Episode 56: HR Voices with Charlie Hart — Neurodiversity Inclusion at Work

HR Voices Podcast

A podcast for independent HR and people professionals, and the businesses they support.

Hosted by Mary Asante of HR Independents, HRi. 

DATE: 18th August 2025

Episode 56: HR Voices with Charlie Hart — Neurodiversity Inclusion at Work

Guest: Charlie Hart, Neurodiversity Inclusion Speaker, Writer & Advocate

🎙️ In this episode:

Host Mary Asante is joined by the passionate and insightful Charlie Hart, neurodiversity inclusion speaker and former HR analyst, also known online as Awesome Charlie. Diagnosed as autistic at age 42, Charlie brings a powerful mix of personal lived experience and professional HR expertise to explore how we can create truly inclusive workplaces for neurodivergent individuals.

Together, they unpack the real meaning of neurodiversity and explore what true inclusion looks like—not just in policy but in everyday practice, culture, and conversations. From recruitment to hybrid working, this episode is full of practical advice and honest reflection.

🧠 What You’ll Learn:

🧬 What Is Neurodiversity (and Why It Matters)?

• Understanding the concept and movement of neurodiversity
  
  

• Everyone has a unique brain—neurodiversity includes all of us
  
  
• Context matters: the same person may function differently depending on environment and support
  
  

🤝 What Inclusion Really Means

• Creating environments where people are not just present but welcomed
  
  
• Supporting neurodivergent employees isn’t about special treatment—it’s about accessibility
  
  
• Building psychologically safe cultures through empathy and flexibility
  
  

🚧 Workplace Barriers (and How to Remove Them)

• The unseen challenges: sensory overload, verbal instructions, scattered meetings
  
  
• Why lived experience should inform policies—not assumptions
  
  
• The power of communication preferences and scheduling that works for humans, not just processes
  
  

🛠️ Practical Strategies That Make a Difference

• Informal tweaks vs. “reasonable adjustments”
  
  
• Collaboration between employees and managers—not confrontation
  
  
• Why conversations should be human, not legalistic
  
  

📈 Why It’s Everyone’s Business

• Inclusive practices benefit all employees, not just neurodivergent ones
  
  
• How to support individuals without singling them out or creating more stigma
  
  
• Encouraging storytelling, ERGs, and active listening to embed inclusion

✨ Key Takeaways:

✅ Neurodiversity is natural—and valuable in every workplace
✅ Inclusion isn’t about policies; it’s about people and practices
✅ Simple changes like advance interview questions or respecting communication preferences can have huge impact
✅ Don’t assume—ask
✅ Believing people when they share their needs is the foundation of an inclusive culture

🔝 Top Tips from Charlie Hart:

1. Allow communication preferences – Encourage people to state how they prefer to be contacted in email signatures or profiles.
   
   
2. Send interview questions in advance – It helps everyone, not just neurodivergent candidates.
   
   
3. Believe us – When someone says they’re struggling with an environment or process, trust them. It’s not about drama—it’s about dignity.

🎧 Listen & Engage
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📩 Have questions or suggestions? Email: hrvoices@hrindependents.co.uk
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