjustments. We offer the Offer an Interview scheme for disabled and neurodivergent candidates and use Neurosight in Early Talent recruitment, an accessible assessment tool that measures potential without bias, strengthening recruitment decisions and outcomes."
Charlotte won DE&I Champion of the Year at the 2025 Women & Diversity in Law Awards.
WBD's focus on neurodiversity and disability is further extended through it's Womble Bond Dickinson Foundation independent charity - where neurodiversity and disability are one of the key themes for its grant giving scheme. Its current grant funding scheme closes on 13 April, with charities invited to apply for funding up to £5,000.
For more, visit our Responsible Business page.
