Sensory Processing, Cognitive Well-Being and Neuro-Inclusion

Sensory Processing, Cognitive Well-Being and Neuro-Inclusion in the Workplace
– Kay Sargent, HOK and
– Katie Gaudion, Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design

Wednesday 27 March, 2.30pm – 5.30pm, followed by Drinks Social
Herman Miller Showroom, London, WC2B 6LH

Work environments today need to be designed to be inclusive for all. But to be inclusive we need to address the nuances needed to accommodate personality traits, work styles and neurodivergents.

We are living in a time of increased numbers and awareness about individuals with neuro-sensitivity and special needs, such as ADHD, Autism and Dyslexia. In fact, 1 in 5 people are considered neurodiverse but fewer than 50% know it.

Neurodivergents tend to be high energy, out of the box thinkers, excel in a crisis, and be bold problem solvers. Not only is designing to be inclusive the right thing to do, but there is a compelling business case for it as well.

Workspaces need to reflect the diverse makeup of organisations as more and more we are becoming a majority of minorities, so we need to design to set everyone up for success.

In 2021 HOK and partners undertook a study to determine the key factors that are impacting neurodivergents in the built environment. In 2022, they undertook the next phase of the research that compared the findings for the neurodivergent sample group to a mixed number of neurotypes in an effort to refine workplace solutions. And in early 2023 they launched an acoustic pilot and an assessment of pilot spaces that test the theories from our research.

Join Kay (who is kindly making the journey to London from the US) as she hosts a workshop where she shares the findings to date, discusses neuro-inclusion principles and best practices and discover how you can evolve your space and policies to be more welcoming and inclusive for all.

After the masterclass please join us for drinks and nibbles kindly supplied by our hosts at HermanMiller.

About our speaker

With 38 years of experience, Kay Sargent is a recognised expert on workplace design and strategy issues and an award-winning designer. Kay is Global Co-Director of HOK’s WorkPlace team and sits on HOK’s Board of Directors. In 2020 she was named ASID’s Designer of Distinction. In 2021 she was selected from her field of peers to provide Congressional Subject Matter Expert Testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives on “Federal Real Estate Post-COVID-19: A View from The Private Sector.” Kay also serves on the GSA Diversity taskforce and is an advisor for the HOK Diversity Advisory Council.

Who’s Attending

Here’s the latest list of who you can expect to meet at the event!

Join them by registering here.