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How can we reach the destination of neurodiversity and neuroinclusivity if, even with a road map, we don’t know where we are starting from? Danielle Gleicher-Bates, Chair and Co-Founder of neurodiversikey®, introduces the surveys aiming to plug the knowledge gap and employ the results as a catalyst for change
neurodiversikey® is conducting two unprecedented surveys open to neurodivergent law students and legal professionals respectively. The surveys explore the experiences, perceptions, and self-identification of neurodivergent individuals in legal education, training, and practice, with the aim of inspiring action to foster neurodiversity and neuroinclusivity.
We are seeking participants to answer 15-16 multiple choice questions anonymously. We need as many neurodivergent voices (including self-diagnosed) as possible to ensure the neurodivergent community is heard and to bring about change. If you are an ally to the community you can assist by sharing the surveys with your network. Whether you are neurodivergent or an ally, this is your opportunity to help shape the future for neurodivergent people in law.
Studying and practising law can be deeply rewarding and satisfying – but challenging too, often compounded by inequity and exclusion. Despite significant progress in diversity, equity, and inclusion across legal education, training, and practice, neurodiversity and neuroinclusion lag behind. For many neurodivergent individuals, access to, retainment, and progression within law come with additional invisible barriers.
In recent years, the legal community has become increasingly interested in neurodiversity and neuroinclusivity. However, this has yet to translate into widespread, meaningful change. In the interests of access to justice, the legal profession should be representative of society – the need for which is emphasised by the overrepresentation of neurodivergent people in for example the criminal justice system. We want legal education, training and practice to be neurodiverse and neuroinclusive.
Anecdotally, we know that neurodivergent people face inequity, exclusion and discrimination in law. Beyond anecdotal evidence, there is plenty that we simply do not know. We do not know how neuroinclusive or neurodiverse legal education, training, and practice are; to what extent neurodivergent people feel they are neuroinclusive; or even neurodivergent people’s language and identity preferences. Why don’t we know? Nobody has ever asked.
‘How can we reach the destination of neurodiversity and neuroinclusivity if, even with a road map, we don’t know where we are starting from?’
This dearth of evidence leaves law with a blind spot, and neither a yardstick with which to measure progress, nor a route to it. By carrying out these surveys, neurodiversikey® intends to start plugging the knowledge gap, and to employ the results as a catalyst for change.
Responses will be analysed to identify any key trends across neurotypes, legal education, training, and practice. We plan to publish a report of our findings as part of our series of events for Neurodiversity Celebration Week (18-24 March).
The report will be used to determine where our work is needed most, the next steps the legal community should take, and to assess long-term progress. The neurodivergent community needs action which we hope will be prompted by the findings – immediately and across the board.
Key points for participants
Danielle Gleicher-Bates is Chair and Co-Founder of award-winning non-profit neurodiversikey®, and winner of ‘DE&I Champion of the Year in a Specialist Role’ W&DIL Awards 2024.
neurodiversikey® is conducting two unprecedented surveys open to neurodivergent law students and legal professionals respectively. The surveys explore the experiences, perceptions, and self-identification of neurodivergent individuals in legal education, training, and practice, with the aim of inspiring action to foster neurodiversity and neuroinclusivity.
We are seeking participants to answer 15-16 multiple choice questions anonymously. We need as many neurodivergent voices (including self-diagnosed) as possible to ensure the neurodivergent community is heard and to bring about change. If you are an ally to the community you can assist by sharing the surveys with your network. Whether you are neurodivergent or an ally, this is your opportunity to help shape the future for neurodivergent people in law.
Studying and practising law can be deeply rewarding and satisfying – but challenging too, often compounded by inequity and exclusion. Despite significant progress in diversity, equity, and inclusion across legal education, training, and practice, neurodiversity and neuroinclusion lag behind. For many neurodivergent individuals, access to, retainment, and progression within law come with additional invisible barriers.
In recent years, the legal community has become increasingly interested in neurodiversity and neuroinclusivity. However, this has yet to translate into widespread, meaningful change. In the interests of access to justice, the legal profession should be representative of society – the need for which is emphasised by the overrepresentation of neurodivergent people in for example the criminal justice system. We want legal education, training and practice to be neurodiverse and neuroinclusive.
Anecdotally, we know that neurodivergent people face inequity, exclusion and discrimination in law. Beyond anecdotal evidence, there is plenty that we simply do not know. We do not know how neuroinclusive or neurodiverse legal education, training, and practice are; to what extent neurodivergent people feel they are neuroinclusive; or even neurodivergent people’s language and identity preferences. Why don’t we know? Nobody has ever asked.
‘How can we reach the destination of neurodiversity and neuroinclusivity if, even with a road map, we don’t know where we are starting from?’
This dearth of evidence leaves law with a blind spot, and neither a yardstick with which to measure progress, nor a route to it. By carrying out these surveys, neurodiversikey® intends to start plugging the knowledge gap, and to employ the results as a catalyst for change.
Responses will be analysed to identify any key trends across neurotypes, legal education, training, and practice. We plan to publish a report of our findings as part of our series of events for Neurodiversity Celebration Week (18-24 March).
The report will be used to determine where our work is needed most, the next steps the legal community should take, and to assess long-term progress. The neurodivergent community needs action which we hope will be prompted by the findings – immediately and across the board.
Key points for participants
How can we reach the destination of neurodiversity and neuroinclusivity if, even with a road map, we don’t know where we are starting from? Danielle Gleicher-Bates, Chair and Co-Founder of neurodiversikey®, introduces the surveys aiming to plug the knowledge gap and employ the results as a catalyst for change
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