As we marked the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3, we reflect on a global call to action by the World Health Organisation (WHO). In 2022, WHO launched the Global Report on health equity for persons with disabilities, highlighting the experiences of more than 1.3 billion people, constituting 16% of the global population. The new...
One of the many preconceptions about neurodivergent people we challenge is how they are resistant to change. If there is anything the last 18 months has allowed us to demonstrate is that we, at Xceptional, embrace transformation – a wide-eyed openness to change, which we also aim to inspire in our partners and participants in...
I love coffee. After years living in Melbourne I have an appreciation for the sights and aroma of cafes and used to love nothing more than pretending I was a digital nomad and working from a cafe. However, as we continue to navigate the pandemic and adjust to new work environments, I have come to...
I have both a confession and an apology to make. Every primary school report card I ever had included the same sentence: ‘Aron is frequently distracted and often distracts others’. I’m afraid this attribute has followed me into adulthood and is most visible in unstructured meetings. An unstructured meeting is a primary school classroom for...
This is a recorded conversation with one of Xceptional’s tech partners Zoho Recruit offering practical advice on how to recruit and retain autistic professionals.
Aron Mercer explains that a one-size-fits-all approach is never the correct way to boost DEI initiatives and offers his insights on how organisations can provide relevant accessibility, gain literacy around inclusivity and create a platform of ‘disclosure without ridicule’ in workspaces. Listen to the podcast here: https://soundcloud.com/article-23/have-you-worked-with-someone-who-identifies-as-neurodivergent
(By Aron Mercer and Georgie Chinchen) 2020 was supposed to be a year of growth for Xceptional. We had funding thanks to Google.Org, Westpac and AMP, a growing team and diverse customers. In March of 2020, we were busy organising a neurodiversity at work breakfast in Sydney, a sold out event which was to be...
What’s it like being an autistic person in the workplace, and how can managers and colleagues help this group thrive? How can we make the most of the unique super powers of this under-employed cohort – especially in the midst of a labour shortage. We connect at work through humour – but for autistic people...
Dyslexia is a condition that most of us think we understand, but few of us actually do. It can be defined as a difference that primarily affects the skills involved in accurate and fluent word reading and spelling. But there is much more to dyslexia than that. It is a neurodivergent condition, meaning that dyslexic brains...
Xceptional acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land where we work and live. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We celebrate the stories, culture and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders of all communities who also work and live on this land.
