Designing Neurodivergent Support Across the Employee Lifecycle
Neurodivergence—encompassing ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia and other cognitive variations—affects an estimated 10–20% of the working population. Yet for many employees, their needs go unrecognised until a career transition, a life event, or accumulated workplace pressure brings them to a tipping point.
In this webinar, Modern Health's clinical and commercial experts explore how HR and benefits leaders can think differently about neurodivergent support—not as a one-off accommodation or a reactive measure, but as something intentionally woven through each stage of the employee lifecycle.
We will examine five key moments across the employee lifecycle—recruiting and hiring, onboarding, performance and growth, periods of change or stress, and long-term retention—and discuss what neurodivergent-aware support looks like at each stage. Drawing on clinical evidence and real-world employer insights, we will also explore the hidden cost of masking (research shows 91% of neurodivergent employees suppress their natural behaviours at work), the role of adaptive care models in responding to evolving needs, and the practical steps organisations can take to move from awareness to action.
Attendees will leave with:
- A practical lifecycle framework for neurodivergent support—specific, actionable ideas for how to embed support from the first touchpoint with a candidate through to long-term retention and career development.
- A clearer understanding of the clinical reality, including why neurodivergent needs often go unrecognised until mid-career, what masking costs employees and organisations, and how co-occurring conditions like anxiety and burnout intersect with neurodivergence.
- Insight into what "good" adaptive care looks like and how a flexible, multi-modal model (digital resources, coaching, therapy, peer community, and pathways to diagnosis or medication where needed) can meet employees at different points of need.
- Real-world market context — what HR and benefits leaders in the UK are telling us about the challenges they are facing, and the approaches gaining traction.
- Immediate next steps — practical guidance on how to audit existing support provision, identify gaps across lifecycle stages, and build a business case for more proactive neurodivergent support
A published researcher and digital health strategist, Dr. Odafe bridges clinical science and real-world application—helping organizations translate evidence-based mental health practices into support that is practical, inclusive, and accessible at scale. Her work centers on improving workplace well-being through clinically grounded, human-centered approaches.
