Personal experience, professional advocacy: An interview on accessibility for all

I lead a team of ServiceNow architects designing and implementing ServiceNow solutions for our customers. The role is quite varied and engagements range from advising customers on the expansion of their existing ServiceNow implementation to defining complex system architecture integrating multiple enterprise platforms.

I talk about accessibility on LinkedIn, sharing my thoughts on why it is not only the right thing to do morally but why it makes good business sense to ensure that accessibility is an integral part of products and services. I took part in a round table discussion on accessibility in ServiceNow’s learning platform hosted by their Head of Accessibility Customer Engagement who I’d previously engaged through LinkedIn. I talked to her after the round table about joining their Accessibility Product Advisory Council and the following day I was in!

My youngest son was diagnosed with Asperger’s, ADHD, Dyspraxia, and Developmental Co-ordination Disorder at a fairly young age. Throughout his childhood, I had to fight for the things he needed to get a decent education and enter the world of work. My wife was diagnosed with Asperger’s and ADHD at the age of 40 and women and girls typically have a very different experience with neurodivergence. My late father-in-law was also profoundly deaf and wheelchair-bound caused by a brain injury acquired from childhood brain tumour surgery. It was almost impossible for him to access services – the hospital couldn’t even provide a sign language interpreter for appointments with his consultant.
Just 1 in 5 people with autism are in any form of employment in the UK and it is estimated that 1.1% of the population is on the autistic spectrum. Things are improving all the time but society is such a long way from being genuinely inclusive of people with physical and cognitive impairments.

I remember speaking to my GP about getting referred for an ADHD diagnosis in my 40s. He said, “Stuart, I’ve known you for a very long time and one word I would not use to describe you is hyperactive”. I would agree that I live a fairly sedentary lifestyle sitting behind a desk all day but what my GP couldn’t see was my brain running at 100mph from the second my eyes open in the morning or me falling asleep on the sofa at 7 pm through mental exhaustion. That perception of ADHD being personified in a hyped-up child bouncing off the walls and chasing cars down the road even in a GP’s mind shows how little understanding there still is about neurodiversity.

Thank you, Stuart, for sharing your story and your invaluable insights. I’m truly impressed by your openness and grateful for the way you’ve highlighted the realities of disabilities that aren’t immediately visible. Your perspective is a powerful reminder of the importance of understanding and acknowledging the diverse experiences of people with disabilities, both seen and unseen.

At NTT DATA Business Solutions, inclusion is at the heart of what we do – not just externally for our customers but also internally for our employees. On one side, we are committed to making our workplace accessible for everyone, ensuring that all employees have the tools, support, and environment they need to thrive. On the other, we are continually evaluating how we can enhance accessibility for our customers. For example, we’re currently running an internal to analyze our current efforts toward inclusion across different areas, from the accessibility of our website to the inclusivity of our recruitment processes. Building on this, the long-term project goal is to incorporate the topic of inclusion into the various areas of the company. To this end, key people are involved in the project in order to subsequently promote the topic in their area as multipliers.

Your story underscores why these efforts are so critical. By listening, learning, and taking action, we can create a culture and services that truly work for everyone. Thank you again for your advocacy and for inspiring us all to do better.