Neurodiversity in the Workplace: Building Better Workplaces for ALL Minds

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Ann interviews Jessica Lee from Neuro Talent Works and Melody Valenzuela from Rapport Educational. Together, they challenge the idea that workplace success means fitting into old systems, then map out how to redesign hiring and team norms so neurodivergent people can do their best work. We get practical about interviews, executive functioning, cognitive load, and the small supports that reduce stress while improving performance for everyone. • the origin story behind NeuroTalentWorks and the “who helps employers?” gap • reframing neurodiversity as human variation rather than an in-or-out label • three core shifts: education, less judgment, structural change • common misconceptions in interviews such as eye contact and response time • skills-based interviews that reveal real ability and build confidence • what executive functioning looks like on the job, including stress and working memory • cognitive load and how sensory and social demands quietly drain capacity • simple practices that reduce uncertainty such as agendas and shared notes • the “energy cost audit” for identifying high-drain moments and supports • universal design and team norms that make accommodations feel fair Support the show