Free Tool: Work Design & Sensory Preferences Checklist

When we think about supporting neurodivergent employees, we often jump straight to accommodations. A conversation is a much better place to start.

Most people have never been asked questions like:

• Do you work better with natural light?

• Do agendas before meetings help you prepare?

• Are food smells distracting?

• Do you think better out loud or after time to process?

• Do you need movement breaks to stay focused?

None of these questions diagnose anything, but they do recognize that we experience work differently.

Inclusive environments aren't about designing for one group. They're about designing for human variability.

This checklist can be used by neurodivergent and neurotypical individuals alike to understand how sensory factors influence focus, energy, communication, and well-being.

The Diverse Minds Project is an initiative dedicated to helping organizations design work systems where every person can contribute, grow, and succeed. By sharing practical tools and evidence-based resources, my project aims to make neuroinclusive design and psychological safety accessible.

The Work Design & Sensory Preferences Checklist is one of the first resources I developed as part of this project to help start meaningful conversations about designing workplaces that work better for everyone.

It covers common workplace preferences across areas, including:

• Visual environment

• Auditory environment

• Temperature

• Touch and ergonomics

• Communication

• Meetings

• Movement

• Flexible work arrangements

• Environmental preferences

• Additional work preferences

Managers can use it during onboarding, coaching conversations, or when redesigning work. Team members can use it to better understand and communicate what helps them perform at their best. The most neuroinclusive workplaces are built with curiosity and asking questions - not assumptions.

Download the Free Work Design & Sensory Preferences Checklist

Download the Work Design & Sensory Preferences Checklist and use it as a starting point for conversations about designing better work systems.

If you use this checklist with your team, I'd love to hear what you learned.