Kaimahi Scholarship empowering neurodiverse voices at MIT and Unitec

A scholarship launched last year at Manukau Institute of Technology and Unitec is helping amplify the voices and leadership of neurodivergent staff.

Ruth Laing, Academic Development Lecturer, who works in our Student Success team, was the first recipient of the Kaimahi Scholarship for Disabled and Neurodivergent staff in 2025. The grants support staff to pursue professional development and research while strengthening leadership capability across the organisation.

Ruth is currently undertaking doctoral research exploring the career paths of disabled and neurodivergent staff in the polytechnic sector. Her work focuses on understanding the lived experiences of employees with disabilities and identifying what workplaces can do to better support them.

“I wanted to apply because it would help me do more in this area,” Ruth says.

“I’m interested in understanding what support already exists for disabled kaimahi and what else we could be doing to help people thrive in their careers.”

Her research uses a life history methodology, interviewing participants about their personal career journeys and their experiences navigating workplaces with disabilities or neurodivergence.

“It’s a privilege to hear these stories and to have people trust me with their experiences,” Ruth says.

Participants come from a range of backgrounds, cultures, genders and disability experiences, including those with invisible disabilities.

“This scholarship was beneficial for my study because it provided me the opportunity to take extra Professional Development leave. Through her research, she has already observed that many disabilities remain unseen in workplaces and that stigma still exists.

“There is so much continuous learning in this space,” Ruth explains.

“There are a lot of hidden disabilities and people often make decisions on behalf of disabled people based on assumptions. The medical model of disability has persisted for a long time, and in some areas, it still shapes how people think.”

Instead, Ruth’s work focuses on a strengths-based approach that highlights the capabilities, resilience and strategies that individuals already bring to their roles.

The Kaimahi Scholarship programme was launched in response to feedback from the Your Whakaaro staff survey in 2024. It aims to grow leadership capability among Māori, Pacific, disabled and neurodivergent staff while strengthening representation across the organisation.

The initiative also aligns with the institutions’ commitment to supporting the success of priority group ākonga ‘learners’ and building a workforce that reflects the diversity of the communities they serve.

Ruth hopes that completing her PhD will allow her to share valuable insights with colleagues and help improve support systems across the tertiary sector.

“I’m hoping that through this research and the scholarship I’ll be able to share what I’m learning to better support both kaimahi and ākonga living with disabilities,” she says.

As the global conversation around neurodiversity continues to grow, she believes creating safe spaces for people to share their experiences is essential.

“There is still so much to learn,” she says.

“The more we listen to people’s stories, the more we understand what truly helps individuals succeed.”

Ruth’s story highlights the importance of recognising diverse ways of thinking and ensuring workplaces create opportunities for everyone to lead and thrive.