'Barriers and Facilitators to Creativity for Neurodivergent and Neurotypical Individuals within Creative Workplaces' by Carolyn White

SPARC 2021 Poster No. 9<div><br></div><div><p>Neurodivergence refers to those with conditions such as Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC), Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and dyslexia. There are many people who identify as neurodivergent and work within creative roles. Research into creativity and neurodivergent conditions has been limited to measuring the extent to which different neurodivergent groups are creative. The current research, in collaboration with the BBC, looks to understand which factors help or hinder creative working for people who are neurodivergent. Neurodivergent and neurotypical individuals responded to a survey designed to assess barriers and facilitators to creativity in the workplace. Free text boxes asked what helped and hindered workplace creativity, as individuals and when working as part of a group. Using existing research from neurodiversity and creativity literature, the survey included ratings of factors known to affect creativity or affect those with neurodivergent conditions. </p> <p>Results showed there were similarities between which factors affected neurodivergent and neurotypical respondent’s creativity in the workplace. However, those with neurodivergent conditions reported being more affected by these factors than neurotypical respondents. Analysis of respondents’ comments showed respondents were affected by factors within the physical workplace environment, e.g. noise, difficulties in interaction with colleagues, e.g. during meetings, and factors related specifically to common workplace creative activities, e.g. during brainstorming sessions. </p> This research aims to help the creative industries to minimise hindering factors to creativity (such as a noisy work environment or too much social pressure) and maximise the creative potential of those with neurodiverse conditions.<br></div><p></p>