HOW TO USE NIMM

The Neuro-Inclusive Maturity Model

A Practical Pathway to Embedding Inclusive Thinking Across Your Organisation

What is the NIMM?

There are three key parts to NIMM:

A Developmental Online Programme
A Knowledge Hub full of Resources, Tools & Templates
A Community of Practice for Peer Learning

It is a neuroscience-informed, evidence-based development programme designed to create meaningful, sustainable change in how individuals think, lead, and relate. It supports organisations in embedding inclusion through a practical, thought-provoking journey of mindset growth, one habit and one conversation at a time.

It’s built around three progressive levels of neuro-inclusive maturity:

Delta Level – Disrupt and Discover
Alpha Level – Apply and Align
Gamma Level – Grow and Galvanise

Each level includes 6 core modules, each designed to be explored over two months, giving individuals and teams the time and space to integrate new thinking into everyday action.

It's NOT Extra!
It's FOUNDATIONAL!

I know what you’re thinking — not another framework…

I’ve been in your shoes — juggling priorities, tight budgets, and the pressure to invest in what truly makes a difference. And just when you think you’ve got a handle on it, along comes another audit… another framework… another thing to do. I get it. But NIMM isn’t another add-on; it’s the foundation that helps make sense of all the other THINGS and negates some of them.

NIMM isn’t here to add more to your overflowing plate. It’s not a bolt-on, a buzzword, or a burdensome checklist.

It’s a shift in how you see, think, decide, and lead. NIMM weaves inclusion into the everyday fabric of your work — into conversations, strategy, leadership, and culture.

It doesn’t demand more of you; it reveals what’s already possible.

This isn’t extra. It’s foundational.

And once you lead with it, there’s no going back.

How Does It Work?

Flexible, Self-Paced Progression

Each module spans two months:

Month 1: Learn the content and engage in self-reflection.
Month 2: Apply and embed the learning using the accompanying tools, templates, discussion prompts, community of practice hub, and nudges.

This approach allows participants to absorb, experiment, and reflect, building confidence and competence before moving on.

This is not a Pass or Fail course

NIMM is about progress, not perfection.
There’s no rigid timeline. Some modules may take longer to work through depending on team dynamics, personal development, or organisational context.
You can revisit modules at any time, and there’s no penalty for pausing to go deeper.

Beyond Training to Transformation

From Inclusion to Growth and Lasting Change

NIMM is more than an inclusion framework; it’s a catalyst for building a growth mindset that transforms how individuals and organisations learn, adapt, and thrive.

Here’s how NIMM can be applied to create a lasting impact beyond traditional inclusion projects:

Promotion and appraisal criteria: Encourage leaders to demonstrate inclusive behaviours alongside adaptability, curiosity, and continuous growth.
Progressive disciplinary processes: Foster reflective conversations that address unconscious bias while supporting personal development and accountability.
Recruitment and onboarding: Design hiring practices that identify potential for growth and neuro-inclusive thinking from day one.
Team dynamics and conflict resolution: Help teams develop resilience by recognising and interrupting limiting patterns, promoting psychological safety, and collaboration.
Policy design and audits: Ensure organisational systems embed principles that support both inclusion and a culture of ongoing learning and improvement.

By integrating NIMM across these areas, organisations cultivate a culture where inclusion and growth go hand in hand, driving innovation, engagement, and long-term success.

Who Should Use It?

Line Managers – Start First

It’s recommended that line managers complete the course module(s) before their teams.
This gives them the confidence to role-model the learning and guide others through conversations, team tools, and reflective practices.

However, it is recognised that this is not always possible, so progress can be made together by completing the module you are guiding others on at the same time.

Leadership – Dive Deeper

Leaders have access to bonus content and extended prompts to support culture shaping, strategic embedding, and inclusive leadership decision-making.

All Staff – Whole Organisation Growth

Once line managers are familiar, the course modules can be used progressively across teams, one module at a time, on a rolling basis. Modules and subsections, relevant for specific situations, can be revisited as and when required.

Is there a Pass or Fail?

No, and that’s intentional.

NIMM isn’t a tick-box course. It’s a living, flexible framework designed to grow with your people and your culture. That means it’s not about passing or failing individuals, but about whether the organisation is genuinely embedding inclusive habits and behaviours over time.

Here’s how development and accountability are built in:

1) Built into Everyday Practice

Each NIMM module is designed to be embedded into existing line management conversations, 1:1s, team reflections, and review cycles, not done in isolation. It’s not about “completing a course” but changing how people show up, lead, and connect.

