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# Xceptional Academy

Neurodiversity experts

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [Blog](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/blog/)
- [When We Question Women's ADHD Diagnoses, We Risk Repeating History](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/why-women-adhd-diagnoses-were-missed/) - The debate isn't whether too many women have ADHD, but why so many were missed for decades. A coach's view on diagnosis, masking and self-understanding.
- [Lessons in Inclusion from Remote Australia](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/lessons-in-inclusion-from-remote-australia/) - A reflection from Aurukun by Edmund D’Cruz on neurodiversity in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and how Xceptional Academy helps Australian organisations build neuro-inclusive workplaces.
- [Xceptional wins Optus pitch competition](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/xceptional-wins-optus-pitch-competition/) - September has been one of the biggest months for Xceptional so far and October looks set to be even bigger!
- [IT professional Ashleigh Wilson shares the secrets of her career success](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/professional-ashleigh-wilson-shares-secrets-career-success/) - Asheigh Wilson started thinking about a career in technology only towards the end of high school. But she has not looked back, despite being temporarily stood down during COVID-19. She tells Rachel Worsley that drawing up a personal job map has helped her get the most out of her profession. When you were a child,
- [Autism At Work - ABC Podcast](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/autism-at-work-abc-podcast/) - What’s it like being an autistic person in the workplace, and how can managers and colleagues help this group thrive? How can we make the most of the unique super powers of this under-employed cohort - especially in the midst of a labour shortage. We connect at work through humour - but for autistic people
- [The unexpected benefits of COVID19](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/the-unexpected-benefits-of-covid19/) - (By Aron Mercer and Georgie Chinchen) 2020 was supposed to be a year of growth for Xceptional. We had funding thanks to Google.Org, Westpac and AMP, a growing team and diverse customers. In March of 2020, we were busy organising a neurodiversity at work breakfast in Sydney, a sold out event which was to be
- [Flexibility to work from home. An adjustment backed up by research.](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/flexibility-to-work-from-home-an-adjustment-backed-up-by-research/) - Is this flexible working considered an adjustment now, I hear you say? I mean post-covid hasn't working from home become the new norm? The reality is not for everyone. McKinsey Global Institute found in 2021 that about only 20 to 25 percent of the workforces in advanced economies could work from home between three and
- [Inclusive Leadership Lessons from Coach Ted Lasso](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/4827-2/) - In today's workplace, leadership styles have evolved to embrace more inclusive, empathetic, and holistic approaches. One unexpected yet prime example of this modern leadership archetype can be found not in boardrooms but on a fictional soccer field. "Ted Lasso," Apple TV+'s surprise hit, showcases an American coach's journey as he leads an English football team,
- [Part Three: Neurodivergent onboarding series - the Blueprint for HR Leaders](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/part-three-neurodivergent-onboarding-series-the-blueprint-for-hr-leaders/) - In our three-part series, we've guided HR leaders and businesses through actionable steps to foster neurodivergent talent, culminating in this final segment where Nicole Done sheds light on the crucial stage of preparing individuals for success within Xceptional's neuro-inclusive framework.The Xceptional approachXceptional goes beyond recruitment, adopting a total-life-cycle approach. This commitment ensures tailored support for
- [Embracing Neurodiversity: Personalising Onboarding](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/embracing-neurodiversity-personalising-onboarding/) - Nicole Done, with over 25 years of expertise in the neurodiversity space, continues to lead Xceptional’s neuro-inclusive initiatives. In this three-part series, we delve into the intricacies of nurturing neurodivergent talent beyond recruitment. Following Part One of Xceptional's Nurturing Neurodivergent Talent series, we will now focus on embracing neurodiversity by personalising the onboarding experience.Part two
- [Nurturing Neurodivergent Talent: Onboarding for Success](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/nurturing-neurodivergent-talent-onboarding-for-success/) - Nicole Done has over 25 years of workingin the neurodiversity space and currently leads Xceptional's neuro-inclusive initiatives to achieve the overall vision of unlocking neurodivergent potential for exceptional workplaces. In this three part series, Nicole shares best practices for nurturing Neurodivergent talent in the workplace, the crucial point following the recruitment process - beginning with Onboarding for Success. Part One
- [Workplace Social Skills: Challenging the Narrative for Autistic People](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/workplace-social-skills-challenging-narrative-autistic-people/) - By Barb Cook, M.Aut., Dip. HSc. (used with permission) Workplace social skills. These words strike fear into the soul of any autistic person. I know this, because I am one of those people. I’ve had a tumultuous employment past, prior to my official diagnosis of Asperger syndrome (autism), ADHD and dyslexia in 2009. I never
- [How Sleep Problems for Autistic Adults Impact Work (Plus Tips on How to Deal with Them)](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/sleep-problems-autistic-adults/) - Most of us encounter difficulty sleeping every now and then. However, if you regularly have problems sleeping at night or wake up feeling exhausted, you may be suffering from a sleep disorder. Sleep problems for autistic adults can be especially common. In this article by Reese Jones, we share some practical strategies on how to
- [Is Autism A Superpower?](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/is-autism-a-superpower/) - ‘I have Aspergers and that means I’m sometimes a bit different from the norm. And - given the right circumstances - being different is a superpower’ - Greta Thunberg There is a lot of media and business attention on the enhanced abilities of autistic people. The BBC ran the headline Are autistic individuals the best
- [5 Autistic Professionals Share Their Networking Tips](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/5-autistic-professionals-share-networking-tips/) - Networking - it’s a word that has provoked strong emotion, from being a “bloody nightmare” to sending a “cold chill” down people’s spines. But what does networking mean for the autistic professional trying to get ahead in their career? I decided to ask autistic professionals directly about this topic, focusing on these five questions: Do
- [Neurodiverse Employment - A Mother's Perspective](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/a-mothers-persepctive/) - The perspective of a mum in supporting her adult child to finding meaningful employment.
