Overview
The Neurodiversity Employment Research Project is an initiative conducted at the Ivey Business School, supported by funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). Led by Professor Robert Austin, the research team is seeking to explore, understand, and identify the best practices in neurodiversity employment programs.
Research Method
This project relies on primary research using mixed methods, especially semi-structured interviews with people involved in the design and management of neurodiversity employment programs. To date, the team has studied more than a dozen global organizations, ranging from non-profits, social enterprises, and for-profit firms. Additional data gathering techniques include the analysis of documents, facilities visits, case developments, and surveys.
History
Professor Robert Austin has been studying how firms proactively consider neurodiversity in their hiring practices since 2006. The first organization to be interviewed for his research was Specialisterne [Danish for ‘The Specialists’], a Danish social enterprise credited as one of the originators of neurodiversity employment programs. Since then, the landscape of organizations with neurodiversity employment programs has grown into a greater range of businesses and approaches.
Our Findings
Learn more about what we have learned from our work so far.
Advisory Board
Learn more about our advisory board and their role.
Our team
Learn more about our team of researchers.