- Conference
- 2026 National Women's Conference
- Date
- 24 September 2025
- Decision
- Carried
What is Neurodiversity?
It’s a word used to explain the unique way people’s brains work. Everyone’s brain develops similarly, but no two brains function alike.
The term “Neurodivergent” describes someone whose brain works differently from the average or “neurotypical” person, this may be differences in social preferences, ways of learning and communicating and/or ways of perceiving their environment. Some conditions considered neurodivergent include: Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Dyscalculia, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and being on the Autism spectrum.
According to the October 2023 “ADHD UK” report into NHS ADHD waiting lists” a diagnosis can take anywhere between 12 weeks to over 10 years for adult women.
The Daisy Chain Project highlights that 80% of autistic females remain undiagnosed or misdiagnosed by age 18, often being wrongly diagnosed with personality disorders or mental health conditions. Diagnostic tools are still largely male-centric, failing to capture how neurodivergence presents in women. This leads to late diagnosis and contributes to mental health deterioration due to lack of support.
Each individual neurodiverse woman has strengths and weaknesses. These women process information differently and we need to break down the barriers to accessibility to get them the support that they need. Neurodiverse women may lack the confidence to be able to request the reasonable adjustments they require to fulfil their potential and be valued in the workplace.
From the onset of menstruation hormonal changes mean neurodiverse women experience significant fluctuation in their symptoms, including the increased risk of women experiencing PMDD and other disorders. Menopause, especially declining oestrogen and dopamine levels, exacerbate ADHD, autism symptoms. Symptoms such as brain fog, memory loss, and emotional dysregulation can be heightened in neurodivergent women, making workplace functioning more difficult. Autistic women report it becomes “impossible to continue masking” during menopause, leading to increased sensory and social challenges.
Conference we need to ensure that we educate and advocate for our women members and look at policies to support our neurodiverse women in the workplace.
Conference asks the National Women’s Committee to:
• work with Learning and Organising Services (LAOS) to provide relevant toolkits and educational material for our Stewards and branches to support women members
• work in partnership with service groups, branches and other self-organised groups to raise neurodiversity awareness within branches and their employers
• work with relevant charities and support groups to raise awareness of the impact of neurodiversity in women.
• report back on their progress on this matter to 2027 National Women’s Conference.
