The Bristol office of transatlantic law firm Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD) is marking Neurodiversity Celebration Week with a host of activities and events to raise awareness and support for neurodiversity.
WBD already actively drives neurodiversity inclusion with the help of its well-respected Disability Network, which covers all aspects of disability and long-term conditions. 
The network has been key to helping the firm develop its support for its neurodivergent employees, including modifying its recruitment processes, introducing a reasonable adjustments policy, creating a neurodiversity toolkit, and collaborating with Diversity Lab, the incubator for innovative ideas and solutions that boost diversity and inclusion in law.
It has also been engaged in external events and initiatives, such as hosting a disability inclusion webinar with the Law Society, speaking at events and arranging a diversity-themed communal painting project.
This year it is taking its celebrations to a new level for Neurodiversity Celebration Week, which ends on Sunday, including:
- Offering a free sensory kit containing a variety of fidget and sensory materials for current and future employees
- Hosting an internal webinar for line managers on managing and supporting neurodivergent staff
- Sharing information on its internal Hub pages to raise further awareness, with an update from Womble Bond Dickinson in the US
- Stocking its DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) library all its UK offices, with a variety of books about disability and neurodiversity, and
- Meet-ups in all its offices.
WBD’s Disability Network has been recognised for its outstanding work – it was a finalist in the British Diversity Awards 2024 and the Legal 500 ESG UK Awards 2024, while members Michelle Essen and Emily Cox have also been shortlisted for individual awards for their disability and neurodiversity advocacy.
Law Society diversity & inclusion adviser and disability lead Chris Seel said: “It has been great to see the recent focus on neurodiversity, with awareness that there are neurodivergent people in the profession certainly increasing.
“Many firms and organisations are questioning long-established recruitment and working practices and making simple adjustments to improve neuro-inclusion, such as by providing interview questions in advance or allowing designated and appropriately situated desks.
“We are keen to see more of this, such as by looking into role adjustments and time recording issues, and for this not to depend on individual neurodivergent people making requests.
“We would also encourage the same kind of thinking when it comes to disability inclusion generally.”
The Law Society has been a neurodiversity advocate for a number of years, and has collaborated with WBD on several occasions to promote disability inclusion in the legal sector.
Neurodiversity is an umbrella term which covers a number of neurological differences, such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia and dyscalculia.
Neurodiversity Celebration Week is a worldwide initiative that challenges stereotypes about neurological differences and aims to transform how neurodivergent individuals are perceived and supported.
WBD is also displaying multi-coloured umbrellas across its UK offices this month as part of the ADHD Foundation’s nationwide Neurodiversity Umbrella initiative, pictured above.
The umbrellas are a bright and positive representation of the diversity of minds and talents within the firm and wider society.
WBD has more than 120 partners and around 450 lawyers in the UK, where its Bristol office is its second largest. It also has 23 offices across the US.
