Navigating Courts and Tribunals When You Are Neurodivergent

Published: 28 March 2026

Quick Answer

If you are neurodivergent and representing yourself in a UK court or tribunal, you have the right to request reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010. Courts and tribunals are required to make changes that help you participate effectively — from extra time to read documents, to breaks during hearings, to accepting bundles in alternative formats. You do not need a formal diagnosis to ask. This guide explains what adjustments are available, how to request them, and the tools BundleCreator provides to reduce the barriers you face before you even reach the courtroom.

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The Scale of the Problem

Between 15 and 20 per cent of the UK population are neurodivergent, according to ACAS and the CIPD. That includes people with dyslexia (up to 1 in 10 — NHS), ADHD (3 to 4 per cent of UK adults — NICE Guideline NG87), autism (over 700,000 people in the UK — National Autistic Society), dyscalculia, dyspraxia, Tourette's syndrome, and other conditions.

Many of these individuals will, at some point, need to engage with the legal system — whether through a family court dispute, an employment tribunal claim, a SEND appeal for their child, or a housing disrepair complaint. And a growing proportion will do so without legal representation.

The Ministry of Justice's own data shows that in family proceedings, roughly 36 per cent of applicants and 80 per cent of respondents are unrepresented. In employment tribunals, most claimants represent themselves. Among these self-represented litigants, the proportion who are neurodivergent is likely higher than the general population — because many of the circumstances that lead to court proceedings (workplace disputes, relationship breakdowns, housing problems, benefit appeals) disproportionately affect neurodivergent people.

The legal system was not designed with neurodivergent minds in mind. Dense legal prose, strict procedural deadlines, unfamiliar jargon, sensory-overloading courtrooms, and the expectation that you will read, process, and respond to hundreds of pages of documents — all of this creates barriers that go far beyond the legal merits of your case.

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What the Law Says

The Equality Act 2010

The Equality Act 2010 protects people with disabilities from discrimination. Under section 6, a disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. Many neurodiverse conditions meet this definition — including dyslexia, ADHD, autism, and dyscalculia — even if you do not think of yourself as "disabled."

The duty to make reasonable adjustments (sections 20 to 22) applies to courts and tribunals as public bodies. This means they must take steps to ensure you are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to someone who is not neurodivergent.

Crucially, you do not need a formal diagnosis to request adjustments. If you can explain how your condition affects your ability to participate, the court should consider your request.

The Equal Treatment Bench Book

The Equal Treatment Bench Book is the judiciary's own guidance on how to treat people fairly in court. Chapter 7 covers people with disabilities, and it specifically addresses neurodiverse conditions.

The guidance tells judges to:

• Not assume that someone who appears articulate or confident does not have a hidden disability
• Recognise that neurodivergent people may process information differently, need more time, or struggle in high-pressure situations
• Consider whether the format of proceedings (including documents and oral evidence) creates unnecessary barriers
• Make adjustments proactively, not only when asked

While the Bench Book is judicial guidance rather than statute, it carries significant weight. Judges are expected to follow it, and failure to do so — particularly where it results in an unfair hearing — can found a ground of appeal. It reflects the legal obligation under the Equality Act and the court's duty to ensure a fair trial under Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

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What Adjustments Can You Request?

Before the Hearing

During the Hearing

In Tribunals Specifically

Employment tribunals, SEND tribunals, and immigration tribunals have their own processes for requesting adjustments. In most cases, you can:

• Include your adjustment needs on the initial claim or appeal form (there is usually a specific section for this)
• Write to the tribunal separately at any time before the hearing
• Raise them at a preliminary hearing or case management hearing

SEND tribunals are particularly experienced with neurodivergent appellants — many parents appealing EHC Plan decisions are themselves neurodivergent. The tribunal staff are generally responsive to adjustment requests.

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How to Ask

You do not need to use legal language. A straightforward letter or email to the court is sufficient. Here is what to include:

1. Your name and case number
2. A brief description of your condition — you do not need to disclose a diagnosis, but explaining how it affects you helps the court understand what you need
3. The specific adjustments you are requesting — be concrete (for example, "regular breaks every 45 minutes" rather than "some accommodations")
4. Whether you have any supporting evidence — a GP letter or occupational health report helps but is not required

Send this as early as possible. If your hearing is listed, write to the court at least 14 days beforehand so there is time to make arrangements.

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The Barriers That Start Before the Courtroom

The adjustments above address what happens at the hearing itself. But for many neurodivergent litigants in person, the hardest part is not the hearing — it is the weeks and months of preparation beforehand.

Reading and understanding court orders. Drafting witness statements. Organising hundreds of pages of evidence into a compliant court bundle. Cross-referencing dates, documents, and legal provisions. Meeting strict filing deadlines.

Every one of these tasks is harder when you have dyslexia, ADHD, or another condition that affects reading speed, working memory, attention, or executive function.

This is why BundleCreator built the NeuroDiverse Toolbox — to reduce these barriers before you even reach the courtroom.

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The BundleCreator NeuroDiverse Toolbox

BundleCreator is the first legal technology product with built-in accessibility tools designed specifically for neurodivergent users. The NeuroDiverse Toolbox is available across the entire site — in documents, PDFs, blog articles, and every page. You enable the tools you need from your account menu, and they work everywhere.

Read Aloud

Click any document, paragraph, or page content to hear it read aloud through your browser. Adjustable speed from 1x to 4x. When you open a TipTap document or PDF in the editor, a dedicated Read Aloud button appears in the toolbar with play, speed cycling, and stop controls. No separate software needed.

Why it matters: Dyslexic users frequently process information more effectively through listening than reading. Hearing a witness statement or court order read aloud can reveal meaning that visual reading misses.

