An independent report published today, 2 October 2026, by the Expert Academic Panel on Neurodiversity, has concluded that neurodivergent people can thrive in employment when provided with support tailored to their individual needs, rather than solely based on a diagnosis. The report suggests that increased employment participation could reduce the strain on health and welfare systems and stimulate economic growth.
The government has responded to the report, stating that it is already implementing some recommendations through its Connect to Work programme. This initiative, part of a wider £3.5 billion disability employment investment, offers specialist pathways for neurodivergent and learning-disabled individuals. By the end of June, 1,000 people on this pathway had moved into employment, including 470 young people.
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden commented that when the right support is in place, neurodivergent people succeed, benefiting individuals, businesses, and the economy. Professor Amanda Kirby, Chair of the Neurodiversity Panel, highlighted that neurodivergent people possess significant talent that often goes untapped due to unsuitable support.
The panel also recommended that workplace systems and environments should be designed for everyone from the outset, rather than relying on reactive individual adjustments. In response, the government has initiated a sixteen-week policy discovery exercise to investigate how these Universal Design principles could be applied in future workplaces.