- [7 unique skills of autistic people and what they can do for your business](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/7-unique-skills-autistic-people-can-business/)
- [How To Land Your First Job Without Having An Interview](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/land-first-job-without-interview/) - Aiden is an avid video gamer who dabbles in game development and programming. He once dreamed of making games and desktop apps for a living. However, as a non-verbal autistic teenager, living in the Blue Mountains, he rated his job prospects “somewhat low”. He was worried that his social anxiety would prevent him from ever
- [Chronic Tech Skills Shortage here to stay](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/chronic-tech-skills-shortage-here-to-stay/) - Today Australia faces chronic shortages of tech talent. Can autistic people help fill the gap? 3 minute read Business leaders across Australia are concerned about the talent gap. One in four businesses reported that they are struggling to find suitable staff to fill jobs, according to June ABS data. One of the main causes is
- [How to manage staff meetings with neurodivergent employees](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/manage-staff-meetings-neurodivergent-employees/) - Like them or loathe them, meetings are a fact of modern working life. When the first Covid lockdowns were imposed, it was meetings that many employers rushed to find solutions for, much to the benefit of companies like Zoom! But for some neurodivergent staff, meetings can be extremely difficult for several reasons. They may find
- [I am autistic and I don’t want to work in tech](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/autistic-dont-want-work-tech/) - Napoleon was above average height for his time. The Great Wall of China is not visible from space. Bats are not blind. And not all autistic people want to work in tech. False beliefs and assumptions are everywhere – we live in the era of fake news, after all. Some of these are harmless. It
- [Autism and job interviews. What’s going wrong?](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/autism-and-job-interviews-whats-going-wrong/) - Autism and Job Interviews Huge numbers of autistic adults who are willing and able to work are unemployed. They have skills and talents which would be valuable to employers, and they want to work. What is going wrong? The answer is complex, and many factors are almost certainly involved, but one major problem for many
- [3 Common Inclusion Mistakes From Xceptional](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/3-common-inclusion-mistakes-xceptional/) - 4-minute read Through Xceptional’s work creating meaningful careers for neurodiverse people, we have the pleasure of working with employers around the world. Across the public sector, corporates and startups, three common inclusion mistakes can be made. The mistakes I am about to share with you were not made by our employer partners, but by me
- [Are your neurodivergent employees invisible?](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/are-your-neurodivergent-employees-invisible/) - Who has not dreamed of spending a day being invisible? Being able to go where you please, do what you want and uncover any number of secrets that you would otherwise know nothing about? Of course, it is not that simple, as the protagonists in any of the many films on the theme quickly find
- [7 Things Dyslexic People Wished You Knew](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/7-things-dyslexic-people-wished-knew/) - Dyslexia is a condition that most of us think we understand, but few of us actually do. It can be defined as a difference that primarily affects the skills involved in accurate and fluent word reading and spelling. But there is much more to dyslexia than that. It is a neurodivergent condition, meaning that dyslexic brains
- [A new look for Xceptional](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/a-new-look-for-xceptional/) - 18 October 2022 – Today neurodiversity specialist Xceptional has unveiled its updated website incorporating it’s newly developed tools of inclusive skills assessments and on demand inclusion training. The website refresh was necessary to reflect Xceptional’s maturing position as a leader in neurodivergent inclusion. It has been more than five years since Xceptional first opened our doors
- [ADHD special abilities](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/adhd-special-abilities/) - The image that often comes to mind with Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a disruptive, naughty, fidgety boy. A living version of Bart Simpson. This blog seeks to separate the myth from reality and provide a first person account of the benefits of this often misunderstood condition. For my fellow ADHD’ers, I have kept
- [7 Things ADHD’ers Wished You Knew](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/7-things-adhds-wished-knew/) - ADHD is what makes some children unable to settle for more than 30 seconds and run around in a hyperactive frenzy the whole time, right? Well, no. That’s not right at all. What is ADHD? ADHD Australia provides a useful definition, ADHD refers to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a complex neuro-developmental disorder which affects a
- [7 Things Autistic People Wished You Knew](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/7-things-autistic-people-wished-knew/) - Around one in a hundred people are autistic, perhaps even more. Yet many people have a very limited understanding of autism, and that may be based on incorrect beliefs. So here are 7 important things that autistic people wish you knew about us! All autistic people are individuals If you have met one autistic person,
