The UK has experienced a dramatic increase in autism diagnoses over recent decades, with recorded incidence rising by 787% over 20 years1. From 2001 to 2016, new-recorded cases increased from 0.188 per 1,000 person-years to 0.644 per 1,000 person-years, representing a more than 150% increase between 2008-2016 alone2. This surge isn't unique to the UK-similar trends are evident globally, with American diagnoses increasing 175% in roughly a decade3.

Several factors drive this trend rather than an actual increase in autism prevalence. Expanded diagnostic criteria, improved screening tools, greater professional and public awareness, and better access to diagnostic services all contribute significantly4. Notably, diagnosis patterns show demographic shifts, with the largest increases seen among adults aged 26-34 (450% increase)5, women and girls, and certain ethnic minorities-Black children have the highest prevalence at approximately 2.1%6. Despite these increases, researchers estimate 750,000 undiagnosed autistic adults in England alone, suggesting current figures still underrepresent true prevalence7.

The UK has seen a significant rise in ADHD diagnoses over the past two decades, with national population surveys showing an increase in prevalence from 6.1% to 10.2% between 1997 and 20161. This trend is particularly pronounced among adults, with a twenty-fold increase in diagnoses and nearly fifty-fold increase in prescriptions for men aged 18-29 between 2000 and 201823. Despite this growth, ADHD remains substantially underdiagnosed in the UK, with ADHD UK estimating that more than 80% of adults with the condition lack a formal diagnosis4.

Several factors drive this diagnostic trend. Social media has played a significant role, with ADHD-related content garnering billions of views and contributing to greater awareness and self-identification5. The positive reframing of ADHD as potentially conferring creative advantages rather than simply being a "naughty boy syndrome" has reduced stigma6. However, significant healthcare inequalities persist, with ADHD diagnoses being twice as common in the most deprived areas compared to the least deprived3, and many individuals turning to private healthcare due to long NHS waiting lists3. Despite the increasing recognition, the gap between estimated prevalence (2.2 million people in England) and those receiving treatment (233,000 in 2022/2023) suggests that access to diagnosis and support remains a significant challenge7.

Research consistently shows a significant overlap between neurodivergent and LGBTQIA+ identities. Neurodivergent individuals are more likely to identify as LGBTQIA+ than their neurotypical peers, with studies finding that autistic people might be three to eight times more likely to identify as transgender or queer12. This intersection is particularly pronounced among certain demographics - transgender girls/women (14%) and nonbinary youth assigned male at birth (10%) have the highest autism diagnosis rates among LGBTQIA+ youth2.

The predominant theory explaining this connection suggests that neurodivergent individuals may be less influenced by societal norms and expectations regarding gender and sexuality134. In a society where heterosexuality and cisgender identity are considered default, neurodivergent people might feel freer to explore and express their authentic identities without the same social constraints1. However, this intersection also creates unique challenges - neurodivergent LGBTQIA+ individuals face higher rates of mental health issues, with studies showing they have over 50% greater odds of attempting suicide compared to their peers25. Both communities share experiences of stigma, "coming out" processes, and the ongoing journey toward greater societal acceptance and understanding1.

The employment gap for neurodivergent individuals in the UK remains strikingly wide, with only 30% of autistic adults in employment as of 2023-2024, compared to the overall UK employment rate of approximately 75%.12 This represents a modest improvement from 22% in 2019-2020, but still highlights significant workplace barriers.31 For neurodivergent people broadly, unemployment rates are estimated to be as high as 30-40%, roughly eight times higher than for individuals without disabilities.45

Despite these challenges, there are promising developments in workplace inclusion. The share of UK job postings mentioning neurodiversity-related keywords has increased from 1% in 2018 to 3.8% by the end of 2024.3 However, significant barriers remain, with 65% of neurodivergent employees fearing discrimination from management and 55% from colleagues.6 Many face occupational segregation, with neurodivergent workers concentrated at both extremes of the job skill spectrum-highly-skilled and low-skilled positions-with a staggering 46% of autistic workers in low-skilled jobs despite many possessing valuable workplace strengths including hyperfocus (80%), creativity (78%), and innovative thinking (75%).67