Working Class Autistic

“Neurodiverse individuals themselves are not any less efficient or any less productive than non-neurodiverse or neurotypical individuals, especially if you provide them with the reasonable accommodations to be successful.” -Scott SpanMy guest this week, Scott Span, is a speaker and coach that helps neurodiverse leaders manage communication and presence at work. We had a great conversation about how neurodiverse people can be authentic at work and ask for accommodations.You will learn:What reasonable accommodations can look like at workHow being authentic can encourage and support coworkersWhy psychological safety is so importantPlus, learn about Scott’s special interest!Follow-up Questions:What’s an accommodation that would be beneficial for you at work? Think about physical space, equipment, technology, and flexibility.How can you contribute to psychological safety?Are you measuring performance in a way that makes sense?Guest Bio:Scott Span is a sought-after speaker and advisor on change, personal development, leadership, and workplace culture. For two decades, Scott has supported leaders, teams, and organizations navigate the realities of change, turning uncertainty into clarity and stalled progress into results. Scott is neurodivergent and a member of the LGBTQ+ community. He brings lived experience, empathy, humor, and a process-driven style to his coaching, speaking, and facilitation. Scott tackles topics like leading through change, overcoming adversity, inclusive leadership, building an authentic leadership style and creating a high-performance workplace culture. He offers practical insights that resonate across industries. His talks inspire action and his work provides audiences and clients with clear, real-world strategies to lead and succeed with awareness, resilience, and impact. He is also a member of the Consortium for Change.Links:Tolero SolutionsDebunk Neurodivergent Myths at Work: 5 SolutionsNeurodiversity in the Workforce: Scott Span Of Tolero Solutions On Why It’s Important To Include Neurodiverse Employees & How To Make Your Workplace More Neuro-InclusiveNew research reveals mixed feelings about the terms “neurodiversity” and “neurodivergent”Questions? Comments? Feedback? Email me at kevin@workingclassautistic.com

Growing up I was always known as a quiet kid. I just felt like I never really knew what to say or how to say it. Learning about the communication differences between autistic and neurotypical people was one of the biggest reasons that I was able to conclude I was autistic myself. In this episode I talk about how I was able to learn how to communicate in spite of these challenges.Follow-up Question:What are some times in your life when you were able to speak up?More Resources:Ask A ManagerCaptain AwkwardQuestions? Comments? Feedback? Email me at kevin@workingclassautistic.com

My guest this week, Dr. Ashley de Marchena, is on a mission to give communication strategies to autistic people and their non-autistic communication partners. We had a great conversation that covered a lot of different tips and advice to improve communication.You will learn:How non-autistic people can be better communicators to autistic peopleWays to check in to make sure you are being understood in a conversationWhat research says about teaching autistic kids multiple languagesFollow-up Questions:Can you do a check in the next time you’re in a conversation?How can you give more time in a conversation?How can you reduce assumptions in your communication?Guest Bio:Ashley de Marchena is an Associate Research Professor in the Early Detection and Intervention research program at the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute. Her research focuses on two distinct but related topics in autism: (1) understanding communication skills and experiences across the lifespan, and (2) diagnostic decision-making. Dr. de Marchena is a licensed psychologist in the state of Pennsylvania, with clinical expertise in early autism diagnosis, and is highly motivated to integrate her clinical experiences with her empirical work. Dr. de Marchena collaborates regularly with autistic scientists and community members, with the goal of conducting research that is valuable and accessible to members of the autistic community.Dr. de Marchena received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Connecticut. She then completed her clinical internship, as well as clinical and research postdoctoral fellowships, at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. She is currently leading an NIH-funded project examining communication experiences related to nonverbal communication(for example, eye contact, hand gestures, tone of voice, and facial expression) in autistic adults.Links:Drexel University ProfileGoogle ScholarQuestions? Comments? Feedback? Email me at kevin@workingclassautistic.com

