29th February 2024: Neurodiversatsea, the seafarers\u2019 neurodiversity charity, today broadly welcomed the Maritime Skills Commission\u2019s Human Skills and Behaviours Report- February 2024.
We welcome the Maritime Skills Commission\u2019s call for \u2018promotion\u2019 to attract a neurodiverse skills base and for the industry to be \u2018inclusive of people with autism, of different cultures, with disability [and]- neurodiversity (sic)\u2019. We celebrate the acknowledgement that \u201cneurodiverse (sic) individuals are often particularly suited for jobs where intense focus is required,\u201d and invite engagement with the concept of \u2018spiky profiles\u2019 and the current research base on the much broader variety of strengths and occupational characteristics associated with neurodivergent seafarers.
However the Commission\u2019s assertion that \u201cNeurodiverse (sic) seafarers could be better supported with their additional needs and work could be done to help them achieve their full potential\u201d must be urgently amplified. In fact, aside from examination provision, we find no evidence of systematic workplace adjustments, ISM mechanisms or STCW leadership competence in place to support the potential quarter of seafarers who may have been diagnosed with a neurodivergent condition, including dyslexia, autism and ADHD. In the seagoing context, we find no evidence for the report\u2019s claim that \u201cneurodiversity is now better supported.\u201d This deficit is likely to result in systemic discrimination, individual breaches of disability legislation \u2013 and to lost talent and potential.
We welcome the sentiment that \u201cThere may currently be more suitable opportunities for neurodiverse and physically diverse people, due to the trend to work from home, negating the need to commute to work,\u201d noting the potential relevance of MASS and remote technologies to seafarers with technical aptitude and strong interests. However, we note the rich neurodiversity of seafarers, and the already frequent incidence of neurodivergence. We therefore call for availability of reasonable adjustments in the existing seafaring workplace, including accessible technologies, training and Universal Design.
Neurodiversatsea therefore echoes the call for \u201cmore understanding and research about diversity and in particular, neurodiversity\u201d and agrees with \u201cthe importance of treating people as individuals, accepting that not everyone will \u201cfit the same mould.\u201d We therefore invite the Commission to engage with Neurodiversatsea, and with our research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
www.NeurodiversAtSea<\/em><\/strong>.org<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Notes to editors<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n NeurodiversAtSea was established in 2022. Its founding documents and charitable purpose can be accessed below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n NeurodiversAtSea.Org founding document<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Images are available on request.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Contact<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Hello@NeurodiversAtSea.org<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 29th February 2024: Neurodiversatsea, the seafarers\u2019 neurodiversity charity, today broadly welcomed the Maritime Skills Commission\u2019s Human Skills and Behaviours Report- February 2024. We welcome the Maritime Skills Commission\u2019s call for \u2018promotion\u2019 to attract a neurodiverse skills base and for the industry to be \u2018inclusive of people with autism, of different cultures, with disability [and]- neurodiversity (sic)\u2019.…Continue reading<\/span>Neurodiversatsea Responds to Maritime Skills Commission Human Skills and Behaviours Report \u2013 February 2024<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/localhost\/devsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2046"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/localhost\/devsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/localhost\/devsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/localhost\/devsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/localhost\/devsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2046"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/localhost\/devsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2046\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2050,"href":"http:\/\/localhost\/devsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2046\/revisions\/2050"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/localhost\/devsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2046"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/localhost\/devsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2046"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/localhost\/devsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2046"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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