Finding Your Place in Neurodiversity Advocacy

Hey everyone, I'm back!

And I've been thinking a lot lately about something that comes up in our community pretty regularly, this idea that if we're not helping everyone, we're somehow not doing enough.

It's a trap I see many advocates and professionals fall into, and I wanted to share some thoughts about it.

Here's the thing, in the complex world of neurodiversity advocacy and support, we all have different experiences and expertise to bring to the table.

And that's not just okay - it's really important.

Take me, for example.

My background is in HR and recruitment. That's my zone, that's where I operate.

On LinkedIn and social media, we often get lumped into this general "neurodiversity expert" category, but let's be real - I'm not...

a psychologist,

I'm not a healthcare professional,

and I'm not a legal expert.

I'm Theo, and I work with what I know and what I've experienced to make a difference where I can.

Sometimes people ask me;

"Theo, why are you focusing on employed professionals when there are people out there who can't put food on the table?"

It's a fair question, but here's my honest answer:

while I've been in tough situations myself, I'm not necessarily the best person to help everyone.

There are incredible people working in community groups and charities who are specifically trained and positioned to provide that crucial support.

Let me put it this way!

If someone's just been released from prison, they need support from people who understand that specific journey and the systems around it.

That's not my expertise, and pretending it is wouldn't help anyone. I'd need to learn an entirely new support system, understand different realities, and essentially start from scratch.

What we really need is to recognise and uplift the experts in each area.

We need to support those who are already doing the work in their specific communities and with their specific expertise.

Sometimes the challenge isn't about finding people who want to help, it's about creating the mechanisms that allow them to help effectively.

So here's what I want you to take away from this week's roundup:

Focus on your lane.

Use your specific experience and expertise where it can make the most impact.

We don't all need to be everything to everyone, we just need to be really good at supporting the communities we understand best.

Until next Friday, :O)