Google leads project for neuro-inclusion events

Megan Henshall, Global Events Strategic Solutions lead, Google, shares how planners can make meetings more inclusive for neuro­divergent people. She leads Google’s The Neu Project which offers An Event Professional’s Guide to Neuroinclusion. We share some highlights:

Sources estimate about 20% of the population is neurodiverse, an umbrella term for such conditions as autism, ADHD, OCD, Tourette’s and sensory-processing disorders.

When harm is done

Henshall and her team had dived into research around the effects meetings have on these groups. She said: “We were overstimulating people; we weren’t giving them enough breaks. A lot of people left events exhausted and completely depleted, needing days or weeks to recover.” Without understanding this, event professionals risk delivering experiences that reduce inclusivity, decrease attendee returns, or cause harm.

The benefits

• Boosts creativity - the Project views diversity, inclusion, and belonging as ways to boost creativity by encouraging different perspectives and experiences to come together in one space.
• Increased engagement - for events, this could translate into increased engagement, new ideas, and opportunities for enhanced learning and innovation by limiting groupthink.
• Differentiating events - event professionals upskill and differentiate themselves and can lead to more people feeling heard, understood, and cared for — an outcome many now place at the highest value.
• Appealing to the young - two of the most prevalent generations in the workforce - Millennials and Gen Z - say diversity and inclusion are vital. When people feel they belong, they feel they have a voice.
• New ambassodors - inclusive events build communities where attendees become ambassadors for brands and event communities because they feel included.

Address misconceptions

Neurodivergent people have always been present at events. But in the past, professionals may have overlooked or been unaware of their needs.

With autism, for example, people assume being autistic means being highly analytical and introverted, which may be true in some instances. But the opposite also applies — many autistic people are creative and extroverted.

Neurodivergent people often mask their authentic selves to fit in with societal norms. Being stereotyped, underserved, and excluded could be some of the reasons many neurodivergent people deal with depression and anxiety or have trouble with executive functioning.

Trigger points

When a neurodivergent person’s system becomes too overwhelmed, this can lead to meltdowns and shutdowns. In general, meltdowns are physical reactions resulting from stress or sensory overstimulation (visual, auditory, and tactile overload). For those with Tourettes, any form of heightened emotion, or suppression can trigger a tic-seizure. This can be due to positive or negative emotions. A tic seizure can last hours.

Extreme exhaustion, emotional regulation challenges, abrupt changes, and masking can also trigger and contribute to meltdowns.

Meltdowns vary from person to person. A meltdown may not be a tantrum but some neurodivergent people cannot control meltdowns, and often feel deep shame for losing control afterward.

Shutdowns, in contrast, are less obvious to others. At times, a person may withdraw from what is happening around them and disengage, unable to move from a safe space. Shutdowns can result in a speaking person becoming non-speaking, which can be painful to navigate at an event. Either way, both meltdowns, and shutdowns are signs of extreme distress. Understanding can help event professionals hold space, support, and accommodate people in the event of either of these scenarios.

Understand food needs

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Food can be challenging due to sensory aversions and allergies. It is important to provide advance notification of F&B options and offerings to neurodivergent attendees to help them prepare.

Most event professionals already offer special meals that align with dietary preferences and restrictions, so it is a matter of simply expanding the language to include neurodivergent needs.

The taste (too sweet, salty, or sour) and textures (passive touch) of certain foods can produce adverse sensory reactions such as gagging, potentially leading to anxiety. Generally, this response occurs because we process food through soft tissues in the mouth. These soft tissues, in turn, connect to the vagus nerve, which sends sensory signals to the brain. Such tissues in the mouth can be more sensitive in neurodivergent people, triggering a gag reflex.

F&B containing caffeine or lots of preservatives and artificial ingredients can heighten hyperactivity and anxiety. Studies have shown a possible link with neurodivergent people experiencing more food allergies or intolerances to components such as gluten and dairy.

It is also considerate to offer an alternative to glass, preferably containers with lids for those with physical tics.

For an extra touch, offer safe food, same foods, snacks, and beverages which are readily available during breaks, in sensory spaces, or if an event is overnight, delivered to sleeping rooms.

If personalised meals are not an option, allow people the choice to bring or arrange their own meals, and consider providing fridges and microwaves in adjacent spaces.