FACTS — Clear Communication at Work
“Clear and specific communication can improve workplace accessibility.”
Written instructions, defined priorities, clear deadlines and advance notice of changes can make information easier to process, remember and act upon.
For some neurodivergent employees, communication can become more difficult when instructions are vague, implied, rushed or open to interpretation.
Helpful communication can include:
- Giving important instructions in writing as well as verbally
- Explaining which task takes priority
- Providing specific rather than vague deadlines
- Breaking complicated instructions into clear steps
- Giving agendas before meetings
- Following meetings with written actions
- Allowing additional processing time before expecting an answer
- Giving advance notice of changes wherever possible
- Checking understanding without making assumptions
- Avoiding unnecessary idioms, hints or ambiguous language
Processing time matters
Someone may need a few moments — or longer — to process a question, organise their thoughts and formulate a response.
A delayed response does not necessarily mean they haven't understood, aren't listening or don't know the answer.
Some people may also communicate much more effectively through email, messaging or written information than through unexpected telephone calls or face-to-face conversations.
Make expectations visible
Instead of:
“Can you sort this soon?”
try:
“Please complete sections 1–3 and email them to me by 3pm Friday.”
Instead of:
“We'll probably change things next week.”
try:
“From Monday, your start time will change to 9am. I'll send the new schedule today.”
Clear communication can benefit everyone, but for some neurodivergent employees it can be the difference between constantly trying to interpret expectations and being able to focus their energy on doing the job.
Accessibility doesn't always require complicated changes. Sometimes it begins with saying exactly what we mean.
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