Adulting with Autism

Welcome to Episode 350 of Adulting with Autism.
This episode was supposed to come out Saturday. It is Sunday. I know how calendars work. Life happened, work happened, exhaustion happened, and I decided I would rather give you an episode where I could form complete sentences than force myself to publish something just because it was technically on time.
And honestly? Grace is part of adulting too.
Today, I'm talking about employment—specifically the difference between hating your career and hating your job.
Because those are not always the same thing.
You may love the technical work but hate the workplace culture. You may enjoy helping people but hate the schedule. You may be brilliant in your field but completely depleted by fluorescent lights, open offices, vague expectations, office politics, public-facing demands, constant interruptions, or a manager who believes "you should just know."
For autistic, ADHD, AuDHD, and neurodivergent adults, employment is never only about whether you can perform a job. It is also about whether you can perform that job in that environment, under that schedule, with that workload, with those communication demands, without sacrificing the rest of your life just to remain employed.
I share my own path from nursing to occupational therapy, why I did not stop loving healthcare, and how changing the structure of my work helped me support both my career and my family. We also talk about masking, burnout, sustainable success, career pivots, transferable skills, and why you do not have to wait for a catastrophe before you are allowed to leave something that no longer fits.
In This Episode, We Cover
p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why this Episode 350 release is a day late—and why rest, grace, and not forcing content are part of sustainable work.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> The disappearance of autistic adults after childhood services end.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why autistic adults still need employment support, OT, purpose, executive-function tools, sensory support, relationships, healthcare, rest, and community after age 18.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why employment is one of the biggest places where autistic adulthood, sensory needs, executive function, financial pressure, identity, and burnout collide.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> The difference between hating your profession and hating the conditions under which you are expected to do it.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Questions to ask before blowing up your entire professional life:

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Do I hate the actual work?

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Do I hate this employer?

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Do I hate my boss?

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Do I hate the schedule?

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Do I hate the commute?

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Do I hate productivity pressure?

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Do I hate the sensory environment?

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Do I hate the social performance?

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Do I hate being interrupted all day?

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Do I hate full-time work but enjoy the same work part-time?

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> April's nursing story: loving problem-solving, triage, patterns, patient care, and healthcare—but needing a work structure that fit parenting a disabled child.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why moving from nursing to occupational therapy was not abandoning healthcare—it was changing the container.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why a profession is not a marriage vow.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why a career pivot does not mean your previous career was a failure.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Different versions of the same profession: inpatient, outpatient, remote, in-person, PRN, part-time, management, independent practice, agency work, direct care, consulting, education, and entrepreneurship.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why two people with the same job title can have radically different experiences based on manager, schedule, noise level, communication, expectations, flexibility, and culture.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Environmental job fit: open offices, interruptions, fluorescent lighting, unpredictable schedules, team-building, public-facing work, verbal-only instructions, office politics, and sensory overload.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why "Can you do the job?" is not the only employment question.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> The better question: "Under what conditions can this person do their best work without destroying themselves?"

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> What occupational therapy means in adult life: employment, self-care, cooking, school, relationships, leisure, rest, household management, community participation, and quality of life.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why employment is not sustainable if an eight-hour workday leaves you unable to eat, shower, speak, tolerate another human, or do anything except lie horizontally in silence.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> High masking at work: why showing up, answering emails, and technically maintaining employment does not reveal the real cost.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why "You're doing so well" can ignore the energy, recovery, sensory load, anxiety, executive-function demand, and masking required to look functional.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Burnout as an invoice from the nervous system.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Signs employment may be costing too much: irritability, sensory sensitivity, numbness, losing interest in hobbies, social withdrawal, exhaustion, weekend recovery, increased anxiety, mask-cracking, shutdown, and fantasizing about quitting.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why surviving a job is not necessarily thriving in a job.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Communication clarity as an accommodation.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Predictability as an accommodation.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Written instructions as an accommodation.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Flexible scheduling as an accommodation.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Noise reduction and lighting adjustments as accommodations.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why accommodations matter—but why even good accommodations cannot turn every workplace into the right workplace.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why work is an exchange: labor for compensation—not a cult, family adoption, or entitlement to all remaining hours of your day.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> The danger of rigid employment rules:

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> "Don't quit."

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> "Finish what you start."

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> "Be responsible."

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> "Work harder."

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> "Do not disappoint people."

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why those rules need context.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why maturity sometimes means leaving, changing direction, reducing hours, changing settings, or pivoting.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> The pivot metaphor: when the road is closed, you do not sit at the barricade for six hours because it was your original route.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> How April's podcast may become the next container for skills she built through nursing, occupational therapy, advocacy, education, problem-solving, and systems navigation.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why skills travel from one job, role, industry, or career into another.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Transferable skills from teaching, nursing, healthcare, food service, retail, technology, caregiving, customer service, and other work.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why neurodivergent adults may think too literally about credentials and forget to ask: "What problems can I solve?"

