The Neurodiversity-Supportive Standard is an independently assessed standard for neuro-inclusion in education and work settings. It’s built on a framework of Seven Principles, with Four Levels of Recognition.
What makes the NSS different comes down to three key aspects:
- Neurodiversity-specific: it speaks directly to neuro-inclusive practice, rather than operating as a disability scheme.
- Independently assessed: every level is checked by an assessor. It isn’t a self-declared badge.
- Principles-based, not a checklist: it describes what a neuro-inclusive setting looks like and lets each one show how it brings that to life, so it works for any context or type.
Our Seven Principles are:
- Visible Commitment: Leadership actively and credibly champions neuro-inclusion.
- Informed Community: People across the setting understand neuro-inclusion and their part in it.
- Safe Disclosure & Identity: People can be open, and reach support, without fear.
- Inclusive Design: Systems, spaces, and processes are designed to be neuro-inclusive.
- Fair Access & Opportunity: Recruitment, progression, and assessment are designed to be fair to neurodivergent people.
- Responsive Adjustment: When required, support is available, accessible, and dignified.
- Purposeful Improvement: The setting learns and gets better over time.
There are Four Levels of Recognition, designed both to encourage education and work settings to begin the journey and to recognise how far they have come: a progression that rewards early commitment while giving the most advanced settings something to keep working towards.
Our Four Levels of Recognition are:
- Aware: The setting recognises the value of neuro-inclusion and has begun to act.
- Active: Concrete, resourced action is underway across the Principles, though it isn’t yet the default way of working.
- Embedded: Neuro-inclusion is everyday practice, built into systems and not reliant on any one person.
- Exemplary: The setting leads and keeps advancing, a level to be sustained, not simply reached.
If your setting is interested in taking part in our pilot for the NSS, please contact Founder Stuart Martin at Stuart@GeorgeAngusConsulting.com
George Angus Consulting 