Sophie Crawford explores how coworking spaces are transforming work for neurodivergent and queer communities, offering flexibility, inclusion, and real connection where traditional offices fall short.
Was it the pandemic? Was it the global TikTok addiction of 2020? Was it our collective identity crisis? Whatever the catalyst, something cracked – and not just in a corporate social responsibility, copy-pasted jargon sort of way. Organisations everywhere are starting to talk the talk about all things neurodivergence, but can they walk the walk? Spoiler: conventional, 9-5 offices were designed by someone that hated joy, and we’re not here for it. The rise of flexible workspaces though? That’s where things get interesting. And now, like a boomer on Facebook reels, the corporate world is trying to catch up.
In simple terms, neurodivergence is a difference in mental or neurological function from what is considered “typical” or “normal”. Experts estimate that up to 20% of Aotearoa’s population fall into this category. For example, people with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia or Tourette’s syndrome would all be considered neurodivergent. On the other hand, neurodiversity is the idea that neurological differences are a natural variation in the human genome, with each individual bringing their own unique strengths to the collective. But these differences aren’t new, nor are they glitches in the system. In fact, they’re integral to humanity.
In hunter-gatherer societies, this variation of neurotypes was highly beneficial. People with the novelty-seeking, high-energy, impulsive traits associated with ADHD may have been the explorers or scouts of their community, with their greater willingness to take risks leading to new discoveries and innovation. Likewise, the heightened sensory sensitivities associated with ASD could help detect subtle environmental changes, while strong attention to detail and deep interests made them skilled tradespeople and knowledge keepers. Theoretically, these benefits could be the reason why neurodiversity still exists today through millennia of natural selection. A few thousand years later we’ve traded the great outdoors for office cubicles, which unsurprisingly, has come at an expense.
Unfortunately, the same traits that helped us survive in the high-risk, communal, sensory-rich environments of early human life butt heads with the modern systems built for uniformity. Rigid schooling and office environments weren’t exactly designed with diversity in mind. It’s a bit like being queer in a world designed for straight people; there’s a difference between being tolerated and being celebrated. This disconnect creates an “evolutionary mismatch” between neurodivergent people and their environment – in other words, your brain isn’t the problem; the environment is. When we untangle the idea that everyone should work the same way, we unleash the immense potential of different minds. Because honestly, “one size fits all” never really fit anyone. But if the old models don’t work, it begs the question – what does?
Having risen in popularity over the last few years, coworking spaces address a growing need for workspaces that are designed around people, not policies. Offering a unique blend of flexibility and community, they are a magnet for those who crave an alternative to the traditional office or work-from-home models. There’s a reason why so many of us queer, neurodivergent people find ourselves gravitating towards these spaces. Maybe it’s because we are already used to breaking free from the shackles of conventionality, carving out spaces in a system that never made room for us. So when you walk into a space where that expansive energy is already baked in, you feel it.
Trying to find someone with ADHD in a room full of queers is like trying to find someone with memory issues in a retirement home; you’re mid-compliment, mid-conversation, mid-forgetting what the hell you were saying – but everyone just rolls with it. It’s chaotic. It’s joyful. It’s community. And when a space is purpose-built by people who get that? Well, you might just find yourself exactly where you’re meant to be.
Find out if coworking could work for you at geniuscoworking.co.nz
