A YORK law firm has launched a campaign to raise awareness of the business benefits of employing people with ‘hidden’ disabilities.

A seminar was held at The Grange Hotel in York by specialist employment solicitors Torque Law to kick-off the campaign.

The firm is teaming up with neurodiversity specialist Creased Puddle, based in Rufforth, near York, for certain events as part of its year-long campaign.

During the session, staff from Torque Law, accompanied by Caroline Turner from Creased Puddle, helped to demystify some of the terminology around neurodiversity, and highlighted some practical approaches to dealing with potentially sensitive situations.

The goal was to emphasise the ‘flipside’ to people with hidden disabilities and the skills that those diagnosed, or undiagnosed, with conditions such as autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia and ADHD can bring to businesses.

Emma Whiting, partner at Torque Law, which is based at Northminister Business Park, Upper Poppleton, said: “We were delighted with the response to this event and how receptive people were to becoming change agents for neurodiversity in their organisations. One of our key messages was that by making simple changes to existing business practice and process, the rewards from employing and attracting a more neurodiverse and engaged workforce are significant.

"With conditions such as autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia and ADHD being more widely diagnosed in children, employers are becoming wise to the fact that these children will soon be entering the workplace, along with the reported 1/3 of employees believed to be neurodivergent already in the workplace.

"Torque Law, together with Creased Puddle, are hoping to provide many York-based employers with the know-how and confidence to embrace these differences and not shy away from them."

The campaign is receiving wider attention as Torque Law has been approached to present at ‘Supporting Neurodiversity in the Workplace’ event, in London, on March 28.

Tiggy Clifford, also a partner at Torque Law, said: “We have dealt with many matters where claims have been made against employers under the Equality Act or grievances raised where hidden disabilities have been a factor. With more comprehensive awareness training, many of these disputes could have been avoided.”

Further practical seminars are planned throughout the year in support of the hidden disabilities campaign, as well as regular briefings and checklists which can all be view on the firm’s website www.torquelaw.co.uk and social media.