- [Don't confuse confidence with competence](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/dont-confuse-confidence-with-competence/) - A job interview can be a very poor predictor. Unless the role is being a regular guest on talk shows, the ability to give an effective interview is likely to have little or nothing to do with the ability to actually do the job on offer. Instead, the interview process effectively relies on hearsay from
- [Practical advice on how to recruit and retain autistic professionals](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/practical-advice-on-how-to-recruit-and-retain-autistic-professionals/) - This is a recorded conversation with one of Xceptional's tech partners Zoho Recruit offering practical advice on how to recruit and retain autistic professionals. https://youtu.be/8Q6mTl_PcgE
- [Article 23 – Podcast with Rhonda Brighton-Hall](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/article-23-podcast-with-rhonda-brighton-hall/) - Aron Mercer explains that a one-size-fits-all approach is never the correct way to boost DEI initiatives and offers his insights on how organisations can provide relevant accessibility, gain literacy around inclusivity and create a platform of 'disclosure without ridicule' in workspaces. Listen to the podcast here: https://soundcloud.com/article-23/have-you-worked-with-someone-who-identifies-as-neurodivergent
- [A Balancing Act: The Impact of AI on Employment for Individuals with Disabilities](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/a-balancing-act-the-impact-of-ai-on-employment-for-individuals-with-disabilities/) - Artificial Intelligence (AI) and tools like ChatGPT have the potential to greatly benefit the employment of people with disabilities, both visible and invisible. The use of AI and automation in the workplace can provide new opportunities for employees with disabilities to participate in the workforce and remove barriers that have traditionally made it difficult for
- [Why do we need to meet at 9am?](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/why-do-we-need-to-meet-at-9am/) - The employer partners Xceptional support to attract and retain neurodivergent people are committed to creating inclusive environments for all. However there is often a perception that providing reasonable adjustments for neurodivergent people is costly and time consuming. Through April we will share a number of insights that show reasonable adjustments for neurodivergent people can be
- [Invisible diversity and belonging](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/invisible-diversity-and-belonging/) - As businesses continue to prioritise diversity and inclusion within their workplace, there has been a growing recognition of the importance of disclosure of personal characteristics, such as sexuality and disability, in fostering a sense of belonging among employees. While most available data suggests the vast majority of employees with disabilities do not disclose, Forbes, only
- [Career Opportunities: What are good jobs for autistic people? (Tip: It’s your skills not your CV!)](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/career-opportunities-what-are-good-jobs-for-autistic-people-tip-its-your-skills-not-your-cv/) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPnzRqHpWRQ
- [Why Unstructured Meetings Are Challenging for Autistic People](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/why-unstructured-meetings-are-challenging-for-autistic-people/) - I have both a confession and an apology to make. Every primary school report card I ever had included the same sentence: ‘Aron is frequently distracted and often distracts others’. I’m afraid this attribute has followed me into adulthood and is most visible in unstructured meetings. An unstructured meeting is a primary school classroom for
- [What’s wrong with meeting in a cafe?](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/whats-wrong-with-meeting-in-a-cafe/) - I love coffee. After years living in Melbourne I have an appreciation for the sights and aroma of cafes and used to love nothing more than pretending I was a digital nomad and working from a cafe. However, as we continue to navigate the pandemic and adjust to new work environments, I have come to
- [The Evolution of Xceptional - From Hiring Neurodivergent Talent to Fostering Inclusive Teams](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/the-evolution-of-xceptional-from-hiring-neurodivergent-talent-to-fostering-inclusive-teams/) - In 2017, Xceptional started a mission to create meaningful careers for neurodivergent talent. Our initial focus was providing technology services, namely software testing. Our aim was to bridge the gap between neurodivergent individuals and employers. The employers we approached had other ideas, they were interested in hiring skilled neurodivergent individuals for themselves. From there we
- [Creating Safe Spaces: Addressing Psychological Safety in the Workplace](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/creating-safe-spaces-addressing-psychological-safety-in-the-workplace/) - Psychological injuries take time, attention and resources to manage. They are damaging for individuals who experience psychological injuries, managers, HR business partners and teams. In this article, I will cover the new requirements for employers to actively manage psychological injury, the unique risks neurodivergent staff face and how to mitigate them. As well as the
- [Are you rushing back to the office?](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/are-you-rushing-back-to-the-office/) - I happened upon a day working in a city office recently. While I did appreciate the change of scenery I was struck by how few people occupied the floor I was on and how much extra money I spent. A coffee here, take away lunch, parking and tolls. It adds up! I had also forgotten
- [What is behind the rise in ADHD diagnoses?](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/what-is-behind-the-rise-in-adhd-diagnoses/) - What is ADHD? ADHD Australia provides a useful definition, ADHD refers to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a complex neuro-developmental disorder which affects a person’s ability to exert age-appropriate self-control. It is characterised by persistent patterns of inattentive, impulsive, and sometimes hyperactive behaviour, and is frequently accompanied by emotional regulation challenges. In recent years, the