OpenDyslexic Font

Switch to the OpenDyslexic typeface across the entire site. The font uses weighted letter bottoms and unique shapes for each character to reduce the visual confusion that causes letter-swapping.

Why it matters: Up to 1 in 10 people in the UK have some degree of dyslexia (NHS). A purpose-designed font can make the difference between understanding a court order and misreading a critical date.

Reading Ruler

A highlighted band follows your mouse, touch, or keyboard focus across the screen. Everything above and below is lightly dimmed so you can track which line you are reading.

Why it matters: Dense legal text — particularly bundle indexes, chronologies, and Scott Schedules — is difficult to track visually. A reading ruler helps users with ADHD, dyslexia, and visual tracking difficulties maintain their place.

Colour Overlay

Apply a translucent colour tint across the screen — yellow, blue, pink, green, peach, or lilac. This replicates the coloured acetate overlays used by people with Irlen syndrome and visual stress.

Why it matters: For some neurodivergent people, black text on a white background causes letters to appear to move, shimmer, or blur. A colour overlay can eliminate this effect entirely.

Text Spacing

Adjust letter spacing, word spacing, and line height across the site. The British Dyslexia Association's Style Guide recommends generous spacing for readability — and our sliders let you find exactly what works for you.

Why it matters: Cramped text is a significant barrier for dyslexic readers. Increasing spacing by even a small amount can substantially improve reading speed and comprehension.

Focus Mode

Hides navigation, menus, and all on-screen distractions. Only the document you are working on remains visible. Press Escape or click the exit hint to return to the full interface.

Why it matters: ADHD and autistic users can find busy interfaces overwhelming. Focus Mode removes everything except the task at hand, reducing cognitive load and sensory overload.

Reduced Motion

Disables all animations, transitions, and auto-scrolling across the site.

Why it matters: Some neurodivergent people find on-screen movement distracting or disorienting. This setting respects the need for a calm, still interface.

Dark Mode

Switches the entire site to a dark colour scheme to reduce eye strain during long reading sessions.

Why it matters: Many neurodivergent users are light-sensitive. Bundle preparation often happens in the evening after work — dark mode reduces fatigue during these sessions.

Pomodoro Timer

Structured focus sessions with timed breaks. Configurable in 6-minute increments. After each focus session, a break starts automatically.

Why it matters: Bundle preparation is mentally exhausting for anyone. For neurodivergent users, sustained attention is physiologically harder. The Pomodoro technique provides structure that supports executive function.

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You Are Not Alone

If you are neurodivergent and facing court proceedings, it is worth knowing:

• HMCTS (His Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service) has a dedicated reasonable adjustments process. Call the court and ask to speak to the listing office about your needs.
• Citizens Advice can help you understand the court process and may be able to refer you to specialist support.
• Advocate (formerly the Bar Pro Bono Unit) is an independent charity that offers free legal representation by volunteer barristers in some cases — particularly where the litigant has additional needs.
• Support Through Court (formerly the Personal Support Unit) is a charity that provides free, independent support at court and tribunal buildings across England and Wales. Their trained volunteers can sit with you in court, help you find your courtroom, and provide emotional support. They specifically train volunteers to support people with additional needs.

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Key Takeaways

1. You have the right to reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010. Courts and tribunals must comply.
2. You do not need a formal diagnosis to request adjustments. Explain how your condition affects your ability to participate.
3. Ask early — write to the court at least 14 days before your hearing.
4. Be specific about what you need: regular breaks, extra time, documents in accessible formats.
5. The Equal Treatment Bench Book instructs judges to be proactive about adjustments for neurodivergent parties.
6. BundleCreator's NeuroDiverse Toolbox addresses the preparation barriers — Read Aloud, OpenDyslexic font, reading ruler, colour overlays, text spacing, focus mode, and more — built in, free, no extensions needed.
7. You are not alone. Support organisations exist specifically to help people navigate court proceedings.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a diagnosis to request adjustments at court?

No. Under the Equality Act 2010, the duty to make reasonable adjustments applies when a person has a disability as defined in the Act. You do not need a formal diagnosis — a GP letter or your own explanation of how your condition affects you is sufficient. Some judges will ask questions to understand your needs, but they should not require medical evidence before making basic adjustments like breaks or additional time.

What if the judge refuses my adjustment request?

If a judge refuses a reasonable adjustment request, ask for the refusal and the reasons to be recorded on the court record. You may be able to challenge this on appeal if it affected the fairness of the hearing. In practice, most judges are receptive to adjustment requests — particularly when they are specific and proportionate.

Can I use assistive technology in court?

In most courts and tribunals, you can use a laptop or tablet to access your documents. You should inform the court in advance. Some courts have restrictions on recording devices, but using a device to read your own documents is generally permitted. BundleCreator's NeuroDiverse Toolbox works on any device with a web browser, including tablets.

What about remote hearings — are they better for neurodivergent people?

For some, yes. Remote hearings remove the sensory challenges of a courtroom — the travel, the waiting, the unfamiliar environment. You can control your lighting, use your own desk setup, and take breaks more naturally. However, remote hearings introduce their own challenges: screen fatigue, difficulty reading body language, and technical problems. The key is to choose whichever format works better for you and request it in your adjustment letter. The court retains discretion over the hearing format, but a well-reasoned request linked to your specific needs is likely to be granted.

Does BundleCreator charge extra for the NeuroDiverse Toolbox?

No. The NeuroDiverse Toolbox is included in every BundleCreator account at no additional cost — including during the free 14-day trial. All nine tools are available to every user. We believe access to justice means removing barriers for everyone, and charging extra for accessibility tools would defeat the purpose.