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’ve done so far.

Moving forward I will be publishing episodes every other week, so see you in two weeks!

“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 how neurodiverse people can be authentic at work and ask for accommodations.

You will learn:

• What reasonable accommodations can look like at work
• How being authentic can encourage and support coworkers
• Why psychological safety is so important
• Plus, 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 Solutions
• Debunk Neurodivergent Myths at Work: 5 Solutions
• Neurodiversity in the Workforce: Scott Span Of Tolero Solutions On Why It’s Important To Include Neurodiverse Employees & How To Make Your Workplace More Neuro-Inclusive
• New 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 Manager
• Captain Awkward

Questions? Comments? Feedback? Email me at kevin@workingclassautistic.com