- [Neuro-Inclusive Hiring: 5 Recruitment Practices That Are Quietly Filtering Out Your Best Candidates](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/neuro-inclusive-hiring-filtering-out-best-candidates/) - Your hiring process isn’t broken. It’s working exactly as designed — and that’s the problem. Here’s what to change. You’ve invested in diversity training. You’ve updated your careers page with stock photos of smiling, diverse teams. You might even have an ERG for disability inclusion. And yet, your hiring funnel is systematically screening out
- [Why Your Managers Are the Missing Link in Neuro-Inclusion (And How to Fix It)](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/managers-missing-link-neuro-inclusion/) - Most organisations that want to become neuro-inclusive start in the same place: an awareness webinar, an inclusion working party and maybe a Slack channel. These are worthwhile first steps. But if you stop there, you'll miss the single biggest lever for real change — your people managers. Research from Gallup consistently shows that the manager
- [Rethinking Interviews: Sensory-Friendly & Strengths-Based Approaches](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/rethinking-interviews-sensory-friendly-strengths-based-approaches/) - How inclusive hiring practices unlock neurodivergent talent — and strengthen outcomes for everyone There’s a quiet irony at the heart of most hiring processes. Organisations say they want innovation, creative problem-solving, and diverse perspectives — then funnel every candidate through the same rigid, socially performative interview format that systematically disadvantages the very people most likely
- [The future is neurodiverse](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/the-future-is-neurodiverse/) - Today is one of those strange bitter-sweet days. I find myself looking back at a solemn memory yet also looking ahead with hope. It is one of those mountain top moments that causes me to pick up a pen and sigh deeply.
- [Best tweets from Employable Me episode 1](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/best-tweets-employable-episode-1/) - Our favourite tweets from Employable Me Here are a few of our favourite tweets from last week’s Employable Me. Today is episode 2 of #EmployableMeAu. Make sure you watch episode 1 first if you haven’t already. Watching #EmployableMeAU - apart from anything else says a lot about the way we recruit. And look at
- [Tim and his Xceptional journey](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/tim-xceptional-journey/) - Tim is one of our talented software testers. He will be featured in the ABCTV Employable Me episode Tuesday night at 8.30pm.
- [Article in The Australian](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/article-in-the-australian/) - We are delighted to be featured in The Australian for the second time.
- [Neurodiversity Panel at Sydney Tech Leaders](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/neurodiversity-panel-at-sydney-tech-leaders/) - Last night Xceptional’s Mike Tozer spoke at Sydney Tech Leaders.
- [5 things that make for an exceptional offsite meeting](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/exceptional-offsite-meeting/) - Earlier this month we had an intensive two days exploring our products and services at an offsite meeting. It was so useful for us. In fact, it was one of the biggest leap forwards for Xceptional so far!
- [A marathon? Mid-week? Why?](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/marathon-mid-week/) - Most marathons are run on the weekend. After all, this is when many people have at least one day off work, and the roads aren’t as busy – so it makes sense.
- [Taking on tomorrow](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/business-innovation/) - As a Westpac 2018 Businesses of Tomorrow winner, Xceptional were invited to Melbourne Business School for their ‘Take on Tomorrow Program’. Here's what we learnt about business innovation:
- [Autistic leadership part 2: Strategies for empowering leaders](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/autistic-leadership-strategies/) - Elon Musk recently shared that he is autistic. He was not the first billionaire to disclose as neurodivergent. There are others as discussed in a previous article, but most have ADHD or dyslexia rather than being autistic. There are few autistic business leaders who are household names. This has serious implications for autistic leadership. Charlotte
- [The Benefits of Coaching: From Great to Xceptional!](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/benefits-coaching-autism-hiring/) - One of the key elements of a successful employment program for autistic individuals is job coaching. Coaching enhances employment success by ensuring greater job satisfaction, increased productivity, and in the long term, greater employee retention. --- It is widely acknowledged that increasing the diversity of workforces leads to positive outcomes. McKinsey’s Diversity Matters report has
- [Elon Musk and autistic leadership - part 1](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/elon-musk-autistic-leadership1/) - Elon Musk’s autistic disclosure earlier this month has left me with mixed feelings. On one hand, I am a self-confessed space nut, having studied Physics for my undergrad degree. Yet the way his announcement was made was not ideal. In the fargone days of international travel, I spoke at a tech conference in Cocoa Beach,
- [A Christmas party with a difference](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/christmas-party-difference/) - We do Christmas like we do business. Differently! This year we were determined for our Christmas party to be inclusive.
