Calls for better neurodiversity support in Tees Valley workplaces and schools
Research shows the average age a woman's diagnosed is in their late 30s
Last updated 1st May 2025
Female business leaders in the Tees Valley are calling for more to be done to tackle the lack of neurodiversity support in workplaces and schools.
It comes as research shows the average age a woman's diagnosed is their late 30s - compared to seven years-old for boys.
Max Freer is from Female Founders UK which is based in the Teesside: "Our Tees Valley business community isn't set up to employ neurodiverse individuals. They don't understand the agenda, so if we could do more to create more neurodiverse in business, what we're then doing is from the early setting stage right the way trhough to career, grow and life opportunities, we're tackling it there as well.
"The recruitment process is outdated because employers aren't on the agenda, so if we work with employees to make them aware of what that looks like as a concept, and then we equip them with the tools, skills and training to become a 'nib' business then naturally what would happen is that the recruimtnet process would have to change."
Claire Preston is from Power of Women in the Tees Valley: "There's so much more that we can be doing as employers to get people into the right career paths; really making young people and children more aware of their strengths, so they're actually following a route that plays to those strengths and aligns with their ambitions instead of a one-size-fits-all career route. We're moving away from that now and we need to be much more aware.
"There's starting to be greater awareness of the impact of menopause and perimenopause on ADHD which was certainly the case for me, so although I definitely had ADHD traits over the years, it became much more pronounced in menopause and I think that's something that's a real issue that we need to tackle.
"There are so many women who need more support and whose strengths aren't being utilised effectively and that's the big thing for me. It's about really playing to people's strengths and there's a lot more we could be doing to support and retain people going through perimenopause and menopause neurodiversity."
Dr. Nichole Munro is the chief executive of Atomix Education Trust, which is based in Guisborough: "My daughter's been through a very difficult journey. She's 27 now but being undiagnosed at school, the impact of that on her life in the longer term, on her mental health and wellbeing, and also within the career that she's been trying to create, what that's done for me is to really make a call to action.
"We need earlier screening, we need more compassion and we eed more awareness actually within the school sector from three, five years of age and right the way up to 17, 18 and beyond."