Day 1: September 22nd 09:00-17:00

Day 2: September 23rd 09:00-17:00

Venue: Online

Our Neurodiversity Champions training course is brought to you by The Neurodiversity Partnership, a collaboration between The Thrive Team and the Neurodiversity Academy. Our mission is to create real inclusion for neurodivergent staff, helping organisations go beyond compliance by creating truly inclusive cultures where neurodivergent staff feel valued, understood and supported.

What are Neurodiversity Champions?

Neurodiversity Champions are trained and certified workplace advocates who support colleagues, raise awareness, and promote inclusive practices around neurodiversity in the workplace.

They are trusted points of contact within an organisation who promote understanding of neurodiversity, offer structured peer support, and signpost colleagues to appropriate resources and consideration of workplace adjustments – all within clear, professional boundaries.

Neurodiversity Champions are not clinicians, coaches, or HR case managers. They provide a visible, credible support layer that helps organisations move from intention to meaningful action, embedding neuro-inclusive values into everyday working practices.

Why Do Workplaces Need Neurodiversity Champions?

Most organisations want to be inclusive. However, many managers lack the confidence or practical guidance to support neurodivergent colleagues effectively. As a result, neurodivergent employees can feel unsupported, and challenges are often addressed only once they escalate into formal, complex, or costly processes..

Neurodiversity Champions help close this gap by providing early, informed, and human support within the organisation.

The impact includes:

• Earlier, safer support for neurodivergent employees before challenges escalate
• Increased confidence and capability among managers
• Reduced risk of burnout, attrition, and grievance escalation
• Improved onboarding, engagement, and retention of neurodivergent talent
• A workplace culture that moves beyond compliance into day-to-day inclusive practice

This is not a wellbeing initiative for show. It is a practical, values-driven role that reduces risk, supports people, and enables sustainable performance across organisations.

How Does The Neurodiversity Partnership Support Champions?

We don’t just train Champions. Beyond certification, we provide ongoing support to help them succeed in their role.

Specialist Training:

All Champions complete a structured, evidence-informed training programme designed by neurodiversity specialists with real-world workplace experience.

Training includes:

• Neurodiversity foundations and inclusive language
• Role clarity, ethics, and boundaries
• Listening and psychologically safe conversations
• Workplace adjustments and inclusion in practice
• Supporting managers and inclusive onboarding
• Sustainability, confidence, and burnout prevention

Ongoing Support:

Champions are not left to carry this role alone. We provide:

• Continued access to up-to-date resources
• Peer connection and shared learning opportunities
• Regular check-ins and programme updates
• Ongoing development to maintain confidence and competence

Practical Tools:

• Champions receive ready-to-use tools, including:
• Conversation and listening guides
• Adjustment suggestion frameworks
• Manager support checklists
• Onboarding and transition resources
• Clear signposting templates

Ready to bring Neurodiversity Champions to your organisation?

We are currently onboarding new partners for upcoming cohorts.

If you are exploring credible, structured ways to embed neuroinclusive practice and provide earlier, safer support for neurodivergent employees, this programme may be a strong fit.

This is particularly suitable for:

• HR, People and Culture, DEI, or L&D leads driving inclusion initiatives
• Organisations seeking practical tools rather than performative approaches
• Employers focused on retention, wellbeing, and sustainable performance

Neurodiversity Champions (course outline)

2 days

What are Neurodiversity Champions?

Neurodiversity Champions are trained and certified workplace advocates who support colleagues, raise awareness, and promote inclusive practices around neurodiversity in the workplace.

Who is this training for?

• Anyone interested in learning more about neurodiversity so they can support neuro- inclusion in the workplace.
• Individuals and organisations committed to meaningful neurodivergent inclusion
• HR, People and Culture, EDI and Learning and Development Teams

What will I learn?

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Build shared understanding of neurodiversity and confidently challenge common myths and misconceptions.
• Communicate about neurodiversity with confidence, accuracy, and credibility.
• Act as a safe and trusted first point of contact, providing supportive, non-clinical listening to colleagues.
• Maintain clear professional boundaries, preventing role confusion and protecting their own wellbeing.
• Avoid creating dependency, supporting colleagues in an empowering, strengths-based way.
• Apply practical, not theoretical, approaches to support neurodivergent colleagues in everyday work situations.
• Confidently recognise the scope of the Champion role, including what they can and cannot do, and when to escalate or signpost.
• Signpost effectively to appropriate internal and external resources.
• Influence inclusive practice across teams and departments without overextending themselves or becoming the “fixer.”
• Support managers appropriately, offering guidance and insight without taking responsibility for managerial duties.

Course Structure

The course is structured across four live modules with ongoing access to a Neurodiversity Champions Toolkit. Learning takes place through a mix of instructor-led training, group discussions, and individual and group activities. Each session builds on the previous, enabling the learner to gain confidence in supporting others and develop their own Neurodiversity Champions action plan.

We strive for all of our learning content to be as accessible and inclusive as possible. Course numbers are limited to 16 so our Instructors can keep people safe and supported while they learn.

Day One

Module 1: Foundations of Neurodiversity Awareness

• What neurodiversity actually means
• Common neurodivergent profiles (ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Tourette’s, etc.)
• Strengths-based framing vs deficit language
• The difference between diagnosis, traits, and self-identification

Module 2: Listening, Language and Psychological Safety

• Active listening (without fixing)
• Validating experiences
• Asking the right questions
• Strengths-based reframing
• Avoiding common harm phrases

Day Two

Module 3: The Role of the Neurodiversity Champion

• What Champions do vs don’t do
• Comparison to therapists, coaches, HR, managers
• Ethical boundaries
• Confidentiality & safeguarding basics
• When to escalate

Module 4: Self-Advocacy & Empowerment

• Helping colleagues articulate needs
• Preparing for adjustment conversations
• Encouraging ownership without pressure
• Signposting and resources
• Action planning

Everyone who completes the course will receive a Neurodiversity Champion Toolkit packed with helpful resources to help them embed their role into their organisation.

Cost: £400+VAT pp.

To discuss how we can deliver training to a group, please email: ali@thethriveteam.co.uk or call 01243 957667