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A new study reveals why many so-called inclusive designs still exclude autistic women - and how cultural bias in both design and diagnosis is part of the problem.Inclusive design often fails the very people it's meant to serve. A new study confirms what autistic women have been saying for years: design decisions still reflect neurotypical and male-centered norms. It's not just a missed opportunity. It's a form of exclusion.<h3>Why “Inclusive” Isn’t Always Inclusive</h3>The recent paper by Batista &amp; Franco (2025) critiques “inclusive design” through an anthropological lens. It shows how design reflects deep cultural assumptions. These assumptions typically ignore or misrepresent the lived experiences of autistic women, leading to products that are technically compliant but practically unusable.Founded by an autistic woman, Neurodiverse Panel was created for this exact reason: Design choices shaped by outdated diagnostic criteria, male-centric research, or generic accessibility checklists often exclude the very users they aim to include - especially women and nonbinary neurodivergent people, who may mask or communicate differently than expected.The authors explain how every day products - from apps to food packaging - send messages about who belongs and who doesn’t. If your design reflects neurotypical assumptions, it’s likely reinforcing exclusion - even if it looks “inclusive” on paper.<h3>What the research shows</h3><ul><li>Diagnostic tools for autism still skew male, meaning autistic women are under-identified and underserved (Hull et al., 2017; Lai et al., 2015). </li><li>Universal design models often ignore the preferences of users who don’t fit dominant norms (Sanches et al., 2023).</li><li>Inclusive design that doesn’t account for neurodivergent realities isn't inclusive - it’s performative.</li></ul><h3>How do we change this?</h3>The answer is a straightforward one: we include the voices too often overlooked&nbsp;as soon as possible.If we are seeking to make a product or service more neuroinclusive, we get the input of neurodivergent people first.If we are designing a new product, we&nbsp;co-create with neurodivergent people from the start.<h3>Who needs to hear this?</h3><ul><li>UX and product teams designing accessible platforms</li><li>Marketing and comms leads creating inclusive messaging</li><li>HR or policy professionals aiming for neurodivergent-friendly systems</li></ul>If you're making decisions that affect neurodivergent people, you need lived-experience insight at the core.&nbsp; Book a discovery call now - or learn how we work to avoid exclusion by design.References<a title="Franco, Annibal Gouvêa. “CULTURE AND INCLUSION IN PRODUCT DESIGN FOR AUTISTIC WOMEN: AN ANTHROPOLOGICAL APPROACH.” Revista Aracê (2025): n. pag. Web." href="https://doi.org/10.56238/AREV7N2-068" target="_blank" data-mce-href="https://doi.org/10.56238/AREV7N2-068" rel="noopener">Franco, Annibal Gouvêa. “CULTURE AND INCLUSION IN PRODUCT DESIGN FOR AUTISTIC WOMEN: AN ANTHROPOLOGICAL APPROACH.” Revista Aracê (2025): n. pag. Web.</a>

Inclusion Isn’t Universal: Why Inclusive Design Still Excludes Autistic Women

Group of diverse classmates engaged in a collaborative learning discussion around a table in a modern classroom setting

