The Expert Talk

The Expert Talk: How Unmasking Helps Neurodivergent Employees to Work Better

How Unmasking Helps Neurodivergent Employees to Work Better

by Kimberly Van Ryn as featured on The Expert Talk

Masking at work; it’s a big concept to unpack, but if we start with the definition and energy of the word “masking” we might be able to travel quickly to the heart of this trauma-based behavior at work. Let’s start here –

Mask:

  1. Cover or partial cover for the face used for disguise
  2. A grotesque false face worn at carnivals or in rituals
  3. Something that conceals from view

Now consider this –

Neurodivergent Masking: For many neurodivergent people, masking is a survival tool for engaging in neurotypical societies and organizations. Masking (also called camouflaging) is the artificial performance of social behaviors deemed more “socially acceptable” in a neurotypical culture.

READ FULL ARTICLE