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Difference, Not disability: Supporting Neurodivergent Veterinary Team Members

If veterinary teams can effectively recruit and retain neurodivergent employees and highlight their strengths, then the whole workplace will benefit, said Dr. Debra J. Nickelson, founder of Trillium C, a consulting firm for veterinarians.

Dr. Nickelson along with Dr. Erika G. Hendel, founder of Empathy at Large consulting and member of the Not One More Vet board of directors, presented the session "Recruitment and Retention: Neurodiverse Individuals Are Valuable Members of the Veterinary Team" on Saturday at AVMA Convention 2024 in Austin, Texas.

Neurodiversity, or differences in brain function and cognition, is a spectrum encompassing conditions such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, and autism. Many individuals who are neurodivergent have unique abilities; research shows that some conditions, including autism and dyslexia, can bestow special skills in pattern recognition, memory, or mathematics. Awareness of such differences and the provision of reasonable accommodations are integral to helping neurodiverse professionals excel to their full potential.

Read the full story at AVMA Convention 2024 Daily News

[Source: AVMA Convention 2024 Daily News 24 June 2024, by Coco Lederhouse]