The New Face of Neurodivergent Care: How Healthcare Is Learning to Listen Differently

Word count: 713

Context: Sample health feature article written for the Fortunus Media portfolio, created during the Build Your Portfolio Masterclass by Michelle Guillemard to demonstrate plain-language health communication, narrative health reporting, and evidence-based feature writing.

Client: Fortunus Media (Sample Piece)

Year: 2025

Target Audience: Healthcare professionals, clinic administrators, educators, and health-literacy organizations seeking accessible, research-informed guidance on neuro-inclusive care.

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Hospitals and clinics are redesigning systems to close gaps in care for neurodivergent people.

In a Toronto family clinic, fluorescent lights buzz as an autistic man clutches his bag. Overwhelmed by the noise and brightness, he wonders whether to stay.

Just as he’s about to leave, a nurse calls him in, dims the lights, and lowers her voice. Within minutes, his breathing slows, and he begins to answer her questions.

The nurse's gesture may seem small, but it marks a quiet revolution in care. Globally, healthcare providers are beginning to adapt to the needs of people with neurodivergent conditions like autism, ADHD, and dyslexia.

The Growing Need for Neuro-Inclusive Care

Neurodivergent conditions affect how people think, feel, and communicate. Yet many healthcare environments still rely on protocols that can overwhelm people.

A 2022 BMJ Open study found that 80% of autistic adults had difficulty visiting a general practitioner compared with only 37% of non-autistic respondents.

A 2024 study in Autism identified three main barriers to care for autistic adults in the U.K.:

• Limited clinical understanding. Many providers still misunderstand the spectrum nature of autism. This can cause misdiagnosis or failed interventions.

• High cognitive and sensory load. Rapid speech, unfamiliar jargon, and bright and noisy environments can make communication difficult. This is especially true when anxiety and alexithymia (difficulty in spotting, naming, and describing emotions) limit expression.

• Lack of practical adaptations. Unpredictable appointment systems and overstimulating clinical settings can erode trust. Autistic adults report needing clearer communication, sensory-friendly environments, and predictable routines to feel safe during care.

Together, these findings show that healthcare must be autism-friendly to improve access and outcomes.

Fortunately, healthcare providers have started redesigning care to fit diverse minds.

What Does Neuro-Inclusive Care Look Like?

Providers are beginning to include neurodiversity awareness into staff training and facility design.

In the U.K., the NHS England's Sensory-Friendly Resource Pack helps hospitals review their environments and train staff in sensory-aware care.

It lists simple changes: adjustable lighting, unscented products, quiet waiting areas, and visual guides that explain each appointment step. Such adjustments reduce anxiety and help people stay engaged throughout their visits.

Research supports this approach.

A 2023 randomized crossover trial tested a sensory-adapted dental environment (SADE). The setup used a “butterfly” wrap for deep pressure comfort, dim lighting, slow ceiling projections, and soothing music. Participants showed much lower tonic skin-conductance levels (a physiological marker of stress), a sign of less stress and anxiety.

A 2024 review in Autism Friendly Healthcare also identifies several practical changes. These include longer appointment times, written follow-ups, flexible seating, and options for text-based communication.

From Awareness to Systemic Change

The movement toward neuro-inclusive healthcare is gaining momentum. Providers and educators are shifting from isolated projects to lasting system reform.

Some universities are adding neurodiversity education to clinical training. The University of British Columbia (UBC) offers a free, self-paced online program, “Autism and Neurodiversity in Primary Care." It helps primary care providers understand the needs of autistic people and make their practices more inclusive.

Although promising, the program remains optional. Most institutions are still early in this transition.

Professional organizations are also framing neurodivergent inclusion as part of clinical quality. 

In the United States, the Autistic Doctors International (ADI), a global network of autistic physicians, advocates for inclusion and neurodiversity-informed training.

In Canada, groups like Autism Canada and the Canadian Autism Spectrum Disorder Alliance (CASDA) call for stronger national accessibility standards. They highlight the need for sensory-friendly healthcare environments and mandatory autism training for providers.

Together, these efforts mark a cultural shift. Healthcare is moving away from treating neurodivergent people as exceptions toward recognizing them as an integral part of the patient population.

What Neuro-Inclusive Care Means for People and Providers

When clinicians use clear, structured communication, such as explaining what will happen and offering visual support, autistic people may find appointments less confusing and stressful. 

Such adjustments help reduce anxiety and make it easier to talk about symptoms.

For clinicians, these approaches can make communication smoother and more predictable, reducing misunderstandings.

Looking Ahead

Neuro-inclusive healthcare is still evolving, but the direction is clear. To ensure everyone receives equitable treatment, clinicians must learn to listen differently.

When healthcare professionals and systems meet people where they are—verbally, emotionally, and sensorially—medicine becomes not only more compassionate, but more effective.

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References

Autism Alliance of Canada. (2023, February 6). Strategic Plan - Autism Alliance of Canada. Autism Alliance of Canada - We Guide Autism Policy in Canada by Bringing Research and Community Perspectives Together. https://autismalliance.ca/strategic-plan/  

Autistic Doctors International. (n.d.). Autistic Doctors International (ADI). Autistic Doctors International. https://autisticdoctorsinternational.com/

Bryan, N. (2025, March 1). Alexithymia: “Why I struggle to name my emotions.” BBC News. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg4ky5qgrlpo

Cleveland Clinic. (2022, June 2). Neurodivergent: What It Is, Symptoms & Types. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/23154-neurodivergent

Doherty, M., Neilson, S., O’Sullivan, J., Carravallah, L., Johnson, M., Cullen, W., & Shaw, S. C. K. (2022). Barriers to healthcare and self-reported adverse outcomes for autistic adults: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open, 12(2). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-056904

Hamdan, S. Z., & Bennett, A. (2024). Autism-Friendly Healthcare: A Narrative Review of the Literature. Cureus, 16(7). https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.64108

Hedlund, Å., Andersson, A., Lindberg, M., & Jordal, M. (2025). Experiences and perceptions of physical healthcare among adult autistic patients: A scoping review. International Journal of Nursing Studies Advances, 9, 100366. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnsa.2025.100366

NHS England. (2022). Resources to improve the sensory environment for autistic people Sensory-friendly resource pack. https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/B0467_i_sensory-friendly-resource-pack.pdf

Radev, S., Freeth, M., & Thompson, A. R. (2024). How healthcare systems are experienced by autistic adults in the United Kingdom: A meta-ethnography. Autism, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613241235531

Stein Duker, L. I., Como, D. H., Jolette, C., Vigen, C., Gong, C. L., Williams, M. E., Polido, J. C., Floríndez-Cox, L. I., & Cermak, S. A. (2023). Sensory Adaptations to Improve Physiological and Behavioral Distress During Dental Visits in Autistic Children: A Randomized Crossover Trial. JAMA Network Open, 6(6), e2316346. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.16346

The University of British Columbia. (2021). Autism and Neurodiversity in Primary Care | Centre for Interdisciplinary Research and Collaboration in Autism. Educ.ubc.ca. https://circa.educ.ubc.ca/autism-and-neurodiversity-in-primary-care/