We’ve been told boundaries are rude. That saying no makes us difficult. That being “available” is part of being professional. But for neurodivergent, disabled, and queer business owners — boundaries aren’t optional. They’re survival.

In this solo episode of NeuroRevolution, I’m getting real about what it means to set boundaries in business, why it’s often harder for us to hold them, and how I’ve learned to protect my capacity without apology.

🎧 In this episode:

• The toxic messaging around flexibility and hustle culture

• What healthy boundaries actually look like in small business

• Scripts to help you say no or redirect kindly

• Why boundaries are an access need, not a personality flaw

• A reminder: you are not responsible for other people’s disappointment

💡 Boundaries are a form of love — for yourself, your energy, and your long-term sustainability.

Connect with Ashleigh Here

Email [email protected]

website www.ashleighrae.com

TikTok @feministradical

 

In this episode of NeuroRevolution: Breaking Barriers in a Neurotypical Society, I’m pulling back the curtain on what it really looks like to develop new services as a chronically ill and disabled small business owner.

From pacing through flare-ups to navigating brain fog and burnout, I share the behind-the-scenes of how I create meaningful, aligned, and sustainable offerings—on my terms.

You'll hear: 💡 My step-by-step process for service development 🛑 What I don’t do anymore (and why) 🔁 How I build flexibility and rest into my workflow ✨ The role of lived experience in shaping services that actually work 📋 Tips for fellow neurodivergent and chronically ill entrepreneurs who want to create impactful offers without burning out

Whether you're a fellow Spoonie business owner or just curious about alternative ways to do business, this one's for you.

🎧 Hit play and come hang out in my world for a bit—where we build businesses at the pace of our bodies.

 

Got Questions, Feedback or Suggestions?  

We love a good juicy question - and Ashleigh will do her best to answer it! You can connect with Ashleigh in these places: 

Email: [email protected] 

Website: ashleighrae.com  

Facebook/Instagram: @ardisabilityservices  

TikTok: @feministradical 

Running a business as a disabled or chronically ill entrepreneur comes with unique challenges—but it’s absolutely possible to build a successful, sustainable business that works for you, not against you. In this episode, we’re talking about why traditional business advice often fails disabled entrepreneurs and how to create a work model that respects your energy levels, executive function, and health needs.

We’ll break down the most common challenges disabled and chronically ill business owners face and share real, practical strategies to help you manage your time, energy, and finances without burnout. Whether you’re just starting out or struggling to make your business more accessible to yourself, this episode is packed with insights to help you run your business in a way that supports your well-being.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ Why traditional business advice doesn’t work for many disabled entrepreneurs ✅ The biggest challenges in running a business with chronic illness or disability ✅ How to ditch hustle culture and create an energy-friendly business model ✅ Practical strategies for financial stability without burnout ✅ Ethical marketing & business structures that work with unpredictable health ✅ The importance of boundaries, flexibility, and self-care in business

Key Takeaways & Strategies:

💡 Plan your business around your energy levels—not an unrealistic 9-5 schedule 💡 Batch your content & automate tasks to make business more manageable 💡 Diversify your income streams so you're not constantly trading time for money 💡 Build in flexibility & prioritize rest—because burnout isn’t the price of success 💡 Find support & community—you don’t have to do this alone!

Action Steps for Listeners:

✔ Reassess your business model—what’s working, what’s draining you? ✔ Make one small change to align your business with your energy levels ✔ Connect with others—disabled & chronically ill entrepreneurs don’t have to do this alone!

Book Your 2 hr 1:1 Intensive with Ashleigh here

Got Questions, Feedback or Suggestions?  

We love a good juicy question - and Ashleigh will do her best to answer it! You can connect with Ashleigh in these places: 

Email: [email protected] 

Website: ashleighrae.com  

Facebook/Instagram: @ardisabilityservices  

TikTok: @feministradical 

 

Marketing doesn’t have to feel gross! If you’re a disabled or chronically ill entrepreneur in the early stages of your small business, you might be wondering how to promote your work without using high-pressure tactics, false scarcity, or guilt-based selling.

That’s where ethical marketing comes in.

