As the global understanding of neurodivergence continues to increase, so too does accessibility, and under that category comes your workplace signage.
Neurodivergent people may have more difficulty understanding standard instructions, so it’s especially important from a health and safety capacity that all your signage is easily understandable and quickly digestible.
But what is neurodiversity, and how can you adapt your workplace to make it more accessible for it?
What Is Neurodiversity?
Put simply, ‘neurodiversity’ is a term given to describe to the different ways that people’s brains can process information. It includes autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, and any other neurological conditions that may affect an individual’s processing.
In fact, neurodivergence is incredibly common, with an estimated one in seven people in the UK identifying under the umbrella.
Neurodiversity is legally protected under the Equality Act 2010, so it’s important for legal reasons, as well as empathetic ones, that your business complies.
Below, we’ll unpack some easy ways that you can make your workplace signage more inclusive for neurodiversity.
Make Use of Symbols
The majority of safety signs will already include a simplified pictogram. Relying on signs like these, rather than those that solely use words, can be really beneficial for your neurodivergent employees and visitors.
Many neurodivergent people can get overwhelmed by taking in words during an already stressful experience. For example, if they need to find an emergency exit, they’re likely to be able to identify a pictogram that resembles an emergency exit much more quickly, and therefore much more safely, than a written instruction.
Light Sensitivity
Light sensitivity is a very common element of neurodivergence, and this should be taken into consideration if you have any particularly bright or flashy safety signs.
The best bet with the brightness of your safety signs is to make sure they’re bright enough to easily be spotted, without being difficult to look at.
Try to avoid signage that actually flashes, too. While this might seem like a good idea for garnering attention at first, bright flashing lights can be incredibly overstimulating to neurodivergent people, as well as potentially triggering for anyone with epilepsy.
You should also consider opting for matte finishes on signage, as a shiny sign positioned incorrectly could result in an unpleasant glare that could be the final push for anyone who’s already overstimulated.
Loud Noises
Although employees and visitors need to be able to hear any safety alarms, loud noises can do more harm than good when it comes to neurodivergence. Similarly to bright lights, loud noises can easily be overwhelming for many people, so try to hit a middle ground of noticeable but not painful.
Generally, a combination of light and sound should mean that neither one has to be too intense, as the combination should be enough to make both noticeable. Using both light and sound also means that anyone with visual or hearing impairments will still be aware of any activated alarm systems.
Colour Coding
Make your standard signage as easily understandable as possible by complying to the health and safety signage colour coding system.
Under the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations Act 1996, different types of health and safety signage should be colour-coded so that anyone can easily identify the type of warning. For example:
- Red: Prohibition signs e.g. stop, no smoking, no entry, and any other type of forbidden behaviour.
- Yellow: Hazard signs e.g., wet floors, flammable liquids, biohazards, and any other type of precaution.
- Blue: Mandatory signs e.g., wash hands, wear PPE, use handrails, and any other type of essential behaviour.
- Green: Directional signs e.g., fire exits, first aid, and any other type of signposting for quick identification.
While this type of colour coding is a legal requirement, you might take this a step further for any internal additional signposting you use for your employees. A colour coded system, for example, to signify different projects, can make it much easier for neurodivergent employees to keep track of their work.
Adapt Your Workplace
As well as adjusting your signage, there are plenty of small and large adaptations that you can put in place at work to make it a more accessible, productive environment for your neurodivergent employees.
Small Adjustments
If you’re looking to make small adjustments that can make it easier to simply be at work, consider allowing the use of fidget toys at desks or loosening uniform restrictions so that employees can wear whatever’s most comfortable, and least distracting.
You should also communicate with your employees clearly in a way that isn’t open to misinterpretation – for example, try to avoid sarcasm and explain tasks in plenty of detail so that nobody’s left with any confusion.
Sensory Rooms
On top of these smaller tweaks, you can implement larger features, such as creating a quiet break room. Sensory rooms are a great addition to the office, allowing a moment of respite for anyone feeling overwhelmed and in need of a breather.
A lot of people tend to work from home as they prefer the ability to work with as much or as little stimulation as works best for them. A room where people are able to address those sensory needs, therefore, can also be a great incentive for getting people to spend more time at the office.
Personalised Training
You could also consider personalised training for your staff, both to educate them about neurodiversity and to make your training more accessible for neurodiverse individuals.
People take in and process information in different ways, so when it comes to sharing important information, you should share it in whatever manner is most likely to stick with each employee. The best way to do that is to adjust your programme to different types of learning style.
Make Your Workplace Accessible with Label Source
There are many ways that you can make your workplace more accessible, and it starts with your health and safety signs.
At Label Source, we have all the safety signage you need to make your workplace as inclusive as possible, including the option to create custom and bespoke signage for you and your business.
Get in touch with us today to start making your workspace more accessible.
