SUSTAINABILITY & ESG
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Hidden Disabilities – What Is Autism a Brief Guide
Kelly ’ s experience reflects the research of Dr . Lawrence Fung , Director of the Stanford Neurodiversity Project .
On McKinsey ’ s ‘ McKinsey Talks Talent ’ podcast , he said that neurodivergent employees tend to struggle most with the unspoken social rules or ‘ hidden curriculum ’ of the workplace .
This sociological concept coined by educator Philip Jackson in 1968 , describes two simultaneous challenges :
one visible and clear and one concealed and undefined . Aka , your job on paper versus your job in practice .
“ A hidden curriculum is that we ’ d expect a meeting leader to sit at the top of a 30-person conference room table , with more junior people sitting in peripheral positions ,” explains Lawrence . “ But there ’ s usually no book talking about this and no one verbalises where to sit . People with autism need a heads-up about those types of things .”
The hidden curriculum of work often leads neurodivergent people to mask to fulfil its requirements .
“ Masking is something autistic people do to fit in with those around them ,” Hester says .
“ It is incredibly draining and exhausting . It can happen subliminally , it ’ s often not a choice . You look at how others respond in certain situations and copy them often unintentionally .”
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