- [Need New Ideas For Your Business? Hire More Autistic Staff!](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/need-new-ideas-for-your-business-hire-more-autistic-staff/) - 6-minute read In this article on innovation, author Mark Palmer explains the benefits of hiring autistic people, who often bring fresh perspectives to a problem. Different ways of thinking are vital for companies that need to come up with new products and services and stay ahead of the competition. Key Takeaways: Autistic people can frequently
- [What is Self-Care & My Top 4 Self-Care Tips](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/what-is-self-care-my-top-4-self-care-tips/) - 4-minute read Self care is such an important element of coping through tough times for autistic people as well as neurotypicals. In this article, guest writer Barb Cook brings 4 tips for positive self care, including focusing on the present through mindfulness, learning when and how to say no, and using interoception as a self-care
- [Beyond the buzzword. What does Neurodiversity mean for business?](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/beyond-buzzword-neurodiversity-mean-business/) - The Australian sociologist, Judy Singer, coined the term Neurodiversity in the late ’90s. Singer described an inherent range in how the human mind functions regarding the functional processing of information, emotions and thoughts (Honeybourne 2020, p. 13). The term “neurodiversity” refers to the various mental models that persist in a population as a neuro-minority.According to Wiginton (2021),
- [International Women’s Day 2022: Break the Bias](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/international-womens-day-2022-break-bias-2/) - The world is not a fair place. Often those who make the breakthrough are not those who get the credit – Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth all evolved from work by Hedy Lamarr, who is much better known as an actress, to take one example. Perhaps more often than any other group, women are denied the
- [Reflections on Neurodiversity Allyship this International Women’s Day](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/reflections-on-neurodiversity-allyship-this-international-womens-day/) - International Women's Day has long been a celebration of women’s achievements and a call for action to create meaningful change to gender inequality. But here is the thing, as women boldly cry out for greater equity in society there is vast inequality amongst its own gender when we start examining cross-sectionality. One such area is
- [The 101 of how not to manage Autistic employees](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/101-not-manage-autistic-employees/) - Leadership, you need to know this. If you don't believe you have hidden neurodiverse employees on staff, the chances are that you do. Neurodiversity and tapping into this resource is a hot topic. According to research, neurodiversity in the general population is between 30% to 40%. With the amount of literature online about autism and neurodiversity specifically
- [Neurodivergent Leadership Part 3: Real Life Case Study – Scott Howe](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/neurodiverse-leadership-part-3/) - “How autism and learned behaviours can be a strong combination in leadership” 4-minute read Meet Scott Howe, an impressive business leader with a background in the military. Scott is also autistic. Scott’s route into his first career was accidental. Growing up in England, he applied to join the Royal Marines Commandos, never believing he’d be
- [Why build a platform?](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/why-build-a-platform/) - 2-minute read Xceptional's custom built platform allows autistic job seekers to demonstrate their skills by completing tasks, puzzles and activities in a safe online environment.The platform was built to highlight the incredible skills of neurodiverse individuals who are often overlooked in standard recruitment processes. Here we talk about the 'why' behind the platform. Why did
- [Xceptional we have lift off](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/xceptional-we-have-lift-off/) - Xceptional launches a platform 3-minute read It’s a special time for our team as we count down to the release of the Xceptional assessment platform for neurodiverse job seekers (https://app.xceptional.io/). Xceptional's custom built platform allows job seekers to demonstrate their skills by completing tasks, puzzles and activities in a safe online environment. Since our inception
- [5 Things to Remember When Talking to an Autistic Person](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/5-things-talking-to-autistic-person/) - 5 Things to Remember When Talking to an Autistic Person 3-minute read Autistic people are all different and have different skills, abilities and needs. But there are some issues that apply to many autistic people, and this list attempts to focus on some of these. If in doubt about what would help an autistic person,
- [7 Autistic Professionals Talk about Thriving and Masking at Work](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/7-autistic-professionals-talk-thriving-masking-work/) - All around the world, there are hundreds of autistic people working in professional, white-collar jobs. Some may have disclosed their autism. Some may choose to hide their autism at work, otherwise known as “masking”. Given the diversity of the autism spectrum, I decided to ask autistic professionals directly about their experiences thriving or masking at
- [Why we are taking a week to slow down](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/taking-week-slow/) - This year has been a huge time of change. Our team have done an amazing job responding to Covid by transitioning our training, coaching, recruitment, assessment and events online. Our webinar last week was just one of many areas of our business that have had to quickly pivot. There has been an extraordinary growth in
- [Unexpected Benefit: How This Autistic Professional Has Thrived Working From Home](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/unexpected-benefit-autistic-professional-thrived-working-home/) - Working from home (WFH) during COVID-19 has both advantages and disadvantages for autistic professionals. And someone who has thrived during the new normal is Sydney-based Maria, a quality assurance (QA) tester at Mable, the digital portal that links carers and supports people with those who need them.
