#08, June 2021

Credit: Art installation by artist Michael A. Robinson’s “Vida, Lucida, Toshiba” 2016

Can cognitive differences revolutionize a system that privileges assimilation and the norm?

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us yet again that the complex socioenvironmental challenges of today never let up. On the contrary, they magnify their devastating consequences by intermingling with those produced by any new crisis. We have to break out of existing modalities in order to confront these impasses.

In this edition, Raccords examines the potential for innovation and creativity inherent in a workplace that breaks with the norm and makes room for the inclusion of cognitive and neurological differences. What would happen in a system that privileges the cognitive uniqueness of each individual instead of forcing the assimilation of differences into the norm? Does our ability to innovate and respond to the great challenges of the 21st century also call for a revolution in both coexisting and collaborating at work?

THE PODCAST /

A neurodiverse person’s quest for an environment that will allow her to blossom

In this episode of the Raccords podcast, presented exclusively in French this time around, we look at the notion of neurodiversity from the perspective of a neuroatypical person acting to accelerate change. She invites us to make room for neurodiversity.

Émilie Vion, who was the winner of the Winter 2021 cohort of the Maison de l’innovation sociale’s Civic Incubator for her Neuroinclusive Chamber of Commerce project, and who is currently Director of Partnerships and Customer Success at Le Printemps numérique (an organization that democratizes and fosters digital transformation), describes her journey and answers our questions.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST >

THE INTERVIEW /

Neurodiversity as a vector of creativity and innovation

With Marylène Ouellet, founding president of Braindlab.

Marylène Ouellet, dans l'entretien de Raccords #08 sur le thème de la neurodiversité

A neurodiverse person herself, Marylène tells us about her work promoting the recognition and acceptance of neurodiverse people so that they may freely express their high creative potential for the benefit of organizations.

Minds that work differently and enrich our vision of the world

To demystify the subject of cognitive diversity—a term that encompasses neurodiversity—Raccords meets Falisha Karpati, an inclusion consultant who holds a Ph.D in neuroscience from McGill University. She discusses the unexplored potential of incorporating cognitive differences within project teams.

THE LIST /

Top picks of our guests, Émilie, Falisha and Marylène

Our guests—Émilie Vion, Falisha Karpati and Marylène Ouellet—share a list of top picks that will deepen our appreciation for neurodiversity and cognitive diversity.

#01 – A coming-of-age novel, a true manifesto for embracing difference, recommended by Émilie Vion.

#02 – Marylène Ouellet of Braindlab invites us to discover Auticon’s unusual business model.

#03 – Falisha Karpati directs us to a website brimming with tools to support inclusion in your teams.

#04 – The Raccords team shares a powerful cover letter that could change an employer’s mind.

#05 – Attention Deficit Disorder—or an unacknowledged talent for organization? Raccords shares this article from The Conversation that invites us to reconsider the attractions of nonconformity and thinking which is original and divergent. (in french)