Neurodiversity and accessibility: Reflections from our recent panel

Last week, I had the pleasure of hosting a panel discussion exploring the role of neurodiversity in the future of accessibility. I was joined by Jamie Knight, Craig Abbott, Priyanca D’Souza and Joan Herlinger for a thoughtful conversation on how design must evolve to recognise the full range of human diversity.

For those who couldn't join us, I wanted to share some reflections and highlights from the discussion.

Recognising cognitive diversity

One of the early themes in our conversation was how accessibility often focuses on physical or sensory impairments, while cognitive accessibility can be overlooked.

"Accessibility is not just a technical problem, it is a people problem," Jamie Knight reminded us.

Jamie reflected on how designs that meet technical standards can still create barriers if they fail to account for emotional and cognitive load. It set the tone for a wider conversation about the need to centre human experience, not just compliance, in accessibility work.

Moving beyond compliance

We also explored the limitations of relying purely on accessibility guidelines. Compliance is essential, but it is not enough on its own.

"Meeting WCAG standards should be the start, not the end," said Craig Abbott, highlighting that a technically compliant service can still exclude users if cognitive diversity is not considered from the beginning.

Craig’s point prompted a discussion on how teams must go beyond box-ticking, embedding inclusion into every stage of the design process rather than treating it as a late-stage check.

Designing for flexibility and choice

Another strong theme was the importance of offering users flexibility in how they interact with services.

"Designing for neurodivergent users often ends up improving things for everyone," said Priyanca D’Souza, who emphasised that giving users control over how they experience content is crucial.

Whether it is reducing animation, simplifying navigation or offering alternative layouts, Priyanca made the case for designing experiences that adapt to different needs rather than forcing users into a single way of doing things.

Building accessible teams and cultures

The conversation moved naturally from external design to the internal environments where those designs are created.

"Accessibility needs to be built into the culture, not bolted on at the end," Craig Abbott reflected, speaking to the role leadership plays in making accessibility part of everyday ways of working.

Joan Herlinger expanded on this idea, reminding us that "if workplaces are not accessible, the products they create will not be either." She encouraged teams to think critically about their own practices, from communication to collaboration, to make sure neurodivergent colleagues are included and supported.

The panel agreed that when teams prioritise accessibility in the way they work together, it becomes much more likely that the products they create will reflect those same values.

Practical steps to support neurodiversity

Before we closed the discussion, I asked each panellist to suggest one practical step that organisations could take to better support neurodivergent users.

Jamie encouraged teams to engage directly with neurodivergent people early in the design process, rather than assuming their needs. Craig suggested simplifying user journeys wherever possible to reduce cognitive load. Priyanca highlighted the value of offering users choice and control, while Joan reminded us to look inward first, making sure our own teams and processes are genuinely inclusive.

It was a powerful reminder that small, thoughtful actions grounded in empathy and openness can make a huge difference.

Final thoughts

If accessibility is about removing barriers to participation, then neurodiversity must be central to that work. As our panel showed, designing for cognitive diversity is not just about meeting guidelines. It is about building experiences, teams and cultures that recognise, respect and celebrate the different ways people think and engage with the world.

Thank you again to Jamie, Craig, Priyanca and Joan for sharing their insights, and to everyone who joined us. If you would like to explore the full conversation, the recording will become available soon.