Why We Can't Wait for a Diagnosis to be Neuro-inclusive
Genie Love • April 2, 2025
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It’s World Autism Awareness Day, and I want to say how much I appreciate all of you who are actively supporting your autistic employees and team members.
In my trainings, I often hear some version of, “I’m happy to do whatever my people need to support them.” And, of course, that’s a great place to start. But, we can’t wait for diagnosed individuals to tell us what they need in order to create a supportive environment. This isn’t just about autism, it applies to all types of neurodivergence.
Here are a few reasons why:
- They may be afraid to disclose their diagnosis. You may be open and supportive, but these diagnoses still carry stigma and a lot of assumptions. That can make it hard to speak up.
- They may not know they’re neurodivergent. If you’ve never been exposed to the language or information, you don’t realize there’s a name for the way your brain works. I coach people of all ages (including folks in their 70s) who are just now discovering they’re neurodivergent.
- They may not know what they need. I once spoke to someone with a recent autism diagnosis who worked up the courage to tell their employer. The employer was very supportive and responded, “Happy to help. Just tell us what you need.” But this was all new to them, too. They had no idea what support would benefit them.
- There can be huge hurdles to getting a diagnosis.
- It can be hard to find a provider qualified to diagnose adults.
- It’s often expensive and not covered by insurance.
- And if it is covered, the insurance company might refuse to cover and evaluation saying, “You’ve made it this far in your life, why do you need a diagnosis now?”
So, thank you for your acceptance, your support, and your willingness to learn.
And on behalf of those who don’t know they’re autistic yet...or who don’t know what they need, maybe take one more step. You could even ask ChatGPT a few simple questions like:
- What challenges might someone who is autistic face in this environment?
- What are some easy things I could try to better support them?
Try out a few of those strategies. See what happens. (Hint: They almost always help more than just neurodivergent folks. Neurotypical people appreciate them too.)
P.S. If you’d rather get support from a human (hi 👋) with more than 20 years of experience working with all kinds of neurodivergent brains, you know where to find me.
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Neurodiversity Unboxed: Insights and Strategies for Inclusive Workplaces
This one's for you if you've time-blocked your day perfectly... and still feel like you're fighting against your brain. You've got the time chunks. You know when you're supposed to work on things. You've followed all the advice about blocking out 90-minute segments for hard tasks. But your brain doesn't cooperate. Sometimes you have the energy for deep work. Sometimes you don't. And you end up staring at your calendar, frustrated that you can't just power through like you're "supposed to." Here's what I've learned about working WITH your brain's natural rhythms If you have ADHD or autism, your brain likely doesn't work consistently throughout the day. Think of a car on cruise control - your brain probably doesn't do that. Your brain revs up higher in some parts of the day. It revs down much lower in other parts. Your whole body follows these energy fluctuations. It's very hard to be consistent in your energy all day long. And that's not a failure. That's just how some brains work. So here's what my clients like: Energy Blocking Once you've time-blocked your day - you have a chunk of time here, a chunk of time there, maybe some 90-minute blocks and some smaller blocks scattered throughout - you add another layer. You match your tasks to your actual energy levels. Here's how it works: Step 1: Create two running lists Make a list of tasks that are hard for you to do. Make a list of tasks that are easier for you to do. And here's the critical part: "Easy" and "hard" are completely personal to YOUR brain. For some people, making phone calls is easy. They love chatting with people. For others, that's incredibly hard. For some people, sending emails and organizing them is easy. For others, that's incredibly hard. For some people, it's incredibly easy to nerd out on data, dive in deep, and figure out where there are discrepancies and mistakes. For others, that's really hard. This is designed for you to decide what is easy and what is hard for YOUR specific brain. Step 2: Check in with your body When you come to a time block, check in with yourself. How are you feeling? Are you calm and ready to go? In a good, clear mental state? Or is your energy lower? Are you just not really with it today for whatever reason? Step 3: Choose from the appropriate list If you're feeling good and clear-headed, choose something from your hard tasks list. Dive into the challenging work that requires your best energy. If your energy is lower or you're just not feeling it, choose from your easier tasks list. Still productive. Still getting things done. Just matched to your actual capacity in that moment. What this looks like in real life For me, the end of the day means I'm losing steam. My daughter knows not to ask me for help with homework after 8:00. I’m spent. But I have clients with ADHD who actually rev up in the evening. They're ready to tackle their hardest work after dinner. Some people are sharp first thing in the morning. Others need a couple hours to fully wake up. Some people hit a wall after lunch. Others get a second wind in the afternoon. Your pattern is yours. Energy blocking lets you work with it instead of against it. Key Takeaway: Time blocking creates the structure. Energy blocking makes that structure actually work for your brain. You're not failing when you can't consistently perform at the same level all day. You're human. Your brain has natural rhythms and fluctuations. The key is having options. When you reach a time block and check in with yourself, you have a menu to choose from based on your actual state, not some ideal version of consistent productivity. Hard tasks when you have the energy. Easier tasks when you don't. Both are productive. Both move your work forward. One just acknowledges reality. Give it a try  What time of day is your brain at its best? And when does your energy tend to dip? What would change if you matched your hardest tasks to your highest energy times? Try energy blocking this week and let me know what you discover. Want to learn more about my work? Website: https://neuroautonomy.com/ YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt_ciMlkbqElTXqRZLLWWGg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genielove_coaching/
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