Maureen Dunne - Neurodiversity expert

Cognitive scientist Maureen Dunne explains how the emergence of the term 'neurodiversity' has led to a postitive, strengths based approach that can give organisations a competitive edge. She describes how a move away from a purely medical model of conditions like autism and ADHD widens the focus beyond disability, and how the idea of 'universal design' enables everyone to thrive in schools and workplaces.

Oxford Rhodes scholar Maureen Dunne tells her personal story, from early challenges and tragedies to the world's top academic institutions, and how this led her to the cause of neurodiversity. She describes her work supporting start-ups and established companies to innovate at scale, including her work with the Lego Foundation. The podcast concludes with a discussion of AI and the future of work, in which Dunne claims that neurodivergent people have strengths that are unlikely to be replicated by machines any time soon. The implication is that forward-thinking organisations should move faster to recruit and integrate people with diverse minds.

(00:00) Introduction to Maureen Dunne

(01:51) THE PAST - My Life and Career Journey

(10:34) What is neurodiversity?

(16:53) Creative artefact

(18:34) THE PRESENT - My Work and Innovation

(26:02) THE FUTURE - Future of Work

(27:07) What's uniquely human?

(30:12) Concluding advice

Book: The Neurodiversity Edge https://www.theneurodiversityedge.org

Example companies supported by the Lego Foundation:

socialciphergame.com

kahoot.com

About universal design: https://universaldesign.ie/what-is-universal-design/

About the Rhodes scholarship to Oxford: https://www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/scholarships/the-rhodes-scholarship/