<h2>Understanding Neurodiversity</h2>In a world that’s finally waking up to the power of inclusivity, one voice still gets left out far too often: the neurodivergent one.At Neurodiverse Panel, we’re changing that – not just by talking about neurodivergence, but by building a bridge between neurodivergent lived experience and the organisations shaping the world around us. And we’re proud to be neurodivergent-owned and run, which means we get it – deeply, personally, and professionally.Neurodiversity includes people with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, and other neurological differences – and understanding these differences as natural human variations opens the door to more effective, ethical, and inclusive business practices.<img id="atipcktpbcmalhenby" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="font-size: 18.9px; aspect-ratio: 16 / 9; object-position: center center;" title="Audience applauding in conference." src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/1470229430/photo/audience-applauding-in-conference.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=SpHgdCCwFUDQAjPsCIvMVXwVxQen3mub1DeLFD_162c=" alt="Audience applauding in conference." data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="null" data-positiony="null" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/1470229430/photo/audience-applauding-in-conference.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=SpHgdCCwFUDQAjPsCIvMVXwVxQen3mub1DeLFD_162c=" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"><h2>The Value of a Neurodivergent Panel</h2>If your brand, product, service, or research aims to serve people, there’s a high chance a significant portion of your audience is neurodivergent – whether they’ve disclosed it or not.A neurodivergent panel gives you access to authentic insight you simply won’t get from traditional focus groups or surface-level research. Our panel – made up of individuals with real lived experience – offers sharp, honest, and constructive feedback to help you avoid missteps and design with empathy.We don’t just review – we reveal what really works, what really hurts, and what others miss entirely.<figure id="figure-yv4oy5o8g9malhev5t"><img id="yv4oy5o8g9malhev5t" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/1cgiLnrrRaaxkp2EwsAuhTD6e8n9ktBFihW7CHssNSKNhpTisGsKJl5MQhjQ6mwv.jpeg" alt="team brainstorming" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/1cgiLnrrRaaxkp2EwsAuhTD6e8n9ktBFihW7CHssNSKNhpTisGsKJl5MQhjQ6mwv.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;"></figure><h3>Fostering Innovation and Creativity</h3>Neurodivergent people often bring pattern recognition, lateral thinking, and unique problem-solving approaches that traditional systems overlook.When you tap into that kind of cognitive diversity, you're not just avoiding exclusion – you’re unlocking fresh innovation. Whether it’s testing a user journey, evaluating a campaign message, or co-designing a new service, we help you explore opportunities and ideas that others wouldn’t even see.Our panel doesn’t just “think differently” – we think deeper, more originally, and more practically about the edge cases that often define real-world success.<h3>Enhancing Employee Satisfaction and Inclusion</h3>Engaging neurodivergent voices in your work signals that your organisation is committed to more than just appearances – you're building true inclusion.That kind of authenticity matters – to your employees, your customers, and the wider community. When neurodivergent people see themselves meaningfully involved, it boosts belonging, morale, and trust. It also builds loyalty from everyone who sees your brand as one that walks its talk.Working with our panel will not only improve your product – it will enhance your organisation's culture. <figure id="figure-if1362kp0qmalhf3ru"><img id="if1362kp0qmalhf3ru" src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/1535733903/photo/two-pairs-of-intercultural-employees-working-in-small-groups-by-workplace.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=EALx_43N4C1s9V4wqgidL0PQEq1Yf5sjDgXIi5owr1c=" alt="Two pairs of intercultural employees working in small groups by workplace" title="Two pairs of intercultural employees working in small groups by workplace" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="null" data-positiony="null" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/1535733903/photo/two-pairs-of-intercultural-employees-working-in-small-groups-by-workplace.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=EALx_43N4C1s9V4wqgidL0PQEq1Yf5sjDgXIi5owr1c=" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>Implementing a Neurodivergent PanelNeurodiverse Panel makes it easy to get started.Whether you’re a company, researcher, educator or nonprofit, we offer flexible formats – from one-off advisory sessions to long-term collaborations. You can use our panel to test products, review services, gather feedback, or co-design content – all managed through us, with clear outputs and minimal lift on your end.And because we’re neurodivergent-led, we design our process around accessibility and psychological safety – for both panelists and clients.<h2>A Strategic Advantage</h2>From deeper insight to stronger innovation and more inclusive culture, our panel helps you get it right – and make it real. You’ll avoid costly mistakes, reach underserved audiences, and create products and services that truly reflect the world we live in.Ready to hear from the voices you’ve been missing? Get in touch for a free discovery call.

The Unique Advantage of a Neurodivergent Panel for Your Business

Neurodiverse Panel

The Neurodiverse Panel is a consultancy and research collective powered by lived experience.
We connect organizations, brands, educators, and researchers with neurodivergent voices to improve products, services, and systems. Our expert panel — made up of autistic, ADHD, dyslexic, and otherwise neurodivergent individuals — provides authentic insights through feedback, testing, advisory sessions, and workshops. We help you design with inclusivity in mind and ensure neurodivergent people are heard, not just represented.

Neurodiverse Panel

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Inclusion Isn’t Universal: Why Inclusive Design Still Exc...

The Unique Advantage of a Neurodivergent Panel for Your B...