ACFO-ACAF is proud to announce the release of our comprehensive guide for neurodivergent employees, Thinking Differently at Work! 

Did you know that an estimated 15 to 20% of the Canadian population (around 600,000 adults) in Canada are neurodivergent, and that neurodivergent professionals are overrepresented in STEM fields, including finance, accounting, and audit? 

Over the past year, and in preparation for Neurodiversity Celebration Week in March, our team has collaborated with neurodivergent authors, subject matter experts, and allies to create this resource for the CT Community. The guide is designed to support neurodivergent CTs at every stage of their employment journey, offering practical guidance for navigating the workplace while requesting necessary supports and advocating for an inclusive work environment. 

• Access the PDF here.

More specifically, the guide details: 

• What it means to be neurodivergent;  
• What ADHD, dyslexia, and autism look like at work; 
• How to pursue a diagnosis as an adult; 
• The process for disclosing neurodivergence;  
• Why securing workplace accommodations is essential; and  
• How to leverage professional development for neurodivergent career growth.   

The guide can be found on ACFO-ACAF’s Thinking Differently at Work web page and on our EDIAR web page in both PDF and plain text formats. 

Upcoming neurodiversity webinars 

We’re also excited to share that, alongside the launch of the aforementioned guide, we will be hosting a series of five webinars that will focus on the main themes the guide explores. Each session will be facilitated by experts and guide contributors.  

An introductory webinar to neurodiversity has already taken place and a recording is available for CT Community members to watch today! The session features a presentation by Dr. Jennifer Fane from the Conference Board of Canada, who joined us to explain what neurodiversity is. It includes a wealth of important information that will help you to establish a baseline understanding of neurodiversity, which we will build upon in the upcoming webinars.  

A recording of Jennifer Fane’s session is available here.

CT Community members an find more information about the upcoming webinars below:   

• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) at Work 
  • February 26, 12:00 – 1:00 pm ET
  • English only
  • Presented by Dr. Gurdeep Parhar of the Adult ADHD Centre
  • Contact communications@acfo-acaf.com for the link to register.
• Dyslexia at Work
  • March 5
  • 12:00 – 1:00 pm ET (English) 
  • 1:00 – 2:00 pm ET (French) 
  • Presented by Dyslexia Canada
  • Contact communications@acfo-acaf.com for the link to register.
• Autism at Work
  • March 12, 12:00 – 1:00 pm ET 
  • English only 
  • Presented by Wanda Deschamps of Liberty Co  
  • Contact communications@acfo-acaf.com for the link to register.
• Know Your Rights: Disclosing your Condition and Workplace Adaptations
  • March 20 
  • 11:00 am – 12:00 pm ET (French) 
  • 12:00 – 1:00 pm ET (English) 
  • Presented by ACFO-ACAF’s Director of Job Evaluation and Equity, Stéphanie Rochon Perras
  • Contact communications@acfo-acaf.com for the link to register.
• Leveraging Professional Development for Neurodivergent Career Growth
  • March 26
  • 11:00 am – 12:00 pm ET (English) 
  • 12:00 – 1:00 pm ET (French)
  • Presented by ACFO-ACAF’s Learning and Development Specialist, Megan Walter  
  • Contact communications@acfo-acaf.com for the link to register.

The sessions will be recorded for anyone who is unable to attend live and they will be made available on the ACFO-ACAF Member Portal in the days following the event. 

For any questions about the sessions, please contact communications@acfo-acaf.com. 

We hope these new resources can go a long way in assisting neurodivergent CTs in their workplaces and career growth.