- [It’s not all about IT…Breaking the stigma in employment choices for autistic & neurodivergent people](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/not-itbreaking-stigma-employment-choices-autistic-neurodivergent-people/) - By Barb Cook, M.Aut., Dip. HSc. (used with permission) Information and technology (IT) has boomed over the past 30 years and become an integral part of the modern developed world. Employment opportunities in IT exploded alongside this growth and created pathways for autistic people in finding job security in an industry that has been stigmatized
- [An Introduction to Self-Advocacy & Self-determination Skills. What Are They and Why Are They So Important?](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/introduction-self-advocacy-self-determination-skills-important/) - By Barb Cook, M.Aut., Dip. HSc. (used with permission) Neurodivergent people often experience challenges in exercising skills associated with self-determination and self-advocacy Being pinnacle life skills that drive their success in education, employment, independence and within society, with the right supports, tools and strategies, they can develop high levels of self-determination, providing a firm sense
- [Who our training is for - and it might not be who you think](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/training-might-not-think/) - It is often assumed by people that I meet, that our training is for autistic employees rather than employers. In fact, the opposite is true. This misunderstanding is excusable. In other cases of unemployment, such as veterans or young people, up-skilling is often successful. Yet for the autistic community, they are usually over-skilled. Instead, our
- [Candidate Care and Coaching; The Xceptional Way](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/candidate-care-coaching-xceptional-way/) - [blockquote author="" link="" target="_blank"]Coaching is a growth opportunity. To develop new skills, new ways of thinking and new strategies to overcome challenges.[/blockquote] We are often asked why our autistic candidates need coaching if they are so talented? Coaching is about thriving instead of surviving. An individual receiving coaching has the opportunity to explore who
- [A mother's encouragement helped land her autistic son a job in IT](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/mothers-encouragement-helped-land-autistic-son-job/) - “Life doesn’t come with a manual; it comes with a mother.” – Unknown Mother’s Day celebrates all mothers and their unconditional love. This Mother’s Day, Xceptional would also like to salute one particular mother: Libby Walton. Libby is the mother of Tim. You might be familiar with Tim. He was a star on the first
- [Why now is the time to hire autistic employees](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/now-time-hire-autistic-employees/) - With employers turning their focus to enabling their workforce to work from home, hiring managers are faced with a new challenge of mobilising their teams, implementing new processes and managing workloads remotely. Employers may find this time of heightened change difficult to navigate, particularly the recruitment process. At Xceptional we believe there has never been
- [We are Google Impact winners!](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/were-google-impact-winners/) - Wow! Big thank you to all who voted for Xceptional in the Google.org Impact Challenge
- [One quick thing you can do to change the future for autistic people](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/one-quick-thing-you-can-do-to-change-the-future-for-those-with-autism/) - Everyone who works at Xceptional has a direct connection to autism: either they have autism, or they have a friend or close family member who does.
- [Xceptional announced as Google.org Impact Challenge finalist](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/xceptional-announced-google-org-impact-challenge-finalist/) - We have some big news to share with you that we are very excited about. Amazingly, Xceptional has been selected as one of the Google.org Impact Challenge finalists!
- [One mistake that start-ups are making… and three ways to put it right!](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/one-mistake-start-ups-making-three-ways-put-right/) - Guest blog from Lucy Rycroft. Start-up companies like to dream big and often plan to make a massive impact on the world, through a unique product, service or idea.
- [Leaders in the autism hiring field](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/leaders-autism-hiring-field/) - Change is happening right now. Organisations globally are seeing a new area of diversity that have so far been ignored. Many have focused on the important issues of gender and race; yet disability, impacting more than a billion people globally, is now entering the picture. Significant progress is being made in the US, where around 10%
- [Westpac Businesses of Tomorrow](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/westpac-businesses-tomorrow/) - What does being a top 20 Westpac Businesses of Tomorrow winner mean for us going forward?
- [Minister Visit to Xceptional](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/minister-visit-xceptional/) - We were delighted to have Minister Ray Williams visit the Xceptional offices in Sydney on June 14.
- [Why we cancelled job interviews](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/cancelled-job-interviews/) - Our alternative interview process for people with autism
- [New Xceptional Intro Video](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/new-xceptional-intro-video/) - We've just recorded a new video explaining what Xceptional is and why we do what we do.
- [Xceptional in The Australian](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/xceptional-in-the-australian/) - Xceptional has been covered in an article in the Australian. Our team member, Tim, was interviewed for the article and describes his experience of working with us.
- [An Xceptional Journey](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/an-xceptional-journey/) - Today, Xceptional, a new technology services firm, is being launched in Sydney. We have a big vision - to impact 1000 lives over the next 5 years - and we believe this is an incredible opportunity.
