Opinion | Neurodiverse talent is an untapped resource across Asia-Pacific
- Corporate studies reveal that teams with neurodiverse employees – including those with ADHD, dyslexia and other mental ‘disabilities’ – are more creative, productive and innovative
Thirty-two. That was the number of years I lived before a doctor diagnosed me with attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD). The unexpected surprise was followed by frustration, that I hadn’t sought help earlier, anger, that so little was understood about it, and sadness, as I considered how the past could have been different.
As we mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3, I hope to shine the spotlight on this wealth of untapped talent across the Asia-Pacific.
Increasingly, we recognise that human capabilities sit on a bell curve. Across the world, there will be people who are typical (neurotypical) or atypical (neurodiverse). Neurodiverse individuals fall above or below the extremes of a statistical bell curve, and are estimated to make up between 30 per cent and 40 per cent of the population. People like me are simply more inclined to think differently.