Person-Centered Manager Syllabus
1:1 “Office Hour”
Processing
Understanding Processing in Neurodiversity
What is Processing?
Processing refers to the complex, largely unconscious way our brains receive, interpret, organize, and respond to information from the world around us. This includes processing sensory input (sounds, sights, textures), language (spoken and written words), social cues (facial expressions, tone), and internal signals (emotions, bodily sensations).
Why Processing Matters
Everyone processes information differently—there's no single "correct" way for brains to work. For neurodivergent individuals, processing differences can be significant. Certain environments, communication styles, or work structures can either facilitate or hinder effective processing, directly impacting performance, wellbeing, and workplace success.
Understanding processing differences helps us design environments and practices that work with diverse brains rather than against them.
Processing Differences: Key Insights for Workplace Inclusion
Understanding processing differences in speech, auditory input, and sensory information is crucial for fostering an inclusive workplace. These persistent challenges for neurodivergent individuals impact how information is received, interpreted, and expressed. Managers who grasp these nuances can better interpret behavior, mitigate misattributions, and design supportive environments that benefit everyone.
Processing differences related to speech, auditory input, and sensory information exist along a continuum that affects all people at various points in their lives. For many neurodivergent individuals, these differences are more persistent and often co-occur, shaping how information is received, interpreted, and expressed at work.
When managers understand these intersecting processing experiences, they are better equipped to interpret behavior accurately, reduce misattribution, and design work environments that support clarity, regulation, and inclusion for everyone.

Self-Regulation (Stimming)
Repetitive movements, sounds, or behaviors used to manage focus, process emotions, or regulate sensory input. Also called "stimming" (self-stimulatory behavior), these actions serve important self-regulation functions.
Common Self-Regulation Behaviors:
  • Tapping pens, fingers, or feet
  • Fidgeting with objects or fidget tools
  • Rocking or swaying slightly
  • Doodling or tracing patterns
  • Pacing while thinking
  • Repeating words or phrases
Workplace Impact: These behaviors help maintain focus, manage stress, and process information—they're functional, not disruptive. Workplaces that accept and normalize stimming behaviors create more comfortable environments where neurodivergent employees can perform their best.
Exploring Key Processing Areas
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Speech Processing
Understanding verbal communication nuances.
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Auditory Processing
Interpreting sound and filtering noise.
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Sensory Processing
Responding to environmental stimuli.