2) Growth is Measured Through Organisational Touchpoints

Rather than test scores, we assess progress through 'listening':

Baseline and follow-up cultural diagnostics. This is through the self-assessment Google Forms for each pathway that becomes available when you become a member.
Staff feedback, trust loops, and psychological safety scores
Leadership behaviours in action
The “stickiness” of inclusive habits in everyday culture

Bottom Line:

This isn’t a shortcut. It’s a shift.
Anyone can skip through content, but they won’t skip the culture that’s growing around them. That’s where the real learning lives.

3) The GAMMA Verification

At the end of the cycle, organisations aiming for GAMMA verification submit:

A longitudinal overview showing measurable change across agreed-upon indicators - this can be done using the Google Self-Assessment Forms and resulting Stream Graphs.
A case study showcasing real-world inclusive innovation, growth, or transformation

If these demonstrate genuine embedding, the organisation receives a Verified GAMMA Badge — a mark of maturity, not just motion.

Developmental Assessment Tools

Simple, Easy to Use, Assessment

As part of the NIMM framework, we've created three simple self-assessment tools, one for each developmental pathway.

These Google Forms help individuals and teams reflect on where they currently sit on the NIMM maturity scale. They consist of just 10 questions using a Linear scale.

They're designed to be simple, used regularly, offering a clear baseline and tracking progress over time.

Results can be visualised using a Stream Graph to show shifts in thinking, behaviour, and culture. For those on our Advanced or Enterprise packages, a BARDO coach will help interpret the data and identify which areas need revisiting. NIMM is not a test; there’s no pass or fail. It’s a developmental model that supports continuous learning and growth.

Example Stream Graphs Showing Maturity in Key Areas of Development

A Suggested 12-Month Programme

This is a suggested yearly programme.

This is what could happen in an ideal world - but we don't live in one, so please take it as a guide!

Year 1: Delta Level of NIMM

Jan - Module 1 – Complete Delta Level Online Course
Feb - Module 1 – Embed & Reflect. Use tools in 1:1s, team meetings, and discuss in the Community of Practice Hub
Mar - Module 2 – Complete Delta Level Online Course
Apr - Module 2 – Embed & Reflect. Use tools in 1:1s, team meetings, and discuss in the Community of Practice Hub
May - Module 3 – Complete Delta Level Online Course
Jun - Module 3 – Embed & Reflect. Use tools in 1:1s, team meetings, and discuss in the Community of Practice Hub
Jul - Module 4 – Complete Delta Level Online Course
Aug - Module 4 – Embed & Reflect. Use tools in 1:1s, team meetings, and discuss in the Community of Practice Hub
Sep - Module 5 – Complete Delta Level Online Course
Oct - Module 5 – Embed & Reflect. Use tools in 1:1s, team meetings, and discuss in the Community of Practice Hub
Nov - Module 6 – Complete Delta Level Online Course
Dec - Module 6 – Embed & Reflect. Use tools in 1:1s, team meetings, and discuss in the Community of Practice Hub
Reflect & Wrap Up, and End-of-year review.

Repeat the following years for Alpha and then Gamma Levels.

However, it is more important that you work at your own pace.

If you or your organisation prefers a slower or faster pace, modules can be adapted accordingly.

The BARDO Knowledge Hub

Accessed through the Online Community of Practice that you will belong to as part of NIMM

The BARDO Knowledge Hub is your ever-growing library of practical, neuroscience-informed tools to embed real inclusion — every day, at every level.

It’s more than just a file bank. This is your space to explore, experiment, and evolve your approach to culture change. Whether you're leading a team, shaping strategy, or simply trying to do better, you’ll find exactly what you need when you need it.

From quick wins to deeper diagnostics, our curated resources include:

Ready-to-use toolkits and templates
Microlearning audios and nudges
Leadership guides and behaviour trackers
Cultural diagnostics and feedback tools
Inclusive language, wellbeing, and legal explainers

Everything here is designed to support your journey through the NIMM Maturity Model and make lasting inclusion feel achievable, meaningful, and human.

Working Through the Maturity Model

Change starts with understanding. And in NIMM, that doesn’t mean spreadsheets and soul-sapping data dives, it means listening.

At BARDO, we believe inclusion is best measured not just in numbers, but in how people feel. That’s why the journey through the NIMM Maturity Model begins with a simple but powerful step, active listening. Understanding how individuals are 'feeling' without judgement.

The Process - because most organisations feel safer with one!

Step 1: Start with a Baseline — A Cultural Check-In

This isn’t a labour-intensive audit. It’s a chance to tune into your organisation’s emotional landscape. Using a few key touchpoints, we build a clear picture of where you are now.