Over the last year I have been searching for a new job. I ended up making it to the final interview stage for five different companies … and all five companies ended up rejecting me in the end. In this week’s episode of Working Class Autistic I talk about dealing with that amount of rejection and why it can be more difficult for autistic people due to Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria.Follow-up Question:What are some times in your life where you have faced rejection, and how did you handle it?More Resources:https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/friendship-20/201907/what-is-rejection-sensitive-dysphoriaRejection Sensitive Dysphoria in ADHD & AutismThe Unbearable Heartache of Rejection Sensitive DysphoriaQuestions? Comments? Feedback? Email me at kevin@workingclassautistic.com

My guest this week is Dr. Jessica Hicksted. Jessica is a researcher and advocate for people with invisible disabilities, particularly in the workplace.You will learn:How to ask for accommodations without disclosing your own disabilityThe surprising percentage of people who actually have invisible disabilitiesHow body doubling can help create accountabilityFollow-up Questions:Do you identify with having an invisible disability?What is a simple accommodation you can offer that would help people with invisible disabilities?Can you use body doubling to help knock something off your to-do list?Guest Bio:Diagnosed as an adult with autism spectrum disorder and ADHD, Jessica Hicksted, Ph.D., brings her life experiences and education to advocate for people with invisible disabilities. She has faced many challenges, including sustaining injuries during military service, which she overcame with resiliency and determination. She is a mother to two sons with ADHD and autism spectrum disorder.Dr. Hicksted has faced her own battles with discrimination in the workplace after disclosing her invisible disabilities. She returned to graduate school to learn to become an effective advocate for positive social change. Through her PhD studies in Industrial Organizational Psychology, she dedicated her research to invisible disabilities in the workplace, and developed a tool for employers to measure stigma associated with the disclosure by workers of invisible disabilities.Links:ndoutloud.comndhive.comQuestions? Comments? Feedback? Email me at kevin@workingclassautistic.com

Do you struggle with identifying your own strengths? In this week's solo episode I talk about how I used my special interests and career to figure out what I am good at. I also talk about how you can do the same!Audio note: I realized after recording that the heater turned on partway through some sections. I cleaned up the audio as best I could so hopefully it's not too disruptive!Follow-up Question:What are your strengths? Links:https://www.autistica.org.uk/what-is-autism/autistic-strengthshttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/overcoming-failure-to-launch-in-autistic-emerging-adults/202601/strengths-that-autistic-adultshttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/atypical-children-extraordinary-parenting/202511/how-solution-focused-therapy-can-help-autismQuestions? Comments? Feedback? Email me at kevin@workingclassautistic.com

In this episode I talk to Dr. David Krauss. David is a psychologist with over 30 years of experience working with children, adolescents and their families, as well as individual adults, in independent practice, school and hospital settings. We had an interesting conversation about how autistic people can find their strengths and why it’s important to have awe for yourself no matter what you do.You will learn:How language and views on autism have changed over the yearsHow to identify your strengthsWhy the fundamental attribution error affects how we see autistic peopleFollow-up Questions:Is your world frozen, getting smaller, or getting larger?What’s one thing you do that you can have awe for?The next time you get mad at someone, can you think about their context or history first?Guest Bio: Dr. David Krauss, Ph.D. is a psychologist with over 30 years of experience working with children, adolescents and their families, as well as individual adults, in independent practice, school and hospital settings. He has a PhD in Clinical and Community Psychology from Yale University and a practice located in Hopewell, NJ. He specializes in working with neurologically or developmentally 'atypical' children and adolescents - ADHD, learning disabilities, autism spectrum, etc. He often works with those neurodevelopmentally atypical children, adolescent and young adults who don't easily fit into these kinds of standard diagnostic categories. He looks for and develops strengths, resiliencies and resources.Links:David's Psychology Today ProfileAtypical Children – Extraordinary ParentingQuestions? Comments? Feedback? Email me at kevin@workingclassautistic.com

