It is estimated that between 15% and 20% of the British population is living with some sort of neurodivergence. Whilst some may have a formal diagnosis of a particular condition, many people don’t, and it is important that workplaces are somewhere where neurodiverse people can feel comfortable, happy, and, consequently, as productive as possible.
For people living with neurodiversity of any form, the environment where they are based is key to both their well-being and their productivity. Over-stimulation, in particular, can be especially uncomfortable, so it is important that, when you are creating a commercial workspace, you take the needs of neurodivergent people into account.
It is also important to remember any visitors or customers that might be in the commercial unit, whether it be an office, retail unit, or restaurant, for example – they will have similar needs.
It is not always possible to find a commercial property to rent that is already designed for a better working environment for people who are neurodivergent, so it might be the case that the spaces need to be adapted in order to improve this.
In October 2022, a document was published by the BSI, giving advice for building designers about creating spaces that are more sympathetic to people with neurodivergence. The term ‘neurodivergence’ refers to people living (diagnosed or undiagnosed) with a number of different conditions. According to this document, neurodivergence’ is defined as people with a “variation of neurocognitive profiles across the whole population”. It covers a range of conditions such as (but not exclusively) autism, ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), and dyslexia, as well as forms of Parkinson’s Disease and dementia.
It is important to remember that every individual has their own challenges, and it is likely that you will not be able to find every solution for every person. There are, however, measures that can be taken to make spaces easier for the majority of people.
Zoning
It is already the case that in many modern offices (for example), there is a degree of zoning going on. Perhaps there is a combination of open-plan offices and private offices, collaborative workspaces and hot-desking, breakout rooms, rooms more conducive to creativity, and calmer spaces.
These can be extremely helpful to people who are living with a (or a combination) of neurodivergent conditions – as well as everyone else. Being able to have the choice of where to work for them to get the best results, means that they can get the right amount of visual stimulation, noise, and even smells.
It does not have to be the case that you need to carry out a lot of structural changes to the commercial property to aid people with neurodivergent conditions, it could just be a case of putting up a curtain, or re-allocating certain spaces away from a kitchen, or to somewhere with more natural light.
For many neurodivergent people, routine is essential, and unexpected changes can cause a lot of disruption and additional challenges. Try to reduce changing zones and spaces around to a minimum – and always look to inform people before you do it.
Colours and Lighting
The light in a room can have a great impact on someone’s ability to work as best that they can. It is useful to avoid distracting colours, and instead, aim for creams and calm yellows or greens – without mixing too many colours, or going for busy patterns. This is generally better for everyone’s ability to concentrate and helps avoid setting off anxiety.
For lighting, as much natural light as possible is always useful for everyone. However, there are some other factors to consider. Try to reduce flickering – ensure that the correct bulbs are being used – as well as look for the best quality. LED lights (which are generally recommended now in most commercial properties) can do a good job (at the least, better than the older-fashioned fluorescent lights!).
Acoustics
Loud noise can also be especially distracting for people living with neurodivergent conditions. If it is possible, you should try and keep noise as low as possible – perhaps carpeting the floors if possible, adding curtains, or tiling walls.
The addition of soft furnishings such as sofas and cushions, upholstered items, or desk dividers covered in fabric can make a big difference in absorbing noise. The availability of quiet breakout rooms can give people a space to go to if they feel that the noise is getting too distracting.
Nature and Smells
There is substantial evidence that bringing nature into a workspace (perhaps some inside plants, or maybe something more elaborate) can be an additional way to make the space calmer, healthier, and more beneficial to neurodivergent people – and everybody else! This can be a quick, simple, and cheap way to help make the environment more friendly – and calm – for everybody.
Strong smells can also have an impact on people – as with all of us! It can be useful to try to keep strong smells away from people – ensuring the kitchen doors are shut, or kitchens located further away, for example. Perhaps limit the amount of air freshener used in the commercial property and be sensitive to people’s individual needs.
Storage
For many neurodivergent people, order and organisation are important. Encourage people to clear their desks at the end of the day and keep clutter to a minimum. For many people, providing good and secure storage can be very useful for people to feel that they are in control, and to not worry about where their items might be.
Final Thoughts
It might seem that many changes should be made to a workspace in order to make it easier for people who are neurodivergent. In actual fact, the majority of the changes that are recommended would benefit everybody who works in the commercial property.
By keeping the environment calm and peaceful, it will be easier for most people to concentrate, and boost their productivity. For the smaller number of people who work better in over-stimulated areas, you should take a look at providing areas for them too.
If you are looking for a commercial unit to rent, be it an office, workshop, retail unit, or warehouse – or if you have one that you hope to rent out, get in touch with us today.