You can gather insight through:

Using the pre-designed Google Forms available to you for each of your pathways.
Pulse surveys — short, regular temperature checks
Anonymous diary reflections — how people really feel, in their own words
Leadership behaviour tracking — not what leaders say, but what they do
Cultural diagnostics — patterns, gaps, and potential

NIMM offers you measurement tools to help you with this, including Google Forms for each pathway. They are easy to use and consist of 10 questions each consisting of:

Inclusion indicators
Psychological safety indicators
Trust and feedback loop tracking
Adoption of inclusive habits over time
Leadership accountability and modelling indicators
Cultural “stickiness”, how well inclusive behaviours are actually embedded

The Google Forms are in the Knowledge Hub as tools to help you actively listen. But what you use and how is up to you.

Step 2: Work the Model — One Year of Change

With your baseline in place, you can begin applying the six domains of the NIMM across your culture, systems, and everyday practices by giving all staff access to the NIMM’s online courses and resources.

Each person will independently work through the Delta, Alpha, and Gamma levels, following the suggested year-per-level long programme.

While each level of the model is designed to embed change over a year, it’s self-paced, flexible, and can be revisited whenever needed.

Step 3: Measure Again — See What’s Changed

After working through the model, use the same measurement tools to reassess. What’s shifted? What’s stuck? Where do people feel more included—and where might new barriers have surfaced?

This isn’t just about proof of progress. It’s about learning. You’ll be able to identify:

What’s working
What needs more attention
Where new strategies or resources might help

Step 4: Go Deeper with Support (Advanced & Enterprise Packages)

If you're on an Advanced or Enterprise plan, your BARDO Coach can help you go further.

Together, you can analyse your findings and develop bespoke interventions, tailored workshops, leadership tools, or cultural campaigns, using real data, real stories, and real solutions.

This rolling approach lets you track your maturity over time, course-correct where needed, and build a culture that’s not only inclusive on paper, but felt, lived, and loved by your people.

Reaching GAMMA: Showcase Your Growth

At the GAMMA level, it's time to bring it all together.

To be awarded your Verified GAMMA Badge (and trophy - who doesn't love a trophy!), you'll need to submit:

A longitudinal overview — showing your progress over time across key indicators such as psychological safety, inclusive leadership behaviours, and staff experience. The Google Forms and resulting Stream Graphs can help you do this.
A case study — highlighting a specific example of innovative, inclusive growth within your organisation. This could be a culture shift, a new approach, or a people-led transformation that speaks to your journey.

These submissions don’t just demonstrate compliance; they tell your story. They show how you've embraced NIMM not as a tick-box exercise, but as a living, breathing part of your culture.

Once verified, you’ll receive your GAMMA digital badge, a mark of genuine, embedded inclusion, recognised by BARDO and available for public display.

There might be a bit of a party too!

Subscription and Access

NIMM is provided on an annual organisational licence.

This gives your staff unlimited access for 12 months to:

All 3 levels (Delta, Alpha, Gamma)
Reflection tools, team nudges, and leadership resources
Guides, video explainers, and digital templates

Your annual renewal ensures continued access to:

Updated content
Special topic bonus modules
New tools and sector-specific insights

What's Included?

18 Core Modules (6 per level)
Reflection and Embedding Tools
Google Forms for Self-Assessment
NeuroNudges™ and Habit Prompts
Guides on numerous EDI-related topics - e.g.
- Reasonable Adjustments
- Neurodivergent Experiences
- Legal Requirements
- and much more.
If/Then Playbooks
Scripts and Templates
Leadership-Only Deep Dives
Inclusive Performance Templates
Inclusive Leadership Audits and Assessment Templates
Baseline and Measurement Tools
Digital Learning Packs
Access to the BARDO Inclusive Community Hub for peer-related learning.

There are three tiers of support

Essential - self-paced access to the online course and materials
Advanced - hybrid support from a BARDO coach, to aid in the embedding of the online course and materials
Enterprise - as above, plus consultancy, train the trainer, and access to all webinars, events, and coaching.

Tips for Making It Stick

Model from the middle. Line managers are your culture multipliers. equip them to lead from the inside out.
Language matters. Shared neuroscience-informed terms help normalise and integrate the learning.
Pair with performance. Use the NIMM reflection tools in monthly check-ins, appraisals, and development reviews.
Reflect openly. Encourage teams to share what they’re learning, not to show off, but to shift culture.
Celebrate small changes. Embedding inclusion is about rewiring behaviours, not overnight revolutions.

The Goal?

This isn’t tick-box training.

It’s not theoretical fluff (although it is science-based).

And it’s certainly not one-size-fits-all.

The NIMM is a developmental experience.

A shift in how your people think, choose, and lead.

Over time. With intention. And with neuroscience behind every nudge.

This is what true culture change feels like.

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