The simple language swap that boosts inclusion

Hello!

First things first, a quick correction from last week’s email! I listed the wrong time for our upcoming masterclass. Oops. Thanks to those of you who spotted it and let me know! Here’s the correct info:

The Future of Neuroinclusion: AI, Intersectionality and Building Cultures
🗓️ Monday 23 June at 12.00–13.00 UK time
Reserve your spot here

I’m really excited about it, and I’d love to see you there.

Now, onto this week’s newsletter, one that’s super close to my heart.

We talk a lot about adjustments, accommodations, and additional needs. But what if the problem isn’t the person, it’s how we describe them?

Today I’m talking about:

• Info: How reframing needs changes everything

• Tips: Small language shifts that reshape culture

• Recommendations: A deeper dive with tools, resources, and our programme

When words create barriers

Take a look at these two descriptions:

❌ “Overwhelmed by last-minute schedule changes”
✅ “Performs best with advance notice and clear expectations”

One suggests a flaw. The other signals a pathway to success.

This isn’t just semantics. It’s about mindset. And it’s rooted in the social model of disability - the idea that people are disabled not by their impairments, but by the barriers society creates.

When we describe someone in terms of deficits, we frame them as problems to fix. When we reframe to focus on what enables them, we create space for everyone to thrive.

Here are more real-life examples we explore in our sessions:

• ❌ “Sensitive to lighting or noise”
  ✅ “Works most effectively in sensory-considerate spaces”

• ❌ “Finds large group meetings draining”
  ✅ “Engages best in smaller discussions or via written input”

• ❌ “Struggles to meet deadlines”
  ✅ “Thrives with visual planning tools and structured, regular check-ins”

Context matters. And language can either reinforce stigma, or unlock possibility.

It’s not always easy

Let’s be honest though. Sometimes it is about challenges. Sometimes the environment feels unworkable, even with changes. And reframing alone doesn’t make that go away.

That’s OK. This stuff is complex. It’s not about pretending everything is fine, it’s about holding space for both truth and potential. Naming what’s hard while building systems that reduce the harm.

We go deeper into this in our NeuroNavigator® programme, where we guide people through how to communicate needs, shift cultures, and use reframing as a tool to champion neurodiversity at work.

👉 Join the waitlist here

Practical Tips

Here are a few ways to start applying this reframing approach:

• Start team discussions about enabling vs fixing, and discuss how we can talk about needs differently.

• Model reframed language: “What helps you thrive?” vs “What do you find challenging?”

• Use real-life examples like the ones above to spark reflection and challenge assumptions.

• Encourage ‘best conditions’ sharing: We all work differently, and naming our preferences should be standard practice.

Recommended Resources

• Watch our quirky take on ‘The Social Model of Disability’: It challenges what we perceive to be the ‘right way’ of doing things at work.

• Register for my Masterclass on ‘The Future on Neuroinclusion’ – Reserve your place for a session that will cover AI, intersectionality and creating cultures that thrive.

A final thought

What if workplace adjustments weren’t seen as extras or favours but simply the scaffolding that helps us all perform at our best (whatever that looks like)?

Let’s stop seeing neurodivergent needs as problems.

And start seeing them as the blueprint for better ways of working for all of us.

Speak soon,
Jess

PS Whenever you’re ready, here are some ways I can help:

• Join the waitlist for our next NeuroNavigator® programme and become a certified Neurodiversity Champion. Doors open this month for Sept start. Join the over 100 people already on our waitlist in order not to miss out!

• Want me to speak in your organisation? Head here to book a chat and make a plan.

• Book a FREE Discovery call to chat through how I can support your workplace, your school or your family.