Geldards and NeuroUniverse partner to reduce disability discrimination claims

A pioneering approach to disability discrimination in employment law has been launched by Geldards in partnership with neurodiversity training specialists NeuroUniverse.

Geldards’ leading Employment Law team has joined forces with NeuroUniverse to meet the growing demand from businesses for practical, legally compliant solutions to better support neurodivergent employees.

In what is believed to be the first collaboration of its kind, Geldards and NeuroUniverse will work together to ensure that their advice and training reflect best practice standards and the latest employment law developments in this rapidly evolving area.

The partnership comes as new data from the Ministry of Justice highlights a sharp rise in employment tribunal cases relating to neurodiversity. In 2024, tribunals heard 102 cases where neurodiversity was cited as a factor in alleged discrimination—an increase of over 40% compared to 2020, when there were 70 cases. Meanwhile, the number of disability discrimination cases referred to Acas (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) rose by 30% between 2023 and 2024.

A Growing Challenge for Employers

Lowri Phillips, Partner at Geldards and an employment law expert with over 20 years’ experience, explains:

“Over the past year, we have seen a significant rise in clients seeking advice on managing neurodiverse employees, particularly around grievances linked to the lack of reasonable adjustments. Many organisations struggle with confidence and knowledge in this area, meaning issues are often ignored until they escalate into formal disputes. There is an urgent need to raise awareness and equip employers with the right tools to provide early support before conflicts arise.”

Hayley Harding, Director of NeuroUniverse, adds:

“Awareness of neurodiversity has improved dramatically in recent years, leading to more employees disclosing diagnoses and understanding their legal rights. Employers must be able to have open and informed conversations about support and workplace adjustments. Our training empowers businesses to remove barriers and create inclusive workplaces.”

Why Discrimination Claims Are Increasing

Several factors are driving the rise in disability discrimination claims linked to neurodiversity:

• Increased diagnosis rates – Autism diagnoses rose by 787% between 1998 and 2018, partly due to better recognition of neurodivergence in women and people of colour, as well as improved NHS pathways for adult diagnoses.
• Greater awareness of workplace rights – Younger employees, in particular, are more likely to disclose neurodivergence and seek reasonable adjustments.
• Legal obligations on employers – Companies are facing heightened scrutiny over their compliance with the Equality Act 2010 and their duty to make reasonable adjustments for neurodivergent employees.

About NeuroUniverse

NeuroUniverse was founded by Hayley Harding, a dyslexic former Google-trained solicitor, and bestselling writer and journalist Jessie Hewitson, who is autistic and has ADHD. Their first-hand experiences of being neurodivergent in the workplace inspired them to launch the company, which specialises in neurodiversity training for senior managers, business leaders, and event speakers.

Geldards Employment team

If you would like more detailed advice please contact one of our specialists in Geldards  Employment team who will be happy to help or email Lowri Phillips at lowri.phillips@geldards.com.