Thematic and Textual Analysis of Financial Corporations' Public Communication of Neurodiversity Hiring Programs and Corporate Initiatives to Hire Neurodivergent Individuals and Advance (Neuro)diversity Inclusion

Authors

Jordanne Semper-ScottFollow

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to analyze three financial corporations’ public communication about their neurodiversity hiring programs and share what values they attribute to hiring neurodivergent individuals. I extracted theories from stakeholder relationship management theory and corporate social responsibility to understand how they ethically implement these specialized hiring programs into organizational practices. Using textual and thematic analysis, I observe how they frame content on their websites and understand what type of values they place on hiring neurodivergent individuals. I found that all the identified organizations effectively communicate their efforts to hire neurodivergent individuals, yet they need to improve in how they describe neurodiversity and explain what types of values they attribute to hiring neurodivergent individuals. Corporations must change how they leverage individuals’ neurological differences to strengthen trust and relationships with neurodiverse stakeholders. These ethical practices can be extended to improve the wellbeing of the neurodivergent community and improve societal discourse of disability.

Advisor

Tian, Zhenyu

Department

Communication Studies

Recommended Citation

Semper-Scott, Jordanne, "Thematic and Textual Analysis of Financial Corporations' Public Communication of Neurodiversity Hiring Programs and Corporate Initiatives to Hire Neurodivergent Individuals and Advance (Neuro)diversity Inclusion" (2025). Senior Independent Study Theses. Paper 11371.
https://openworks.wooster.edu/independentstudy/11371

Disciplines

Benefits and Compensation | Business and Corporate Communications | Communication Technology and New Media | Critical and Cultural Studies | Disability Studies | Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | Human Resources Management | Organizational Communication | Other Rhetoric and Composition | Public Relations and Advertising | Rhetoric | Speech and Rhetorical Studies | Training and Development | Work, Economy and Organizations

Keywords

Neurodiversity, Neurodivergent individuals, Neurodiverse, Medical Model of Disability, Social Model of Disability, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Stakeholder Theory, Corporate Social Responsibility, Textual Analysis, Thematic Analysis

Publication Date

2025

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis