Critical Software's Neurodiversity Programme Recognised Worldwide

The Neurodiversity Programme was honored for its innovative nature, impact, and scalability. The award was given by Zero Project, an international non-profit organization dedicated to creating a barrier-free world. This distinction resulted from the #ZeroCall25 competition, which selects projects from around the globe that stand out for their contribution to the inclusion of people with disabilities in areas such as education, employability, political participation, and independent living. The Neurodiversity Programme was the only Portuguese project to be recognised. 

"This recognition is proof that our work, passion, empathy, and strong collaboration between our teams are having a real impact on the appreciation of neurodiversity. By fostering a more inclusive workplace, we are also evolving towards a more sensitive and empathetic society," says Catarina Fonseca, coordinator of the Neurodiversity Programme at Critical Software. 

The Neurodiversity Programme was evaluated through an exhaustive process that involved multiple stages, over 300 hours of analysis, and more than 350 experts with and without disabilities from around the world. 

This international recognition highlights the progress Critical Software has made toward creating a corporate culture that is prepared to select, integrate, and celebrate diversity within its teams. The Neurodiversity Programme, which maintains the same level of rigor as any other recruitment process within the company, seeks the best inclusive recruitment practices in the tech industry and invites other organizations interested in improving their diversity and inclusion practices to join the initiative. 

The programme is the first Portuguese project developed in collaboration with Specialisterne. It was created to promote the recruitment, training, and integration of new talent at Critical Software and has since expanded to other employer companies. 

Since 2021, the programme has received nearly 300 applications, with 50 autistic candidates participating in the training phase, and 30 being hired by one of the partner companies, with a current retention rate of over 85%. Currently, 15 of these professionals are integrated into Critical Software, and the other 15 are employed by other companies in this neuro-inclusive business community: Critical TechWorks, which joined the Neurodiversity Programme in 2022, and NOS, the most recent partner company. 

The programme remains open to other tech companies wishing to join in breaking down barriers to inclusion, for a better and more just world for everyone.