Made for Some - by Joseph Riddle (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Approximately 15-20% of the population is neurodivergent, yet most organizations are not designed to allow those who think and learn differently, to thrive. Made for Some, written by Joseph Riddle, a leader in the neurodiversity movement and a consultant who has designed neuroinclusion strategies for leading Fortune 500 firms, combines personal narratives, theory, and practical guidance to help organizations reshape for the future of work.

The book examines neuroinclusion as a paradigm and addresses the specific systemic barriers that exist in society which exclude people who do not think, learn, and socialize in the traditional way. It presents the business case for successful neuroinclusion (using leading firms as case studies), rethinks workplace accommodations, and provides practical strategies for building a neuroinclusive future.

Readers will also find:

• Real-world neuroinclusion models from leading organizations, with actionable lessons employers can adapt to their own workplaces
• Guidance on building better systems at every level of influence
• A reimagining of workplace accessibility to craft adaptable teams and processes
• Perspectives from multiple stakeholders, including employers, neurodivergent professionals, and colleges navigating the transition to careers

Made for Some is written for anyone committed to transforming the future of work-- including neurodivergent professionals, parents, advocates, HR leaders, talent acquisition professionals, diversity and inclusion practitioners, and hiring managers who want to build neuroinclusive workplaces. It is equally relevant to professionals in disability services or career services at colleges and universities.

From the Back Cover

THE WORKPLACE WAS BUILT FOR SOME. IT'S TIME TO BUILD IT FOR EVERYONE.

Most organizations approach neuroinclusion as an afterthought--a compliance checkbox bolted onto existing systems rather than a fundamental rethinking of how work is designed. In Made for Some, Joseph Riddle draws on a decade of firsthand consulting experience to make the case that this framing is not only wrong, but costly. When workplaces are built around a single archetype of thinking and working, they lose access to the full range of human problem-solving, creativity, and contribution.

Riddle approaches neuroinclusion through the lens of public health--examining the structural and environmental conditions that determine whether neurodivergent employees can succeed, not just survive. From the snap judgments embedded in hiring culture to the daily friction of systems designed without cognitive diversity in mind, the book identifies precisely where organizations lose neurodivergent talent and what it actually takes to retain it.

Made for Some is ultimately an argument that neuroinclusion isn't a specialized initiative for a specific population--it's a smarter way to design work for everyone. For neurodivergent professionals who have spent careers adapting to systems not built for them, and for the leaders and organizations ready to finally change those systems, this book provides both the evidence and the roadmap to get there.

About the Author

JOSEPH RIDDLE, MPH, is a leading neuroinclusion practitioner who cultivates partnerships with businesses across the United States and globally to diversify workforces through the inclusion of autistic and other neurodivergent talent. For the last decade he has focused on workforce development with the understanding that employment is a 50/50 equation, helping thousands of neurodivergent job seekers to obtain employment, but also making employers understand how they can be optimized to allow different ways of thinking to thrive.