- [Xceptional Launch Event - 1st December](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/xceptional-launch-event-1st-december/) - This time next week will be a big moment for Xceptional. We will be having our public launch event! 12pm, 1st December.
- [5 key factors for selecting an accessibility tester](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/5-key-factors-selecting-accessibility-tester/) - One fifth of the population has a disability. Business leaders are keen to ensure their organisation reaches these customers and increasingly, websites and apps are expected to be accessible. If you are looking to meet the WCAG 2.0 standards, here are our top five tips for what to look for in an accessibility audit provider.
- [Founder Video Diary #7](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/founder-video-diary-7/) - Xceptional is an award-winning technology services company which provides exceptional software testing services by employing people with autism. Watch our latest founder video about our launch event in two weeks time as well as our new website.
- [Autism in the workplace: new developments in Australia](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/autism-workplace-new-developments-australia/) - Things are looking very positive for people with autism in Australia at the moment. We recently attended Australia’s first ever Autism at Work conference, in Sydney, and it left us excited about the future.
- [Founder video diary 6](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/founder-video-diary-6/) - We are a tech startup that does software testing and employs people with autism. We also provide training services to other tech firms to help them employ people with autism.
- [Xceptional welcomes 2017 intern](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/xceptional-welcomes-2017-intern/) - We have recently been joined by our first ever intern. We are delighted to welcome Shreya Nayak to our team! Shreya is completing her master’s degree in IT Management at Sydney University and will be with us for the next 5 months, working closely with our CEO and testing team across a variety of projects
- [Xceptional wins Macquarie Kickstarter award](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/xceptional-wins-macquarie-kickstarter-award/) - We are super excited to announce that we've won the Macquarie Kickstarter program! Kickstarter is a business planning competition and grant program funded by the Macquarie Group Foundation for early stage social ventures like us. It is run by an awesome team over at SEFA Partnerships. And we are delighted to be selected as one of 3 winners!
- [Founder video diary 5](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/founder-video-diary-5/) - We are doing software testing and employing people with autism as our testers. Here's a quick update.
- [Founder video diary 4](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/founder-video-diary-4/) - Here's another update from what we've been up to at Xceptional this week.
- [Founder video diary 2](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/founder-video-diary-2/) - It's been a little while since I posted and a few people have asked what's happening. So here's an update.
- [When shopping hits the conveyor belt](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/when-shopping-hits-the-conveyor-belt/) - An article on disability employment recently popped up in my feed, announcing that "Disabled Cashier Serves Customer Slowly and Squishes Her Bread". The title makes it sound like a bad customer experience. Yet in reality quite the opposite happened. Headlines can be misleading!

## Pages

- [Home](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/) - Xceptional Academy supports organisations across Australia to create safe, inclusive and productive workplaces where neurodivergent employees can thrive.
- [Funding Your Coaching (EAF)](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/funding-your-coaching-eaf/) - Your workplace coaching may be fully funded by the Australian Government, up to $1,770.44 a year, through the Employment Assistance Fund. See how it works and how we help you apply.
- [Neurodiversity Inclusion MasterClass for HR Professionals](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/neurodiversity-inclusion-masterclass-for-hr-professionals/)
- [Free Resources for Employers](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/resources/) - Welcome to our resource hub, dedicated to supporting managers and HR professionals in fostering inclusive, neurodiverse workplaces. As the landscape of neurodiversity in the workplace continues to evolve, we provide the latest tools, insights, and best practices to help you effectively manage and support diverse teams.
- [Neuro-Inclusion On-Demand Training](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/on-demand-training/)
- [Footer](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/footer/)
- [Neurodiversity Inclusion MasterClass](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/neurodiversity-inclusion-masterclass/)
- [Professional Soft Skills Training for Neurodivergent Individuals](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/professional-soft-skills-training-for-neurodivergent-individuals/)
- [Neuro-Inclusion Training](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/training/) - Our innovative training is designed to foster a culture of neurodiversity inclusion and psychological safety within the workplace. Through a combination of insightful content and practical methodologies, we empower participants with actionable strategies to dismantle obstacles and promote inclusivity.
- [Employer Training](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/employer-training/)
- [Contact Us](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/contact-us/) - Whether you’re a neurodivergent person or employer we would love to hear from you. Send us a message, we'll get back to you as soon as we can!
- [Donate](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/donate/)
- [Donor Dashboard](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/donor-dashboard/)
- [Donation Failed](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/donation-failed/) - We're sorry, your donation failed to process. Please try again or contact site support.
- [Donation Confirmation](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/donation-confirmation/)
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- [Neurodiversity Inclusion Training](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/neurodiversity-inclusion-training/)
- [Stay connected](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/stay-connected/)
- [Neuro-Inclusion Services for Employers](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/employer-services/) - At Xceptional Academy, we empower HR professionals and managers to get the best out of their neurodiverse teams by creating genuinely safe and inclusive environments.
