Horiens-hosted webinar brought together guest speakers to expand access to information and encourage more inclusive environments that embrace different ways of perceiving, interacting with, and experiencing the world.

Promoting health and well-being in organizations increasingly requires understanding people in all their diversity and creating environments where everyone can thrive with respect and quality of life. With this perspective in mind, Horiens hosted a webinar on neurodiversity for employees of the companies it supports in the management of Employee Benefits and Insurance programs.

The initiative is part of Horiens’ ongoing efforts to broaden access to high-quality information on health and well-being, helping clients develop corporate health strategies that are attentive to people’s diverse needs.

“Bringing neurodiversity into the conversation is an opportunity to broaden our perspective on health and inclusion. Our role is also to help organizations access reliable information and turn that knowledge into everyday care and support,” said Érica Cela, a member of Horiens’ Employee Benefits team and moderator of the event.

The webinar is available on Horiens’ YouTube channel. Watch the full session here.

Health Beyond the Absence of Disease

Guest speaker Edinete Nogueira, a neuropsychologist and Ph.D. in Health Psychology, encouraged participants to reflect on how the concept of health has evolved over time.

“For a long time, health was understood as the absence of disease. Today, it is associated with our ability to manage our lives,” she explained.

Edinete noted that neurodivergence refers to ways of functioning that differ from what is considered neurotypical and may be associated with conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, among others.

“Neurodivergence is a different way of functioning, not a limitation,” she emphasized.

Understanding these differences is important because neurodivergent individuals often make invisible efforts to adapt to the expectations of their environments. The constant attempt to “fit in” can result in significant cognitive overload, fatigue, and physical and mental exhaustion. Sensory sensitivities and selective behaviors are also common and may affect various aspects of daily life.

Inclusion Begins With Listening

One of the central themes of the conversation was the creation of neuroinclusive environments that welcome different needs, communication styles, work rhythms, and ways of interacting with the world.

“Labels can be very problematic. Diagnoses should never define a person,” Edinete pointed out.

Instead of assuming what someone needs, a simple question can create space for meaningful listening: “How can I help you?” This approach allows individuals to express their own needs and preferences while placing a sense of belonging at the heart of inclusion.

In the workplace, bringing neurodiversity into the conversation also signals a willingness to learn and evolve. This means looking not only at people’s needs but also at their strengths and potential.

When a Diagnosis Affects the Entire Family

During the second part of the webinar, Victória Mariano, mother of a five-year-old girl diagnosed with ASD, shared the perspective of someone who experiences neurodiversity firsthand at home.

The first signs appeared early in childhood. Her daughter’s remarkable memory initially caught the family’s attention, while the school began noticing other behavioral traits. A specialized medical evaluation identified additional indicators, ultimately leading to an ASD diagnosis.

From that point on, the family’s priority became understanding their daughter’s needs and finding the resources necessary to support her development. Therapies brought significant progress but also introduced an intense routine. Reflecting on the challenge of balancing caregiving, work, and other responsibilities, Victória highlighted an important lesson: caregivers also need care. She shared that she experienced burnout during a period when she neglected her own needs.

Prejudice was also part of the family’s journey. Victória reported that her daughter’s enrollment was declined by two schools before either institution had even met her personally, solely because of the diagnosis.

Another concern for Victória is hearing that her daughter “doesn’t seem autistic.” Although the comment is often made with good intentions, it can carry the expectation that a person should consistently display behaviors considered typical, even when they may be exerting tremendous effort to adapt, belong, and fit in.

Victória also spoke about the emotional impact that a diagnosis can have on families. There may be a sense of grief related to previously held expectations, but she believes it is essential to shift the focus toward understanding what the child needs and supporting their development and well-being.

The experience also transformed her own outlook on life.

“What my daughter has taught me is to look at the world with greater calm and sensitivity. We do not all need to see the world in the same way,” she said.

Ultimately, this was one of the key messages of the event: neurodiversity means recognizing different ways of perceiving, feeling, learning, communicating, and interacting with the world. Inclusion means creating space for those differences and enabling every person to develop their full potential.

Written by Horiens