March 17, 2025
Group Quality Improvement Director, Laura Playforth, shares her thoughts on Neurodiversity Celebration Week and the significance of IVC Evidensia’s new Neurodiversity E-Learning module.
Neurodiversity Celebration Week is a global initiative that challenges stereotypes and misconceptions about neurological differences. The week celebrates the strengths and talents of neurodivergent people and aims to foster a more inclusive culture within organisations worldwide.
At IVC Evidensia, Group Quality Improvement Director, Laura Playforth, has helped develop a Neurodiversity E-learning module for colleagues. By promoting this resource, Laura hopes to spark conversations, increase awareness, and encourage workplaces to be more welcoming and supportive of all minds.
Between 1 in 5 to 1 in 7 people across the general population are neurodivergent, yet awareness and understanding in the workplace remain limited. This knowledge gap has made neurodiversity education essential, with individuals like Laura stepping in to drive change.
Laura believes that providing learning opportunities can help workplaces build more supportive environments. She comments:
“Most people want to be supportive of their neurodivergent colleagues but may not know where to start. Self-education is a powerful tool for change.”
The new E-learning module provides practical knowledge about what neurodiversity is, common workplace challenges, and details small steps to creating a more inclusive environment. It focuses on understanding unique strengths and support needs, as well as what helps them as individuals.
While developing the module, Laura also aimed to address common misconceptions about the need for neurodivergent support:
“Too often, neurodivergent colleagues face barriers due to misunderstanding rather than actual capability. My goal in helping to develop this module was to bridge that knowledge gap, giving colleagues the tools and confidence to foster truly neuro-inclusive teams.”
By increasing awareness, Laura aims to empower everyone to contribute to a culture where all minds can thrive.
Laura, who also leads the IVC Evidensia Colleague Neurodiversity Support Network, shares her own experiences as a neurodivergent person at work:
“Being neurodivergent at work has its challenges, but it also comes with unique strengths. Like many others, I’ve faced moments where miscommunication, sensory overload, or different processing styles created difficulties.
“However, I’ve also experienced the benefits of working in teams that embrace neurodiversity, allowing me to bring creativity, hyperfocus, and problem-solving strengths to the table.”
“As someone who is both neurodivergent and passionate about inclusion, I know first-hand the impact that workplace culture can have on wellbeing and success.”
Ultimately, Neurodiversity Celebration Week is an opportunity to educate oneself, while recognising the unique talent and skills of neurodivergent people.
For Laura, this week can open doors to inclusivity, where small acts of kindness create the biggest impact:
“Inclusivity isn’t about big, sweeping changes—it’s about small, intentional actions that make a difference.
“Whether it’s offering flexible communication styles, providing clear written instructions, allowing additional time for tasks, reducing unnecessary meetings, or simply being open to learning from different perspectives, we all have a role to play.”
IVC Evidensia is committed to Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion, and dedicated to investing in continuous development for all colleagues. Find out more about life at IVC Evidensia through Benefits & Culture.
For more resources, click here to learn more about Neurodiversity Celebration Week.