In this Dear Dyslexic podcast episode, Shae speaks with consultant and leader Ben Walkenhorst about psychosocial hazards and how to create psychologically safe workplaces, especially for neurodivergent people. Ben shares his background (20+ years’ experience across sectors and leading teams up to 200) and his lived experience of dyslexia, including an auditory component and visual stress helped by Irlen lenses, which he says transformed his learning outcomes. He explains psychological safety as an environment where people can speak up without judgment or retaliation, and outlines three key factors: great leadership, job design/job demands, and environmental factors. Ben gives examples from remote work and local government process redesign, discusses clear role expectations, supportive feedback practices, reasonable adjustments, and why training and new legislation make this work essential.

00:00 Welcome to Dear Dyslexic

00:34 Meet Ben Walkenhorst

04:15 Ben’s Dyslexia Story

07:40 Irlen Lenses and What Works

09:25 Personal Strategies and Self Awareness

12:04 Psychological Safety Explained

16:25 Job Design and Workload

23:12 Environmental Adjustments That Help

26:21 Neurodivergence Trip Hazards at Work

36:52 Feedback Without Triggers

43:46 Why Leader Training Matters

46:30 Business Case and Legal Duties

48:41 Wrap Up and Next Steps

Neurodivergence, Feedback & Psychological Safety at Work (Dear Dyslexic Podcast)

This episode of the Dear Dyslexic podcast explores how feedback and workplace practices can impact neurodivergent people, including those with dyslexia, ADHD, and autism, particularly when feedback feels overly critical or triggering due to past experiences. The conversation focuses on the role of great leadership in giving feedback privately and safely, discussing practical adjustments like changing red markup colors and reframing “feedback” as “advice.” It also covers how constant check-ins can raise anxiety and suggests creating adult-adult relationships where employees have permission to speak up about what works for them. The guest emphasizes the importance of training leaders in psychological, social, and emotional dynamics and neurodivergence, linking psychological safety to improved productivity and business outcomes, alongside growing legal and regulatory obligations in Australia.

00:00 Welcome to Dear Dyslexic

00:33 Feedback and RSD

02:13 Better Ways to Give Feedback

03:54 Advice Not Feedback

04:20 Checking In Without Anxiety

06:05 Adult Adult Leadership

07:27 Training Leaders on Neurodiversity

10:11 Business Case and Compliance

12:22 Wrap Up and Next Episode

15:19 Resources and Sign Off

Recorded as a podcast for International Women’s Day, this panel brings together Nicci Richman, Dr Kim Gordon, and Dr Annalisa Contos, to share experiences of late diagnosis (ADHD, autism, dyslexia/dysgraphia) and how it reshaped identity, self-compassion, and career trajectories. The discussion links perimenopause/menopause to reduced capacity to mask, emotional peaks and troughs, and grief over missed support and opportunities. Panelists describe the invisible load of masking, executive-function demands, parenting neurodivergent children, burnout, and workplace penalties for non-linear careers, “cultural fit,” and intersectional bias. They outline practical workplace changes—universal design, clarity, flexible output-focused work, supportive tools (including AI), easier adjustments, and leaders who model disclosure—while noting supports like JobAccess and resources from ADHD Australia.

In a first in-studio Dear Dyslexic Podcast interview, the host chats with Dr. Kim Percy and UK-based Dr. Helen Ross about dyslexia and broader neurodivergence in adulthood, focusing on transition points from school to university or work. Helen, in Australia on a Churchill Fellowship, describes how lack of clear, accessible support and long assessment waitlists can leave people—especially girls—unraveling during major transitions, and she explores Australian practices (including TAFE flexibility) to bring ideas back to the UK. Kim shares a parent and lecturer perspective, describing students and her own son falling through cracks due to missed emails, fees, system lockouts, and barriers to diagnosis and learning plans. They discuss the importance of “village” support networks, self-worth, and shifting assessments from deficits to strengths, noting ongoing misconceptions about intelligence and dyslexia.

In this powerful episode of the Dear Dyslexic Podcast, host Dr Shae Wissell sits down with Brad Beach, Director of Strategy, Quality and Learning at TAFE Gippsland, to explore dyslexia and neurodivergence in vocational education.

Brad shares his personal journey as a dyslexic student—from struggling in remedial reading classes to accidentally getting into Melbourne University and eventually leading educational innovation. His story highlights the transformative power of educator belief, referencing John Hattie's research showing that an educator's belief in a student is the strongest predictor of success.

The conversation tackles critical topics including:

The challenges and opportunities of the "neurodivergent" label

Why universal design alone isn't enough—students need individualized support

Educational trauma and its lasting impact on dyslexic individuals

TAFE Gippsland's groundbreaking program for students experiencing intersectional disadvantage, achieving 90-100% retention rates

The importance of wraparound services and trauma-informed teaching approaches

Moving beyond the "superpower" narrative to focus on practical strategies and strengths

Brad offers invaluable advice for educators: ask students what they need, provide information in multiple formats, leverage technology, and above all—believe in your students' potential.

A must-listen for educators, parents, and anyone interested in creating truly inclusive learning environments.

A Note From Our Director and Podcast Host:

I'm Dr Shae Wissell and you have been listening to the Dear Dyslexic Podcast. Head to rethinkdyslexia.com.au to find out more about today’s guest speaker. To keep up-to-date with all our news follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. You can also listen to our Dear Dyslexic Podcast as well!

If you haven’t done so yet go to your favoured podcast platform and subscribe, rate and review this podcast. Join me next time for another conversation on Hobo CEO.

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