Neurodiversity in the Workplace: Supervisor Training Series
Supervisors, join us to celebrate minds of all kinds with a series of four virtual “Neurodiversity in the Workplace: Supervisor Training Series” trainings! These sessions will highlight practical tools and knowledge for supervisors to better understand and support their neurodivergent employees.Notfamiliar with this word? Neurodiversity is a term used to acknowledge the natural differences inthe brainfunction and behavioral traits among humans. Not sure if you have neurodivergent employees? Odds are you do, since approximately 20% of the population identifies as neurodivergent. The information in these sessions will help you create an inclusive andequitableworkplace where everyone can thrive.
This training series will be facilitated by, Coffee a nonprofit social enterprise that “creates innovative, human-centered workspaces and programs that promote disability justice and economic equity,” intending to raise supervisor awareness, ensure compliance with employee workplace accommodations, build effective leadership skills, and enhance productivity.
We highly encourage attendance for ALL FOUR sessions, as each session will focus on a different aspect of neurodiversity:
- Session 1: Foundations of Neurodiversity
- Session 2: Understanding Barriers, Bias & the Workplace
- Session 3: Neuroinclusive Supervision & Communication
- Session 4: From Awareness to Action: Building a Neuroinclusive Workplace
- *Optional Session 5:CU ǸԹ ADA session facilitated by Evan Gendreau, Campus Accessibility Education Coordinator
to learn practical ways to lead with inclusion and support neurodiverse talent!
Priority registration will be given to those who were on the waitlist for the Fall 2026 training series.
Stillneed some convincing? Haruko Greeson attended the Spring Session last year and mentioned it “providedgreat insight intoneurodiversity. One of the most impactful activities was the ‘Fold Your Paper’exercise as this reinforced the importance of clear, collaborative communication between supervisors and staff. Rather than simply ‘assigning’ tasks, it is crucial to work together in a way that fosters understanding and comfort.”
Dates and Times
- Wednesday, October 7, 1:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
- Wednesday, October 21, 1:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
- Wednesday, November 4, 1:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
- Wednesday, November 18, 1:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
- There is a 5th optional session on Monday, November 30, 2026, from 1:00 - 2:15. p.m. This is a CU ǸԹ ADA session facilitated by Evan Gendreau, Campus Accessibility Education Coordinator
Course Description
Thisfour-part virtual training series,facilitatedby DIRT Consulting, equips supervisors and workplace leaders with practical tools to better understand, support, and empower neurodivergent employees.
Participants will explore neurodiversity, disability culture, inclusive communication, workplace barriers, accommodations, and strategies for creating environments wheredifferent waysof thinking, communicating, processing, and working are supported.
Rather than expecting employees to adapt to one way of working, this series helps supervisorsidentifyopportunities to make workplace practices more accessible,equitable, and effective for everyone.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the four-part Neurodiversity in the Workplace: Supervisor Training Series, participants will be able to:
- Defineneurodiversity anddescribecommon neurodivergent experiences in the workplace.
- Explainhow workplace norms, bias, and masking can affect neurodivergent employees.
- Identifyand analyzeworkplace barriers related to communication, executive functioning, sensory needs, and participation.
- Applyneuroinclusive strategies to improve communication, expectations, feedback, and supervision.
- Differentiatebetween individual accommodations and proactive workplace accessibility practices.
- Applystrengths-based supervisory approaches that support employee success while maintaining clear and equitable performance expectations.
- Evaluatecurrent workplace practices toidentifypotential barriers to neurodivergent employees.
- Developan actionable plan to implement neuroinclusive practices within their own team or workplace.
Who Should Attend?
This training is designed for anyone who supervises, supports, hires, or works alongside employees, including:
- Supervisors and managers
- Team leads
- Human Resources professionals
- People and culture teams
- Business owners and organizational leaders
- Employment and workforce professionals
- Anyone interested in creating a more neuroinclusive workplace
*Nopreviousknowledge of neurodiversity isrequired.
Cost
There is no cost toparticipatein this training series.
Registration
ǸԹ DIRT
working to cultivate intentional workspaces where neurodivergent people can gain meaningful, integrated, andequitableemployment. Through workforce development, employer education, and community engagement, DIRT works to advancedisabilityjustice and economic equity.
Catharina Hughey, MSW(facilitator),is the Executive Director of DIRT Coffee and a social worker, educator, and advocate specializing in neuroinclusive employment and disability justice. She has taught at the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work and brings experience in workforce development, organizational leadership, and inclusive workplace practices. Cat focuses on translating neurodiversity concepts into practical strategies supervisors can use with their teams.
Zachary Berger,BS, serves as the Partnerships and Community Engagement Coordinator at DIRT Coffee, bringing a background in higher education advancement, donor relations, and disability accessibility coordination. Drawing on extensive experience in program administration and inclusive practices, he focuses on building strategic community relationships and expanding meaningful engagement opportunities. His commitment to disability justice and advocacy drives his work in supporting neuroinclusive environments and community partnerships.
