Episode 98 - Unlearning "High-Functioning"

Ever been told “you don’t look autistic” or “but you seem so high-functioning” and rolled your eyes all the way into next week? Yeah, us too! In this ep, I sit down with Liz Vande Putte - an autistic and ADHD trainer, writer and workplace educator who brings equal parts humour and honesty to our conversation about what it really means to live and work as a neurodivergent adult. We cover everything from outdated labels to sensory overload, family patterns, and why the social model of disability matters more than ever. We talk about: ✨ What it means to be “actually autistic” in a world that still misunderstands the spectrum ✨ How workplace training can open up wider cultural conversations ✨ The crossover between autism and ADHD (and why Liz thinks they’re two sides of the same coin) ✨ Sensory sensitivities, “texture” of sound, and managing capacity ✨ Learning to work with your brain, not against it ✨ Ditching the performance of “high-functioning” and embracing authenticity Mic-Drop Moments: 💬 “Speech is a motor function, language is a cognitive one. Being non-speaking doesn’t mean having nothing to say.” 💬 “You’re healing me while you’re inflicting the damage - that’s remarkably efficient.” 💬 “I treat my brain like a slightly demanding toddler. Just give it the sweets and it’ll cooperate.” 💬 “We don’t get any time off from this method acting thing - people win BAFTAs for less.” Liz also shares practical first steps for anyone wondering if they might be neurodivergent, from connecting with community groups online to exploring self-assessment tools and lived-experience blogs. Her message? There’s nothing wrong with you. You just need the right environment. If you’ve ever felt “too much”, “too sensitive”, or like you’re playing life on hard mode, this one will make you laugh, nod, and maybe exhale a little deeper. What did you think of the episode? Comment and share your key takeaways - and don't forget to follow the podcast if you're enjoying it - and leave us a rating or review. Thank you! Find out more about Liz: Website: www.actuallyautisticadult.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-vande-putte-1983220/ -- Step into Siobhan's Unconventional World Connect with Siobhan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siobhanrfox/ Learn more about ADHD business coaching: https://bigpicturebusinesscoach.com/ Get in touch: [email protected]