The UK's first neurodiversity-led design standards body
The Neurodiversity Design Council assesses software, digital services, and content for neurodiversity-inclusive design. We publish standards, conduct assessments, and award certification. Every assessor is neurodivergent.
The Neurodiversity Design Standard
7 domains, 35 criteria, 140 points. Assessed by neurodivergent people with lived experience across ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, and sensory processing differences.
Neurodiversity discrimination cases have almost doubled in five years. UK payouts have reached £850,000. Compensation is uncapped.
UK employment tribunals linked to neurodivergent conditions rose from 265 cases in 2020 to 517 in 2025, an increase of 95%. ADHD and autism cases both hit record levels. Awards have reached six figures, including an £850,000 payout to an autistic teacher whose school failed to make reasonable adjustments. Capgemini, Peloton, and Greene King have all lost tribunal cases for failing to support neurodivergent employees in the last 12 months alone.
The Equality Act 2010 requires reasonable adjustments for disabled users. The EHRC can investigate, issue unlawful act notices, and pursue court action. Disability discrimination compensation is uncapped.
Organisations are being publicly named for inaccessible digital services. No formal diagnosis is required for protection to apply.
For businesses trading in Europe, it goes further. The European Accessibility Act became enforceable on 28 June 2025. Fines vary by country but reach up to £85,000 per violation in Germany, over £850,000 in Spain, and non-compliant products can be removed from the EU market entirely. This applies to any business selling digital products or services to EU customers, regardless of where it is headquartered.
Most accessibility frameworks focus on visual and motor impairment. ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia, and sensory processing differences are all protected under equality law, but they are rarely assessed in digital products. That is the gap the NDC exists to close. Proactive certification is significantly cheaper than a tribunal.
Technically compliant and genuinely usable are not the same thing
A product can pass every accessibility checklist and still be exhausting for a neurodivergent person to use. Cluttered interfaces. Unpredictable navigation. Walls of text. No way to adjust.
Checklists catch the obvious. Lived experience catches everything else. That is why every NDC assessor is neurodivergent.
Standards, assessment, and certification for neurodiversity-inclusive design
Publish standards
We develop and maintain the Neurodiversity Design Standard: a documented, versioned assessment framework aligned with WCAG 2.2 and BS 8878. The standard is publicly available and regularly reviewed by our neurodivergent advisory panel.
Conduct assessments
We assess products against the full standard across all seven domains. Every assessment is carried out by neurodivergent assessors with lived experience. Each produces a structured written report with scores, evidence, and recommendations.
Award certification
Products meeting the required thresholds receive NDC certification at one of three tiers. Certification badges are hosted on our systems and can be verified, expired, or revoked. No self-declaration.
Three tiers of certification
Certification is evidence-based and time-limited.
Each tier represents a meaningful threshold of neurodiversity-inclusive design quality. Certification is evidence-based and time-limited.
Independently assessed against the full NDC standard. A detailed report has been issued identifying strengths and areas for improvement.
- ✓ Full assessment across all 7 domains
- ✓ Detailed written report issued
- ✓ No minimum score required
Meets the NDC baseline standard, demonstrating genuine consideration for neurodivergent users across all core domains.
- ✓ Overall score 50% or above
- ✓ No domain below 1.5 average
- ✓ All Critical issues resolved
Meets the enhanced standard with exemplary neurodiversity-inclusive design and sign-off by an independent panel of neurodivergent professionals.
- ✓ Overall score 75% or above
- ✓ No domain below 2.5 average
- ✓ Reviewed and signed off by an independent panel of neurodivergent professionals
NDC-2026-001: The Neurodiversity Design Standard
Seven domains covering the full neurodivergent user experience. Each domain contains five criteria scored 0 to 4.
How assessment works
The assessment process is structured, transparent, and designed to be straightforward for organisations of any size.
Scope and agree
You tell us what you want assessed. We agree the scope, platform, features, and timeline. You know the cost and process before we begin.
Assessment
Our neurodivergent assessors review your product against all 35 criteria. Every score is supported with specific evidence and observations.
Report
You receive a structured report with your overall score, domain breakdowns, a prioritised issue register, and a recommendations roadmap.
