Episode 58 - Embracing Neurodiversity with Kathy Isaacs

Send us Fan MailPodcast Episode: Embracing Neurodiversity with Kathy IsaacsHosts: Dan Kerr and Kathy IsaacsSummary: In this episode, Dan Kerr and Kathy Isaacs dive into a rich conversation about neurodiversity, focusing on autism and ADHD. They discuss their personal experiences, challenges, and the importance of self-identification and diagnosis. Kathy shares insights from her work with the Sylvia Roger Academy governance program and her involvement in various autism advocacy organisations.Key Points:Diversity and Inclusion: Dan, as a diversity and inclusion ambassador, emphasises the value of neurodivergent minds in the workplace.Autism and ADHD: Kathy explains the intersection of autism and ADHD, noting the growing minority of autistic individuals without ADHD.Self-Identification: The legitimacy of self-identifying as autistic is highlighted, with Kathy supporting this approach.Challenges and Coping: They discuss the difficulties of masking and the importance of finding ways to unmask and be authentic.Empathy and Understanding: The concept of double empathy is explored, emphasising the mutual effort required for understanding between autistic and allistic people.Work and Advocacy: Kathy's involvement in autism advocacy through various boards and organisations is discussed, focusing on amplifying autistic voices.Personal Reflections: Kathy shares her experiences in palliative care and how her autistic traits helped her excel in the role.Special Interests: Kathy talks about her passion for sewing, Salesforce, and the joy of engaging in special interests.Music and Creativity: The hosts discuss their love for music that blends genres and the use of writing prompts for creative inspiration.Future Plans: Dan shares his plans for a live podcast event focused on the journey of autism discovery and connecting with local services.Conclusion: The episode concludes with a heartfelt discussion on the importance of community and support in the autism journey. Dan and Kathy's conversation is a testament to the power of embracing neurodiversity and finding joy in being authentic.Please come join us on our socials where we are very much present. We very much want you to share your stories and opinions. Join our public and private pages to start the discussion.Public Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/latetothepartypodcastPrivate Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1168470233702726Email us at [email protected] page - https://www.instagram.com/latetothepartyasd/Website at https://latetotheparty.buzzsprout.comSupport the show