Lee Burdette Williams is the executive director of the College Autism Network. We had an interesting conversation that covered a few different topics related to supporting autistic people in college and entering the workforce.You will learn:How autistic people and families can prepare for transitions between high school, college, and the workforceHow to figure out if a prospective employer supports neurodiversityWhy CBT may not always be a good approach for autistic peoplePlus, learn about Lee’s special interest!Follow-up Questions:What processes do you have to work more effectively, and does your workplace support them?What kind of culture does the company you work for have?What is one thing you can do to support neurodiverse people at your workplace?Guest Bio: Lee Burdette Williams is the executive director of the College Autism Network. She is a seasoned student affairs professional with significant leadership experience at a variety of institutions of higher education. Her particular areas of expertise include student neurodiversity and mental health, partnerships with academic affairs, learning communities, retention strategies, student engagement through community activities, and building relationships with external constituents and alumni.Links:College Autism NetworkDisability:INQuestions? Comments? Feedback? Email me at kevin@workingclassautistic.com

Rachel Morgan-Trimmer is one of the UK's best known neurodiversity experts. She wrote the book How to be autistic, and had her work published in national and international publications. We ended up having an interesting discussion where we talked about both neurodiversity in the workplace as well as a broader conversation about privilege and class and how that can affect autistic people.You will learn:How class and privilege affect autistic peopleWhy it’s important to be open to peopleWhat job-carving is and how it can help your careerPlus, learn what Rachel’s special interest is!Follow-up Questions:What is one way you can be more open to people and new perspectives?What is one thing you can do at work to tailor your job to yourself?What are some tiny steps you can take towards a goal?Guest Bio:Rachel is one of the UK's best known neurodiversity experts. Described as passionate, funny and inspirational, she talks authentically about the strengths and challenges faced by people like her. A successful entrepreneur, she set up her first company at the age of 30, which helped over a million people, while suffering from severe mental health issues. After discovering she is autistic and has ADHD, she founded her 5-star rated consultancy Firebird to train organisations on inclusion.Rachel has authored the ground-breaking book How to be autistic, and produced an award-winning poster. She's had her work published in the national and international press, in various books, and in peer-reviewed academic journals. She's a TEDx speaker, and delivers keynotes at international conferences. She founded AuDHD Day to raise awareness of people like her, with autism and ADHD together, and is currently working on an innovative documentary. Rachel is also learning sign language, raising a family, developing a micro-farm and writes comedy. She is passionate about building a more inclusive world, and supports neurodivergent adults and parents in her free time.Links:askfirebird.comhowtobeautistic.com

Dr. Theresa Regan is an adult neuropsychologist and host of the podcast Autism in the Adult. We had an interesting conversation that drew from her background as a certified autism specialist as well as her personal experiences.You will learn:The challenges of explaining autismHow to be a detective of your autistic behaviorsTips for taking care of yourselfPlus, learn what Dr. Regan’s special interest is!Follow-up Questions:Spend some time being a detective and investigate your behaviors. What are you doing, and how do you feel about it?What physical inputs can you use to regulate yourself?What have you done to take care of yourself today?Guest Bio:Dr. Theresa Regan is an adult neuropsychologist specializing in the complex relationships between brain function, thinking skills, behavioral patterns, emotion, and personality. A certified autism specialist and mother of an autistic young adult, she brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her work.Dr. Regan is the founder and director of a diagnostic autism clinic serving individuals ages 14 to 90, where she has conducted more than 1,000 adult autism evaluations. She is the author of Understanding Autism in Adults and Aging Adults and Understanding Autistic Behaviors, two foundational texts widely used by clinicians, families, and autistic adults seeking clarity and support.She is also the creator and host of the podcast Autism in Adults, which offers education, insight, and practical strategies to a global audience. In addition to her writing and clinical work, Dr. Regan develops comprehensive educational courses for autistic adults, their families and support systems, and healthcare professionals. These offerings can be found through her website, adultandgeriatricautism.com, as well as the Zur Institute.Dr. Regan provides video-based clinical services for autistic adults and their families, and offers professional consultation for clinicians seeking guidance in assessment, diagnosis, and neurodiversity-informed care. Her mission is to expand accurate understanding of autism in adulthood and promote compassionate, evidence-based support across the lifespan.Links:http://adultandgeriatricautism.com/Podcast: Autism in the AdultZur InstituteMHz’s collection of TV mysteriesQuestions? Comments? Feedback? Email me at kevin@workingclassautistic.com