21H - Harnessing the Power of Neurodiversity in the Workplace

Monday, March 20

3:15–4:15 p.m.

Improving healthcare by solving tough problems and creating meaningful change takes an ability to think differently. Healthcare executives need to foster a company culture where people can do just that by sharing unique perspectives, backgrounds and dimensions. People are our strength and strategic advantage. Making diversity, equity and inclusion a priority propels business forward, influences the future of healthcare and fuels continued success.

This session will highlight the journey taken to make neurodiversity a cultural priority, including a companywide launch hosted by the CEO to deeper-dive conversation with leaders and training on ableist language. Participants will receive take-home tools to incorporate neurodiversity into an existing diversity, equity and inclusion strategic plan.

Ability@Vizient is an employee affinity group that promotes awareness around the fullness of every person’s abilities and health, including physical, neurodiverse and mental health to eliminate stigmas and ableism. Taylor White has been a vocal supporter of neurodiversity at Vizient while serving as executive sponsor. Through his efforts, neurodiversity has been a topic in many organizational culture conversations as well as enterprisewide presentations and events. A central component of those conversations has been to hear from Brian Skeats, a self-identified neurodivergent colleague. Participants will be provided with sample policies and procedures to bring back to their own organizations to start creating an intentionally neurodiverse workplace.

Learning Objectives

• Learn the benefits of including neurodiversity in the workplace and identify an example of ableist language from a list of options.
• Summarize the benefits of including neurodiversity into your workplace’s diversity, equity and inclusion strategic plan.