Speaker after speaker at the day-long NeuroX conference in New Brunswick on Tuesday explained how and why creating a more neurodiverse work environment is great for individual companies and the economy as a whole. I explained in detail.
This is much more than just a social movement.
Speakers from key companies in this movement, including EY, Microsoft, and SAP, shared detailed success stories to ensure everyone understood one important fact: It is important to note that recruitment, onboarding and adaptation in the daily working environment are not only important for companies to attract top talent, but society is too often left on the sidelines, but the fact is that companies are already nervously diverse. They have a large percentage of employees who are sexually active, but they just don’t realize it.
One of the goals of the conference was to find ways to bring understanding and awareness of these issues to the entire community.
State Sen. Andrew Zwicker (D-Hillsboro) went a step further. In one of his many keynote speeches, he said that the bill he introduced this summer (S3397) would allow New Jersey to increase neurodiversity in employment and the workplace starting at the higher education level. He explained in detail that he aims to help build a model ecosystem for accessibility.
“These policies are not just about doing the right thing, they are about tapping into a strong and untapped talent pool that can move our economy forward,” he said. “New Jersey can become a beacon of inclusion and innovation by providing incentives for hiring neurodiverse people, creating educational pathways, and creating neurodiverse work environments.”
The bill, which has been introduced in the Senate Commerce Committee, would help in three key areas:
Stronger incentives for New Jersey jobs: “While we certainly offer general incentives for diverse hiring, we believe New Jersey has developed a robust New Jersey jobs program that includes AI and technology. It’s time to take the lead by creating tax credits and targeted innovation subsidies that directly reward businesses,” Zwicker said.
The incentives will reward companies that have made hiring adjustments, provided accessible workspaces, and neurodiverse support structures such as job coaching and supervisor training, which are often overlooked. This is an important part of the puzzle.
Zwicker praised companies that are doing this on their own (notably EY and Microsoft) and states that have tax incentive programs (such as Rhode Island and Colorado).
“It is important for us to recognize that we need to encourage these changes here in New Jersey and in all businesses, including small businesses and startups,” he said.
Strengthening programs in higher education: The state already has a number of four-year institutions with strong neurodiversity programs, including Rowan, Rutgers, TCNJ, and Ramapo, but more can be done across the state. said Zwicker. He specifically pointed to the need for increased funding for programs that create pathways to employment at the community college level, noting that the state’s 18 schools are central to the pipeline for neurodiverse students. said.
“A growing body of research shows that the majority of college students with neurological differences begin their studies at community colleges because they offer greater accessibility, smaller campuses, and a more connected environment. Because we do,” he said. “This is an opportunity to not only empower community colleges, but also create targeted pathways for neurodiverse students in STEM careers, especially careers in AI.”
As director of public engagement and workforce development at the Princeton Plasma Physics Institute, Zwicker knows firsthand how higher education and the workforce can work together.
“A statewide tech talent pipeline program that funds neurodiversity-friendly STEM courses, provides scholarships, and builds mentorship with neurodiversity experts already working in the field.” “I would like to see it,” he said.
“We can and must encourage New Jersey’s top technology companies to provide real-world experience through internships and practicums designed specifically for nervous students. This will improve individual market skills and make the state an attractive region for next-generation technology.”
Strengthen your neurodiversity program within your company: It’s one thing to tap into the neurodiversity community, but it’s another to make the necessary adjustments to help employees feel comfortable and thrive when they come to the office.
Research shows that many neurodivergent people face significant challenges once they enter the workforce, with one study finding that more than half of It shows that people feel they lack support, Zwicker said. To make matters worse, one in five neurodivergent professionals report experiencing harassment or discrimination.
All of this leads to some sobering statistics. Nearly a third of neurodiverse professionals choose not to disclose their status to managers for fear of negative career repercussions or stereotypical judgment. Roughly the same number say this work environment is having an impact on their mental health.
“This often leads to masking, with neurodivergent people feeling pressured to adapt their behavior within a traditional office environment, which only causes further stress and burnout,” Zwicker said. Ta.
Zwicker said New Jersey needs to step up.
“We must be at the forefront of addressing this stigma,” he said. “We need to partner with private companies to develop state-supported co-working spaces and innovation hubs specifically for neurodiverse employees.
“We need to look at subsidies and incentives for businesses to create these spaces, not just to provide accommodation, but to set the standard for other states. New Jersey will become even more attractive to companies that prioritize a diverse and diverse workplace.”
It’s not easy.
The NeuroX conference at Heldrich, which brought together thought leaders in the field and representatives from business and higher education from up and down the East Coast and as far away as Texas and California, focused on making a legitimate call to action a reality. would be difficult.
Mr. Zwicker knows that. But he said it was worth the fight.
“I encourage all of you here to get involved in this, because it will take political effort, it will take political capital, it will require state funding,” he said. “But these are all concrete things we can do, and we know better than anyone the incredible impact they will have.
“Let’s make New Jersey a career destination for a nervously diverse workforce, where innovation, inclusion, and opportunity coexist and thrive.”
