Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share Neurodiversity Celebration Week Mini-Series with Sarah Atkins & Cassie Footman - Part 1
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
Neurodiversity Celebration Week Mini-Series with Sarah Atkins & Cassie Footman - Part 1
Send us a text
Neurodiversity Celebration Week Mini-Series with Sarah Atkins & Cassie Footman
Episode Summary:
To celebrate Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2025 (March 17-23), Sarah Atkins and Cassie Footman bring you this special mini podcast series exploring neurodivergence, workplace inclusion, and the real-life experiences of ADHD and Autism.
Sarah, an ICF-accredited neurodiversity coach, and Cassie, a business/life coach and HR strategist, share their professional expertise and lived experience as neurodivergent women. Together, they discuss the challenges and strengths of neurodivergent minds, the misconceptions around ‘neurodivergence as a superpower,’ and how organisations can create truly inclusive workplaces.
They also introduce alternative cultural perspectives on neurodivergence, including the Maori language’s empowering definitions of Autism and ADHD, which shift the focus from deficits to strengths.
Topics Discussed:
- Why we created this mini-series for Neurodiversity Celebration Week
- Lived experiences of late-diagnosed ADHD & Autism
- The myth of “neurodivergence as a superpower” & why it’s problematic
- Challenges with visibility, identity & self-acceptance
- Workplace misconceptions & corporate ‘tick-box’ inclusion
- Managing burnout, transitions & structure in daily life
- The Maori perspective on Autism & ADHD – a more empowering language
Timestamps:
00:00 - Welcome to our Neurodiversity Celebration Week series!
03:10 - Who we are: Our professional & personal journeys with neurodivergence
07:45 - Why we struggled to own our expertise in this space
12:30 - Is neurodivergence really a “superpower”?
18:20 - The challenges of workplace inclusion & corporate misconceptions
23:45 - How transitions impact neurodivergent brains (structure vs. freedom)
34:40 - The Maori perspective on Autism & ADHD – a game-changer
41:20 - How we can create truly inclusive workplaces & support systems
Key Quotes:
"We don’t buy into the idea that neurodivergence is a ‘superpower’—it can be dismissive of the very real challenges people face."
"Corporate workplaces love a good inclusion ‘tick-box’, but true inclusion means understanding individuals—not forcing people into the same mold."
"The Maori word for Autism, ‘Takiwatanga,’ means ‘in their own time and space’—what a beautiful way to describe neurodivergence."
"I need structure, but I don’t want to follow the process. I need an anchor, but I need the freedom to explore—I realise this sounds like a contradiction, but that’s neurodivergence."
Links & Resources:
- Cassie Footman – LinkedIn
- Neurodiversity Celebration Week Official Site
- Maori Word for Autism
Connect With Sarah
Website: www.sarahatkinsdesign.com
Follow on Instagram
Connect on LinkedIn
Buy the 2025 Energetics of Being Journal on Amazon
View all episodes
By Sarah AtkinsSend us a text
Neurodiversity Celebration Week Mini-Series with Sarah Atkins & Cassie Footman
Episode Summary:
To celebrate Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2025 (March 17-23), Sarah Atkins and Cassie Footman bring you this special mini podcast series exploring neurodivergence, workplace inclusion, and the real-life experiences of ADHD and Autism.
Sarah, an ICF-accredited neurodiversity coach, and Cassie, a business/life coach and HR strategist, share their professional expertise and lived experience as neurodivergent women. Together, they discuss the challenges and strengths of neurodivergent minds, the misconceptions around ‘neurodivergence as a superpower,’ and how organisations can create truly inclusive workplaces.
They also introduce alternative cultural perspectives on neurodivergence, including the Maori language’s empowering definitions of Autism and ADHD, which shift the focus from deficits to strengths.
Topics Discussed:
- Why we created this mini-series for Neurodiversity Celebration Week
- Lived experiences of late-diagnosed ADHD & Autism
- The myth of “neurodivergence as a superpower” & why it’s problematic
- Challenges with visibility, identity & self-acceptance
- Workplace misconceptions & corporate ‘tick-box’ inclusion
- Managing burnout, transitions & structure in daily life
- The Maori perspective on Autism & ADHD – a more empowering language
Timestamps:
00:00 - Welcome to our Neurodiversity Celebration Week series!
03:10 - Who we are: Our professional & personal journeys with neurodivergence
07:45 - Why we struggled to own our expertise in this space
12:30 - Is neurodivergence really a “superpower”?
18:20 - The challenges of workplace inclusion & corporate misconceptions
23:45 - How transitions impact neurodivergent brains (structure vs. freedom)
34:40 - The Maori perspective on Autism & ADHD – a game-changer
41:20 - How we can create truly inclusive workplaces & support systems
Key Quotes:
"We don’t buy into the idea that neurodivergence is a ‘superpower’—it can be dismissive of the very real challenges people face."
"Corporate workplaces love a good inclusion ‘tick-box’, but true inclusion means understanding individuals—not forcing people into the same mold."
"The Maori word for Autism, ‘Takiwatanga,’ means ‘in their own time and space’—what a beautiful way to describe neurodivergence."
"I need structure, but I don’t want to follow the process. I need an anchor, but I need the freedom to explore—I realise this sounds like a contradiction, but that’s neurodivergence."
Links & Resources:
- Cassie Footman – LinkedIn
- Neurodiversity Celebration Week Official Site
- Maori Word for Autism
Connect With Sarah
Website: www.sarahatkinsdesign.com
Follow on Instagram
Connect on LinkedIn
Buy the 2025 Energetics of Being Journal on Amazon