CuriouslyDivergent: Masking, Misdiagnosis, and Knowing Your Rights w/ Laney Hills

Mike and Chaya sit down with Lainey Hills, founder of Curiously Divergent and Neuro Curiosity, to talk about why neurodivergent employees struggle at work because of workplace design—not lack of capability. Lainey shares her experiences with autism, ADHD, masking, and workplace discrimination, leading to greater understanding of practical accommodations, EEOC rights, and what supportive leadership should look like. We Also Cover: Why Psychology And Tech Often Attract Neurodivergent People Masking, Authenticity, And Mental Health Costs Misdiagnosis Patterns For Women And Medication Risks Communication Devices, Nonverbal Autism, And Assumptions About IQ EEOC Basics, Disclosure, And What Employers Can (And Can’t) Ask For Why PIPs Commonly Fail Neurodivergent Employees Simple Manager Adjustments For RSD And Feedback Conversations Remote Work, RTO, And Sensory/Transition Overload In Offices Lateral Movement, Shadowing Other Departments, And Innovation Parenting Neurodivergent Kids Without Shame Or “Brokenness” Narratives Quotes: "Neurodivergents are like Furbies." “89% of neurodivergence face outright discrimination at work.” "Accommodations are not favors." About Laney Hills: Laney Hills is the founder of CuriouslyDivergent and NeuroCuriosity, and an autistic advocate who knows firsthand what it means to work in systems that weren’t built for you. After spending years masking, navigating corporate power dynamics, and experiencing workplace discrimination, Laney began translating those experiences into education and change. Today, she works with leaders, HR professionals, and teams to redesign workplace systems so neurodivergent people don’t have to choose between authenticity and survival. Her work centers on clarity, dignity, and building environments where people are no longer asked to be entirely too much—or not enough. Connect with Laney Hills: Laney Hills-Mullen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/curiouslydivergent/ CuriouslyDivergent on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/curiouslydivergent/ CuriouslyDivergent on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curiouslydivergentcommunity/ Join the Waitlist for SPARKADE: Games for Children and Families Designed for ADHD Minds, by ADHD Minds https://play.sparkade.app/ Your neurodivergent child deserves an educational experience that helps them thrive. Join the Sparkade community to give them a gamified learning journey that sparks confidence and curiosity, builds skills, and strengthens your connection — one playful session at a time. Available soon on iOS and Android. - Play on any tablet or phone. Stay Connected: Website: https://sparklaunchpodcast.com/ All podcast listening methods: https://episodes.fm/1758785803 Play Our Game - For ADHD Minds: https://play.sparkade.app/ ADHD Learning Solutions: https://www.sparklaunch.ai Chaya on Instagram: @the_sparklaunch Mike on Instagram: @followshisghost Mike's Neurodivergent & Mental Health Peer Coaching-- Nab a Free Consultation: https://followyourghostcoach.com/ As always, thanks for lending us your ears and keep igniting that spark! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.