In this episode, we’re diving into what ethical marketing is (honesty, transparency, and accessibility) and what it isn’t (manipulation, deception, and exploitation). You’ll learn how to market your business in a way that builds trust, aligns with your values, and keeps your audience engaged—without the sleazy sales tactics.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ What ethical marketing actually means (and why it’s important) ✅ Common unethical marketing tactics to avoid 🚩 ✅ How to sell your products or services with integrity ✅ Real-life examples of ethical marketing strategies that work ✅ How to handle the fear of "losing sales" when you ditch manipulative tactics

Whether you're just starting out or want to shift towards more ethical business practices, this episode is packed with practical insights and easy-to-implement strategies to help you grow your business the right way.

Ashleigh's Hot Tip:

Pick one thing to try out, and play with it for 3-4 weeks. Notice how/if your audience and target market start to interact and engage differently with you. 

Got Questions, Feedback or Suggestions? 

We love a good juicy question - and Ashleigh will do her best to answer it! You can connect with Ashleigh in these places:

Email: [email protected]

Website: ashleighrae.com 

Facebook/Instagram: @ardisabilityservices 

TikTok: @feministradical 

Let's unpack the mind-boggling admission now etched on the public record made by NDIS CEO, Rebecca Falkingham on 27th February 2025...

Watch on YouTube: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gi6qrEgUbTg&t=1552s

Time Stamp 14:48 

This episode is spotlighting recent (and very public) male podcasters engaging and encouraging their audience to engage in deeply problematic, harmful behaviour to their female podcast guests, or other female content creators.

In this episode we'll cover the examples of Jack Mack who engaged in harassing behaviour towards a female content creator, The Reality Check podcast hosts who have made implicit and open threats towards Rebecca Goodwin, her family, and every other female guest formally/currently on their podcast, and the fellas from Better Bloke Project. 

We'll talk about the incredible clap-backs from women like Mia from Pod Like a Girl (featuring Rach McQueen) and the soaring achievement of Abbie Chatfield - and the very real risks to the lives and wellbeing of women and children creators like those hosting Better Bloke Project pose. and how you can play your part in ending public displays of misogyny. 

Contact

Email: [email protected]

TikTok: @feministradical 

Bluesky: @sparklyashleigh.bsky.social

FB/IG: @ardisabilityservices

Website: ashleighrae.com  

Listen to Mia and Rachel on Pod Like a Girl for the full breakdown 

Welcome to NeuroRevolution, 

This episode is a quickie - here to let you know the rough plan for NeuroRevolution for 2025. 

Contact:

Email: [email protected]

TikTok @feministradical

Bluesky: @sparklyashleigh.bsky.social

FB/IG: @ardisabilityservices

Website: www.ashleighrae.com 

Episode Summary:

In today’s episode, we dive deep into the upcoming changes to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) set to take effect on October 3rd, 2024. With over 660,000 Australians currently participating in the NDIS—representing 2.46% of the population—and countless more relying on it as their primary source of employment, these reforms are raising significant concerns within the disabled community. We explore what’s changing, why it matters, and how it could impact participants and providers alike.

Key Topics Covered:

• What’s Changing with the New NDIS Legislation: The introduction of the “New Framework Plans” aims to streamline the planning process but brings uncertainty, particularly for people with complex or fluctuating disabilities. We break down the key changes, including the new Needs Assessment Tool and the shift from line-by-line funding to broader support categories.

• Concerns About Eligibility and Funding Caps: Stricter eligibility criteria and funding caps are a major source of anxiety. We discuss how these changes could lead to reassessments and potentially reduced support, particularly for those with fluctuating or “invisible” disabilities like mental health conditions and chronic illnesses.

• The Role of the Needs Assessment Tool: With little clarity on how these assessments will be conducted or who will be qualified to administer them, many participants fear that their unique needs may not be adequately captured. We also touch on the right to dispute Needs Assessments and the process for handling errors or disagreements.

• Loss of Choice and Control Over Plan Management: Under the new rules, the NDIA will have more power to step in and change how participants manage their plans, including forcing some into agency-managed plans. This potential loss of autonomy is a significant concern for those who have successfully self-managed their plans for years.