- [Employee Assessment & Coaching](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/coaching/) - We understand that challenges arise, and our Workplace Assessment & Coaching service is designed to provide tailored support to both neurodivergent employees and their managers.
- [Coaching for Neurodivergent Individuals](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/individual-coaching/)
- [Services for individuals](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/individual-services/)
- [HR & Talent Strategy](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/talent/) - Xceptional Academy offers tailored recruitment services to meet the needs of neurodivergent individuals and organisations seeking inclusive talent solutions.
- [Neuro-Inclusion Advisory](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/advisory/) - At Xceptional Academy, our Neuro-Inclusion Advisory services provide expert guidance to help your organisation create and maintain an inclusive workplace.
- [Microcredentials](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/microcredentials/)
- [Professional Soft Skills](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/professional-soft-skills/) - The soft-skills course provides neurodivergent individuals skills and insights into working in a professional work environment.
- [Blog Article](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/blog/blog-article/)
- [My account](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/my-account-2/) - [woocommerce_my_account]
- [Shop](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/shop/)
- [Digital Forensics for Mobile](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/digital-forensics-for-mobile/) - The Institute of Applied Technology Digital (IAT-D), Macquarie University, Microsoft and University of Technology Sydney are offering Neurodiverse people the opportunity to develop in demand Cyber skills and future proof their careers via fully subsidised Microcredentials. This initiative is funded by the Federal Government under the Commonwealth Cyber Security Skills Partnership Innovation Fund.
- [Digital Forensics Scholarship](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/digital-forensics-scholarship/) - Xceptional, in collaboration with The Institute of Applied Technology Digital (IAT-D), is thrilled to announce full scholarships tailored for Neurodivergent individuals aspiring to carve a path in Cyber Security - specifically, Digital Forensics. Our upcoming 8-week scholarship program, set to commence in April, will constitute a cohort exclusively comprising neurodivergent individuals.
- [Workshop Training](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/workshop-training/) - Ensure your employees are equipped with an understanding of neurodiversity and feel confident to work in an inclusive workplace.
- [Soft Skills Course](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/soft-skills-course/) - Introducing our Professional Soft-Skills Training Program, a transformative journey designed to empower neurodivergent individuals with essential tools for success in the workplace.
- [Digital Forensics Course](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/digital-forensics-course/) - You will get hands-on with a wide variety of investigations like operating system file investigations, recovery of files on storage media, analysis of data collected from live network traffic and a variety of mobile devices.

## Donation Forms

- [Empowering Neurodivergent Talent](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/donations/empowering-neurodiversity/) - []

## Categories

- [Articles](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/category/articles/)
- [Coaching](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/category/coaching/)
- [Business](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/category/business/)
- [Inclusive Hiring](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/category/inclusive-hiring/)
- [Employees](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/category/employees/)

## Tags

- [#Leadership](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/tag/leadership/)
- [#MentalHealth](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/tag/mentalhealth/)
- [#Neurodiversity #PsychologicalSafety #Inclusion #WorkplaceWellness #Leadership #DiversityAndInclusion #HRLeaders #MentalHealth](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/tag/neurodiversity-psychologicalsafety-inclusion-workplacewellness-leadership-diversityandinclusion-hrleaders-mentalhealth/)
- [#ADHD](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/tag/adhd/)
- [#AUTISM](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/tag/autism/)
- [#HRLeaders](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/tag/hrleaders/)
- [#Inclusion](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/tag/inclusion/)
- [#PsychologicalSafety](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/tag/psychologicalsafety/)
- [neurodiversity manager training](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/tag/neurodiversity-manager-training/)
- [neuroinclusive leadership](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/tag/neuroinclusive-leadership/)
- [how to support neurodivergent employees](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/tag/how-to-support-neurodivergent-employees/)
- [neuro-inclusive workplace](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/tag/neuro-inclusive-workplace/)
- [neurodiversity hiring practices](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/tag/neurodiversity-hiring-practices/)
- [inclusive recruitment process](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/tag/inclusive-recruitment-process/)
- [neurodivergent-friendly job interviews](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/tag/neurodivergent-friendly-job-interviews/)
- [neuro-inclusive hiring](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/tag/neuro-inclusive-hiring/)
- [neurodivergent recruitment barriers](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/tag/neurodivergent-recruitment-barriers/)
- [inclusive job descriptions for neurodiversity](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/tag/inclusive-job-descriptions-for-neurodiversity/)
- [Women and ADHD](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/tag/women-and-adhd/)
- [late diagnosis](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/tag/late-diagnosis/)
- [neurodivergence](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/tag/neurodivergence/)
- [autism in women](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/tag/autism-in-women/)
- [adult ADHD](https://xceptionalacademy.org.au/tag/adult-adhd/)