Episode 57: Progress over perfection: airports show us the way from autism to neuro-inclusive culture
Published on 4 November 2025 • Hosted by Dr Lisa Colledge
In last week’s episode, I shared my experience of flying from Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport with my autistic son, Chris. It was the first time we’d flown together in seven years, and I was anxious. Flying is stressful for most people, but for someone who depends so strongly on predictability, it can be overwhelming.
The trip was difficult, but it was manageabke because of thoughtful, human-centered neuro-inclusive design. Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport, Leeds Bradford Airport, and KLM didn’t ask for any details of Chris’ diagnosis beyond me notifying them, when I booked the ticket, that he has a “cognitive impairment.” They simply recognized that some passengers need assistance, and they’ve built a system flexible enough to make that possible.
When I shared that story online, I was blown away by the response. Comments poured in from people sharing their own experiences - in airports, workplaces, and schools - and some clear themes emerged about what resonates when we think about designing for neuro-inclusion.
So, in this new short series, I’m digging into those themes one by one. And the first is the importance of progress over perfection.
💡 I’ll be marking International Day of People with Disability (3 December) with a free live presentation inspired by the response. If you’d like to be first to hear when registration opens,
register for my newsletter, The Neuro-Inspired Question.
Why “perfect plans” block neuro-inclusive culture
We often wait for the perfect plan: the polished strategy, the approved budget, the ideal timing. But neuro-inclusion doesn’t work like that. It’s iterative, human, and alive. In my world of cultural transformation, 40% done is infinitely better than a not-yet-started 100% perfect plan in a Powerpoint deck. because every small, visible improvement builds trust, momentum, and belief that change is possible.
Why 40% done can be transformational, when it’s human-centered
What made Schiphol so effective wasn’t perfection – it was empathy.
They didn’t try to control every variable. They worked on the basis of trust. We didn’t need to prove that Chris is autistic. They didn’t tell us how they would help us. They asked what we needed, and to the extent possible they provided that. That approach - human-centered, responsive, and flexible - is exactly what should be driving progress in teams and organizations too.
How an agile mindset powers neuro-inclusive design
The same principles that make airports accessible will make our workplaces neuro-inclusive.
An agile mindset - setting a clear vision, starting small and providing a bit of value quickly, and learning as you go - allows inclusion to evolve instead of being treated as a one-off project. It’s how neurodivergent and neurotypical people alike can work - in healthy, productive ways - that suit their own neurostyles.
