Working Class Autistic

I recently learned about the concept of "universal design" and thought it was a really interesting concept that could be used to improve the work lives of not just autistic people, but everyone. Follow-up Question: As you go about your day, use a neurodiverse lens to think about the processes or objects you use. Can they be improved for someone with sensory needs? Links: Inside The Box by David Ep...

“I got diagnosed [with autism] when I was 38. And so like anything where you go and get a diagnosis, you're like, oh, what are the next steps? And I found out that really there aren't any for when you're diagnosed as an adult. I was looking for information. I was looking for people that I could talk to about their experience who I could relate to. And I just wasn't able to find anything especially...

In honor of releasing my tenth interview episode on the podcast, I decided to collect a quote from each interview and compile them into one episode. This is a great episode to start with if you’re new to the podcast or need a quick hit of inspiration! You will learn: How to approach autism like a detective How to tell if an employer supports neurodiversity How to check in during conversations And...

“It really comes down to just working with individuals one-on-one, understanding where they're at, and trying to lead them to the options that exist here in Michigan to support what they need.” -Erik Gallery My guest this week is Erik Gallery, the Director of Navigation for the Autism Alliance of Michigan. I met Erik at the Alliance’s Navigating Autism Today conference and I jumped at the chance t...

Autistic brains spend more effort on taking in and processing environmental details. As a result, when things happen that go against our predictions that can result in meltdowns. In this episode I talk about ways I make my life and schedule more predictable. Follow-up question: Can you do one thing to make your work schedule a little more predictable? Questions? Comments? Feedback? Email me at kev...

“They weren't lazy. They were just struggling with task initiation. They weren't crazy. They were just struggling with organization and planning. Name it to tame it. So it's not that I'm lazy and can't get to meetings on time and prepared. I just don't have the systems and strategies built to make me successful in doing those things.” Katey Treloar is an executive function coach that helps neurodi...

April is Autism Acceptance Month, formerly known as Autism Awareness Month. I tend to be pretty skeptical of events like this, but in this episode I talk about what it means to me to accept autism and how you can approach awareness as an autistic person. Follow up question: What does accepting autism mean to you? Questions? Comments? Feedback? Email me at kevin@workingclassautistic.com

"If you do CBT that was created for middle-class white people in the United States and try to use it in Japan or India it is not going to work as well. If you're trying to apply this modality to autistic people without consideration of that intersectionality of autism and mental health, then it isn't going to work as well. What research has shown is that if you have CBT that is adequately accommod...

Hello everyone, in this week’s episode I talk about some exciting personal news and talk about the different jobs I’ve held so far. I think it can be hard for autistic people to figure out what they want to do because so many different things can seem interesting. I hope that sharing my own path can help you figure out what you want to do and encourage you to follow your dreams no matter what you’...

“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 Span My 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 h...

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 Questio...

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 people Ways to check in to make sure you are being understo...

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 Quest...

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 disability The surprising percentage of people who actually have invisible disabilities How body doubling can help create accountability Follow-up Questions: Do you identify...

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 Ques...

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. Yo...

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 workforce How to figure out if a prospective employer supp...

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...

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 autism How to be a detective of your autistic behaviors Tips for taking care of yourself Plus, learn what Dr. Regan’s special i...