Thread by @Cora_Phelan

#neurodiversity #leadership #Empowerment
🧵1/12 Today was my work business area's conference. I was asked to speak about #ADHD and empowerment and how my boss and I work to create a good environment for me. Below is a little of what I covered.

2/12 I realised that usually if I talk about my adhd it's from the perspective of the people I'm addressing, the symptoms they see, and that I'm basically justifying and trying to apologise for my adhd symptoms, like interrupting or being loud.
I didn't do that this time.

3/12 I talked about how lucky I am to work for an employer who cares about inclusion and removing barriers. About how that wasn't the norm for most ND people. I told them that even in this environment, the behaviours of individuals can undo the good work an organisation might do.

4/12 I talked about how adhd is a neurodevelopmental disorder & how serious it is.
I quoted research showing how it impacts adversely on every element of life.

5/12 I quoted from an article where people with adhd spoke about what it's like. I had to read the quote I chose out to myself so many times before I could say it without crying. I almost dropped it, but I didn't.
I read the quote, and I kept it together

6/12 I said that I'd covered a lot of negatives and serious stuff, but that there were positives. I talked about our creativity, enthusiasm and problem solving abilities. About how we will see the solution no one else does.

7/12 I shared some research by @InstituteLM on neurodiversity in the workplace

https://twitter.com/InstituteLM/status/1321361371699814401?t=NojQDRjtvw3Sscf8Lk0vKg&s=19

8/12 That if I extrapolated that across the room, half of the people would not feel comfortable employing me.
I said that I was glad the respondents had been honest, that I wasn't surprised, and that I understand why they might feel that way. That it can be challenging.

9/12 I asked, so what CAN they do?
I closed my talk on a quote from Dr Russell Barkley. "Effective treatment of adhd relies on the compassion and willingness of others is the linchpin to successful treatment"
I told them they have the power to literally change someone's life.

10/12 I broke down a little at the end, & there was applause as I regained my composure. I looked up, & not only were people clapping, they were standing up. Some were crying.
What followed was an open & positive discussion about adhd, neurodiversity, empowerment & leadership.

11/12 The whole rest of the day people came up to me and hugged me, thanked me, cried with me. They talked about their experiences, their loved ones' experiences, and some of them shared their conditions for the first time.

12/12 I stood up in front of my colleagues, my work family and I chose to be vulnerable and honest and they responded with love, compassion and empathy.