On April 2, World Autism Awareness Day, Casa Batlló will light its façade blue and launch the campaign “Neurodiversity with New Eyes” to share the achievements and lessons learned from this initiative. Together with Specialisterne, a social organization specializing in the workplace inclusion of autistic people, the campaign aims to break societal stereotypes and inspire other companies.
Casa Batlló marks the fourth anniversary of this groundbreaking inclusion project, which has incorporated over 100 neurodivergent individuals into its visitor services team. Since 2021, Casa Batlló has worked with Specialisterne to integrate people with conditions such as autism, dyslexia, and ADHD into key public-facing roles. Today, 85% of the front-of-house staff is neurodivergent. This has resulted in a unique project within a World Heritage site that has also significantly increased visitor satisfaction over time.
A new perspective on neurodiversity
On this important day, and alongside the special lighting of the façade, Casa Batlló will launch a social media campaign where the protagonists of the project will share their experiences throughout 2025.
The campaign “Neurodiversity With New Eyes” aims to raise awareness and educate the public about neurodivergence by offering a new perspective that challenges stereotypes and highlights diversity as a strength in the workplace.
Through first-person testimonies, members of the Casa Batlló and Specialisterne teams—as well as family members and experts—will share their challenges, learnings, and achievements from this unique workplace inclusion initiative.
Here you can see a video presentation of this initiative:
A one-of-a-kind project worldwide
What stands out in this project is not just the number of people employed. These individuals hold demanding public-facing roles, as the monument receives thousands of visitors each day. The project also provides an inclusive structure where neurotypical and neurodivergent people work side by side, with each role adapted to the individual’s strengths. Casa Batlló and Specialisterne redefined the monument’s recruitment, training, and talent development processes, incorporating inclusion specialists to support participants in their professional journey.
Gary Gautier, CEO of Casa Batlló, highlights: “We’ve learned so much throughout this process, and now we want to share our insights. We’ve discovered talents we never imagined. Embracing diversity benefits society as a whole.” Gautier adds that the project originated from a personal connection to autism among members of the team and ownership, with a long-term commitment to a cause aimed at creating a broader social impact.
Jose Segundo, CEO of Specialisterne Spain, comments: “The Casa Batlló project allows us to demonstrate the value neurodivergent individuals bring to the workplace. It’s a success story that can inspire other organizations to join our movement for workplace inclusion.”
Neurodivergence in Spain and around the world
Neurodivergence encompasses a range of neurological conditions including autism, dyslexia, ADHD, among others. It is estimated that between 10% and 20% of the global population is neurodivergent.
– Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): In Spain, there are estimated to be over 450,000 autistic individuals, representing nearly 1% of the population.
– Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): According to the Spanish Federation of Associations for Helping Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity (FEAADAH), around 8.8% of the population in Spain may have ADHD, equating to more than 4 million people.