• The Worry Over Debt and Financial Risk: New powers will allow the NDIA to raise debts against participants if they find overpayments or misused funds, with no way to challenge these debts once issued. We explore the potential financial risks participants could face.

• Lack of Co-Design and Community Engagement: While the government claims to have consulted the community, many feel that the voices of those most affected were not sufficiently heard. We discuss the importance of genuine co-design in shaping the NDIS and how the lack of transparency has fueled distrust in the system.

Why This Episode Matters:

The NDIS is a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of Australians, and these upcoming changes could have far-reaching consequences. Whether you’re a participant, a provider, or someone who relies on the NDIS for employment, understanding these reforms is crucial. This episode breaks down the complexities of the new legislation and highlights why advocacy is more important now than ever.

Take Action:

If you’re affected by the NDIS, now is the time to get involved. Reach out to disability advocacy groups, speak to your local representatives, and participate in the upcoming public consultations. By staying informed and engaged, we can push for a more inclusive and fair NDIS.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode: 

• NDIS Official Website: https://www.ndis.gov.au/ 

• Every Australian Counts: https://everyaustraliancounts.com.au/ 

• Reasonable and Necessary Podcast by Dr George Taleporos & The Summer Foundation: https://www.youtube.com/@SummerFoundationLtd  

Connect with Us: 

If you found this episode helpful, please share it with your network! Don’t forget to subscribe to NeuroRevolution for more discussions on disability, advocacy, and neurodiversity. You can also follow us on TikTok for updates and future episodes. 

In this episode of NeuroRevolution, we delve into a critical issue faced by both NDIS participants and their allied health providers—unusable reports. These reports, often filled with vague recommendations or conflicting information, lead to wasted time, energy, and funding for participants. For many, this results in depleted budgets, delayed services, and a lack of recourse for additional funding or accountability.

Our host, Ashleigh Rae, discusses why so many practitioners struggle with NDIS reporting, highlighting the lack of education on the NDIS at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, and the absence of robust professional development resources. The episode offers practical, actionable steps for allied health providers to improve their reporting and ensure they meet the criteria necessary for NDIS funding approval.

Key Takeaways:

• The Problem with Unusable Reports: Reports that fail to meet NDIS standards result in wasted funding, delays in services, and frustration for participants. Many providers struggle with NDIS requirements due to insufficient training.

• What the NDIS is Looking For: A diagnostic report or assessment must:

  • Clearly state the participant’s disability is permanent and lifelong.
  • Outline treatments tried and their effectiveness (or clearly state if no treatments are available).
  • Explain why the NDIS is the most appropriate funding body to support the participant’s needs.

• Key Criteria for NDIS Funding: Providers must ensure their reports address:

  • Reasonable and Necessary: Is the support essential and directly related to the participant’s disability?
  • Effective and Beneficial: Will the support improve the participant’s life?
  • Value for Money: Is the support cost-effective?
  • Linked to Disabilities: Is the support clearly linked to the disabilities for which the participant is receiving NDIS funding?

• Steps to Improve NDIS Reporting:

  1. Be explicit about the diagnosis and permanence.
  2. Link recommendations directly to NDIS criteria.
  3. Provide detailed, evidence-based assessments.
  4. Ensure consistency across reports by collaborating with other providers.

Why This Matters:

Clear, consistent, and well-structured reports are essential for NDIS participants to receive the funding and supports they need. This episode highlights how poor reporting disrespects participants’ time, energy, and funding and offers solutions to ensure providers are helping clients in the most effective way possible.

If you’re a practitioner, consider whether your reports meet NDIS criteria, and take steps to improve where necessary. Share this episode with colleagues who may benefit from understanding the importance of effective NDIS reporting.

Free Resources - Infographic:

Being a business owner is fraught with challenges, more so when you have one or more disabilities/chronic illnesses... and everywhere you look, it's the same "Top 5 Lessons.." advice columns that just... miss the mark, for disabled business owners. 

So let's talk about it - 5 (brutally honest) things I've learned as a disabled business owner and that the Universe seems hell bent on embedding into my soul. Maybe it will spark an idea for you, or let you know you're not alone.