“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 neurodiverse individuals develop systems and strategies to overcome obstacles both at work and home. In our conversation we talk about different types of executive functioning skills and how to build systems to help you with the ones you struggle with.

You will learn:

• Different types of executive functioning skills
• Why you have to name it to tame it
• The strengths of neurodiverse people
• Plus, learn about Katey’s special interest!

Follow-up Questions:

• What’s an executive functioning skill that you struggle with?
• What’s a system you can create to help with that skill?
• Can you ask for or provide an agenda for your next meeting?

Guest Bio:

Katey Treloar is the founder of Executive Function Coaching, LLC. She specializes in supporting neurodiverse individuals who seek to better understand their disabilities and develop strategies to enhance their personal and professional success. Through personalized one-on-one coaching and workplace training, Katey assists clients in identifying and addressing executive function challenges. By collaboratively developing effective systems and strategies, she helps individuals overcome obstacles both at work and at home. Katey is dedicated to serving adults and improving the lives of those living with these often-invisible disabilities.

Links:

• efcsessions.com
• Katey’s LinkedIn

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

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 accommodating and taking into account the autism part, then it does work. And so that's where the problem lies."

My guest this week is Dr. Jennifer Cork, a doctor of social work specializing in the treatment of neurodivergent individuals with co-occurring mental health diagnoses. I was excited to have Jennifer on because of her writing on cognitive behavior therapy for autistic people.

You will learn:

• How to reframe a fight-or-flight response
• The state of research on therapy for autistic people
• Why informed consent in therapy is so important
• Plus, learn about Jennifer’s special interest!

Follow-up Questions:

• Do you feel certain emotions are good or bad?
• Can you make your processes more accommodating?
• Are there certain things you don’t want to do that you can skip?

Guest Bio:

Dr. Jennifer Cork is a doctor of social work (DSW) and licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), specializing in the treatment of neurodivergent individuals with co-occurring mental health diagnoses. Jennifer is a late-diagnosed autistic adult and has 20 years’ experience working with individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities. She has worked in the education, disability, and mental health settings. She has also written a therapy book called, What's Your Anxiety Level? Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Neurodivergent Children and Teens with Co-Occurring Anxiety Disorders, published in October of 2025. She has a certificate in disability studies from Eastern Washington University, is a certified autism specialist (CAS), and ADHD-certified clinical service provider (ADHD-CCSP). Increasing mental health awareness and access to mental healthcare for the neurodivergent community is one of her passions. Besides education and advocacy work, Jennifer enjoys trips to the coast, hikes with her family, cooking, baking, and is an avid reader. She is also the mom, spouse, and sister of some awesome neurodivergent humans!

Links:

• Dr. Jennifer Cork’s website
• https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/neurodivergent-knowledge/202512/does-cognitive-behavioral-therapy-work-for-autistic-clients

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

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

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 understood in a conversation
• What research says about teaching autistic kids multiple languages

Follow-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 Profile
• Google Scholar

Questions? 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-dysphoria
• Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria in ADHD & Autism
• The Unbearable Heartache of Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria

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