Certification
Products meeting the threshold receive a hosted badge immediately. Products below threshold receive a clear pathway to certification.
If neurodivergent people use it, we can assess it
The NDC standard applies to any digital product, service, or content that neurodivergent people interact with. We group assessments into six sectors.
Software and platforms
SaaS products, web applications, mobile apps, internal tools, HR and payroll systems, project management platforms, CRM software.
Example: A project management tool where task views, notifications, and navigation are assessed for cognitive load, sensory overwhelm, and executive function support.
Learning and education
LMS platforms, e-learning courses, course authoring tools, educational apps, online training, assessment and quiz systems, virtual classrooms.
Example: An LMS where content layout, navigation predictability, timed assessments, and reading accessibility are assessed across the full learner journey.
Websites and digital services
Public-facing websites, e-commerce platforms, booking systems, customer portals, intranets, membership sites, help centres.
Example: An e-commerce site where checkout flow, error handling, decision complexity, and time pressure are assessed for neurodivergent friction points.
Public sector and government
Council websites, NHS digital services, government portals, citizen-facing tools, benefits systems, public consultation platforms.
Example: A council planning portal where form complexity, language clarity, save-and-resume functionality, and error communication are assessed.
Financial services
Banking apps, insurance portals, investment platforms, payment systems, fintech products, pension dashboards, mortgage applications.
Example: A banking app where transaction clarity, notification volume, dark pattern absence, and information density are assessed for neurodivergent users.
Content and communications
Digital documents, onboarding materials, help documentation, video content, marketing materials, email templates, policy documents.
Example: An employee onboarding pack where plain language, structure, reading flow, and availability of alternative formats are assessed.
Not sure if your product is in scope? Get in touch and we will let you know.
What an NDC assessment finds in practice
The following are excerpts from illustrative assessment reports, showing the format and level of detail clients receive. These are based on common patterns found across digital products.
Note: These are excerpts from illustrative reports based on common patterns found in digital products. They are not real client assessments. A full NDC report includes domain-by-domain scoring, an evidenced issue register, a prioritised recommendations roadmap, and a pathway to the next certification tier. See pricing for full details of what every assessment includes.
Frequently asked questions
Who can apply for an NDC assessment?+
Any organisation that builds or provides software, digital services, websites, mobile apps, e-learning content, or digital products. We assess the product, not the organisation. There is no minimum company size.
How long does an assessment take?+
A standard assessment typically takes two to three weeks from start to report delivery. Larger or more complex products may take longer. We agree the timeline before we begin so there are no surprises.
What if we don't pass?+
Every assessment produces a detailed report regardless of score. If your product does not meet the threshold for Endorsed or Certified, you receive a Reviewed status and a clear roadmap showing exactly what to fix and how much each change would improve your score. Most organisations reach a higher tier within one development cycle.
What makes the NDC different from WCAG compliance?+
WCAG focuses primarily on visual, auditory, and motor accessibility. The NDC standard assesses cognitive load, executive function support, sensory design, emotional safety, and flexibility for neurodivergent users. A product can be fully WCAG compliant and still be unusable for someone with ADHD or autism. We assess for what WCAG does not cover.
Are assessors really all neurodivergent?+
Yes. Every assessor has lived experience of one or more neurodivergent conditions including ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, and sensory processing differences. This is not a checkbox. It is the foundation of our entire approach. Lived experience catches what checklists cannot.
How does the badge work?+
NDC badges are hosted on our servers and embedded on your site via a code snippet. If your certification expires or is revoked, the badge disappears automatically. Anyone can verify a badge on our Verify page. There are no self-declared badges.
Does the NDC standard have legal standing?+
The NDC standard is a published, versioned assessment framework. It does not replace the Equality Act or the European Accessibility Act, but it provides structured, evidenced documentation that your organisation has taken proactive steps to accommodate neurodivergent users. In the event of a complaint or tribunal, this evidence of reasonable adjustments carries real weight.
How much does it cost?+
Assessment pricing depends on the scope and complexity of your product. See our pricing page for full details. Founding clients receive a reduced rate.
Assessments opening soon
Register your interest to be among the first organisations assessed against the NDC standard. Founding clients receive priority scheduling.
We will only contact you when assessments are open. No marketing emails.