Digitalisation is an Opportunity to Unlock Cognitive Minorities Potential

Author: European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)
Published: 2019/01/11 - Updated: 2025/05/31
Publication Details: Peer-Reviewed, Findings
Category Topic: Neurodiversity - Neurodivergent - Academic Publications

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates

Synopsis: This report, authored by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), explores how the digital revolution presents a significant opportunity to harness the talents of cognitive minorities - individuals with neurodiverse profiles such as autism, high IQ, ADHD, dyslexia, and dyspraxia - who often face social barriers due to prevailing prejudices and communication challenges. The EESC argues that while these individuals may struggle with conventional social skills, they frequently possess highly technical abilities that are increasingly valuable in fields like cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, where there is a growing demand for specialized expertise.

By advocating for alternative recruitment and evaluation methods that recognize technical prowess over traditional social competencies, the report highlights the potential for digitalization to foster both social integration and economic contribution among neurodiverse populations. The information is authoritative and useful, especially for policymakers, employers, and advocates, as it draws on expert roundtable discussions and emphasizes the societal benefits of inclusivity, making it particularly relevant for people with disabilities and seniors seeking new avenues for participation and recognition in the digital economy - Disabled World (DW).

Defining Digitalisation vs Digitisation

Digitalisation vs Digitisation: Digitalisation and digitisation are often confused, but they refer to distinct concepts. Digitisation is the technical process of converting information from a physical format into a digital one - for example, scanning a paper document to create a PDF. It's about transforming analog data into a digital form. Digitalisation, on the other hand, refers to the broader use of digital technologies to change how businesses, governments, and societies operate. It involves redesigning processes, services, and interactions around digital tools, often leading to increased efficiency, new business models, and more accessible services. While digitisation is foundational, digitalisation represents a strategic shift driven by technology.

Introduction

At the January meeting of the Section for Transport, Energy, Infrastructure and the Information Society (TEN), the members of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) discussed how to tap into the potential of "neurodiversity", which could also help people within these so-called cognitive minorities to integrate socially.

Main Content

The digital revolution offers an opportunity to unlock the potential of people considered to belong to cognitive minorities and help them better integrate into society. People with autism, a high IQ, hyperactivity, dyslexia and dyspraxia find it difficult to fit into society due, mainly, to general prejudices and their particular verbal communication difficulties. Nevertheless, although they may not have standard social skills, they are able to acquire highly technical skills. This could undoubtedly help many European companies bridge the technological gap, providing at the same time an opportunity for social integration.

At its January meeting, the EESC's TEN section hosted a roundtable on neurodiversity and digitalisation.

Hugo Horiot, author of the book Autisme, j'accuse! and autistic himself, set the tone of the debate and referred to the potential that the digital revolution holds for "unusually skilled" people.

"Neurodiversity is a generic term covering all cognitive specificities of the human species, the so‑called neurofamily," he said. "There are many niche areas where certain highly technical skills are necessary but very hard to find, because the system rejects the cognitive group that provides those skills. An example is hacking. We need good hackers to counter cybersecurity issues. We see 18‑20‑year-olds who have excellent skills in this field, but at the same time have not managed to get a diploma or another official recognition. We need to encourage business and institutions to set other recruitment and evaluation methods than the standard models that are based on social skills."

The recognition that all human beings are complementary and able to contribute to our society in multiple ways is fundamental.

"We are all different to each other," declared the president of the TEN section, Pierre Jean Coulon. "However, there are differences that are considered to be acceptable because they do not bother and affect anyone and, on the other hand, there are differences that we do not accept, such is the case of neurodiversity," he continued.

Awareness-raising is essential, otherwise there is no recognition and visibility for people belonging to these cognitive groups.

Ariane Rodert, president of the EESC's INT section, stressed that we must aim at a more inclusive society, with diverse forms of businesses and companies in the EU.

"We are facing enormous societal challenges," she maintained. "It is crucial to pull together all resources in our society to make sure that we come up with the right solutions."

The very specialised skills that people belonging to atypical cognitive groups may develop are key in the field of artificial intelligence, where challenges are both social and ethical, but also very technical, highlighted Catelijne Muller, president of the EESC's Temporary Study Group on artificial intelligence.

"It is my strong belief that people with disabilities are people with extraordinary abilities," she pointed out. "The skills gap is now one of the pressing issues we are facing and abilities like higher intelligence, stronger concentration and attention to detail, and greater resilience to working long hours without being distracted are all fundamental when it comes to artificial intelligence."

People must remain at the centre of digital development, added Ulrich Samm, president of the EESC's Permanent Study Group on the Digital Agenda, but we must assess how new technologies can help.

"The idea of positive discrimination is something that we have to keep in mind," he said. "We need to capitalise on highly-skilled people and use new technologies to cater for what is missing."

It is important to bear in mind that, according to a number of estimations, approximately 65% of today's school pupils will be called upon to perform jobs that do not currently exist and that companies will find it increasingly difficult to find the skills they need in schools. Tapping into the potential of cognitive minorities would not only provide a vital contribution to our society, but would also represent an opportunity for social integration for people who have an intelligence that is different in nature.

"A group in society that is deprived of any prospects would be offered the opportunity to contribute to our society in innovative ways," concluded Mr Horiot.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Editorial Note: As the digital landscape evolves, embracing neurodiversity is not just a moral imperative but a strategic advantage. By recognizing and harnessing the specialized skills of cognitive minorities, societies can foster innovation, bridge technical skill gaps, and promote a more inclusive workforce. The conversation around neurodiversity and digitalization opens a vital door to rethinking how society values cognitive differences. By focusing on strengths rather than deficits, we can build systems - workplaces, schools, and communities - that truly integrate neurodiverse individuals. This article's call for innovative recruitment and digital tools challenges us to move beyond outdated norms and embrace a future where everyone's unique abilities contribute to progress. For people with disabilities, this shift could mean greater access to meaningful opportunities, but it requires commitment from all sectors to make inclusion a reality. This approach not only benefits individuals who have historically been marginalized but also enriches the broader community by diversifying perspectives and problem-solving approaches - Disabled World (DW).

Attribution/Source(s): This peer reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and published on 2019/01/11, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.