Invisible Struggles: Animal Advocacy & Neurodivergent Individuals

Dr. Tani Khara, June 2025

Neurodiversity is increasingly recognised in the workplace. Animal care and advocacy environments, with their high demands on communication, executive function and adaptability, can present unique obstacles for neurodivergent volunteers and professionals. 

𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗘𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀: Frequent exposure to animal suffering can lead to empathic overload, particularly among individuals with autism or ADHD (1)

𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀: Cultural expectations around assertiveness and engagement can marginalise those with anxiety or selective mutism (2)

𝗔𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗥𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: The multitasking demands of advocacy roles can be challenging for those who need structure, clarity and routine (3).

𝗦𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗙𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸: Sensory-rich environments like shelters or protests can trigger overwhelm due to noise, smells and temperature extremes (4).

𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗱𝗶𝘁𝘆: Black-and-white thinking, often seen in autism or OCD, can make it distressing when an organisation’s actions conflict with personal ethical standards (5).

𝗘𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲: Some cultures, which may prioritise stoicism over emotional expression, may force neurodivergent individuals to mask distress, contributing to burnout (6).

Creating inclusive environments means recognising these challenges and offering tailored support for neurodivergent individuals in advocacy roles.

𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀

1. Kraemer, Hannah, Sarah L. McIntyre, and Anthony J. Pelosi. “Autism and Emotional Overload: Understanding Intensity of Experience.” Autism in Adulthood 3, no. 3 (2021): 193–202.

2. Botha, Monique, David M. Frost, and Jacqui G. Rodgers. “Autism and Minority Stress: A Framework for Understanding Mental Health Disparities in Autistic People.” Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology 55, no. 8 (2020): 1037–1046.

3. Raymaker, Dora M., Christina Nicolaidis, et al. “Barriers to Healthcare: Instrument Development and Comparison between Autistic Adults and Adults with and without Other Disabilities.” Autism 21, no. 8 (2017): 972–984.

4. Brown, Nicole, and Jennifer Leigh. “Ableism in Academia: Where Are the Disabled and Ill Academics?” Disability & Society 33, no. 6 (2018): 985–989.

5. Robertson, Scott M. “Neurodiversity, Quality of Life, and Autistic Adults: Shifting Research and Professional Focuses onto Real-Life Challenges.” Disability Studies Quarterly 30, no. 1 (2010).

6. Barreto, Mariana, Emma Palmer-Cooper, and Jacqui Rodgers. “Moral Injury and Autism: Exploring Links with Alexithymia and Black-and-White Thinking.” Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 52, no. 5 (2022): 2300–2312