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why a terrible week is not always proof you need a whole new career.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> The importance of giving yourself enough distance to identify temporary stress versus a persistent pattern.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Questions to ask when rested:

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Do I still hate this?

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Do I enjoy the technical work?

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Do parts of this job still light me up?

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Would I enjoy this work with reasonable workload and support?

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Do I dislike the profession—or what this employer has turned it into?

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why it is okay to finish a chapter that was successful.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why something does not have to become terrible before you are allowed to leave.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why waiting for burnout, illness, firing, or catastrophe is not the only way to get permission to pivot.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> "This no longer fits the life I am building" as a complete and valid reason.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why success is not one lifestyle.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why a sustainable career may mean 25 hours instead of 40, periods of intense work followed by rest, multiple income streams, independent work, consistent routines, or less public-facing work.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why parents should not make "get them a job" the final goal.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> The real goal: sustainable, meaningful work that fits a person's strengths, needs, sensory system, energy, capacity, and desired quality of life.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why young adults need permission to experiment with jobs, majors, industries, roles, schedules, and environments.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why a first job, first degree, or first career direction does not have to define the next 50 years.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> What April sees her son learning through college: not just coursework, but living, problem-solving, self-advocacy, responsibility, adaptation, and figuring out what fits.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> The closing message: you are allowed to build work around your life—not build your entire life around work.

About the Host
April Ratchford, MS, OT/L, is an autistic occupational therapist, former nurse, parent of an autistic young adult, and host of Adulting with Autism.
April created the podcast because conversations about autistic adulthood, transition, employment, executive function, relationships, caregiving, healthcare, identity, burnout, independence, and quality of life were not happening enough—especially after autistic young adults turned 18.
Her work combines professional experience in occupational therapy and healthcare with lived experience as a neurodivergent adult and parent. Her approach is practical, direct, funny, occasionally profane, and rooted in the belief that autistic adults deserve more than survival. They deserve information, support, meaningful options, and lives that actually fit.
Find episode links, resources, and social platforms at adultingwithautism.com.
Key Takeaways
p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Hating your job is not always the same as hating your career.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Before changing everything, get specific about what is actually draining you: manager, schedule, sensory environment, workload, commute, culture, social expectations, productivity demands, or the profession itself.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> A profession is not a marriage vow. You are allowed to renegotiate, reduce, shift, pivot, or leave.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Two people can hold the same job title and have completely different quality of life because workplace conditions matter.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Autistic adults can be highly capable at work and still be destroyed by the environment, communication style, sensory load, or masking required to do that work.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Maintaining employment is not the same as sustainable employment.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> If work consumes so much energy that the rest of your life disappears, the job may no longer be working for you.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Burnout is not always proof that you chose the wrong career. It may be proof that you have been trying to survive the wrong conditions for too long.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Skills travel. You can change jobs, industries, and even professions without losing the knowledge and abilities you built along the way.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> You do not have to wait for a catastrophe, firing, illness, or complete collapse to leave something that no longer fits.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Success is not one schedule, one job title, one income model, one workplace, or one lifestyle.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> The goal is not to impress strangers with your employment life. The goal is to create work you can actually sustain.

Nobody actually teaches you how to become an adult.
We spend 18 years telling kids to go to school, pass their classes, graduate, maybe go to college, maybe get a job—and then suddenly everybody says, "Fly little birdie."
Except adulthood is not a single task. It is one giant group project with invisible rules, unclear expectations, healthcare paperwork, money decisions, grocery lists, transportation plans, insurance, appointments, laundry, subscriptions, and a whole lot of "How the hell was I supposed to know that?"
In this solo episode of Adulting with Autism, I'm talking honestly about what independence actually means for autistic, ADHD, AuDHD, and neurodivergent adults.
Spoiler: independence does not mean doing everything alone.
It means knowing what you can manage, what you need help with, how to build systems around your executive-function challenges, and how to ask for support before your entire life catches fire.
We talk about learning your medical history, handling prescriptions, avoiding credit-card traps, tracking subscriptions, making transportation plans, surviving adult mistakes, and navigating the complicated parent shift from "I do it for you" to "I show you how" to "You've got this."
This episode is for neurodivergent adults figuring it out, parents trying not to rescue their kids forever, and anyone who still feels like everybody else got the adulting syllabus except them.
In This Episode, We Cover
p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why adulthood feels like one giant group project with hidden rules and no syllabus.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why neurodivergent adults often need direct instructions, concrete expectations, visual tools, and systems—not vague "you should know this by now" advice.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> The transition from childhood medical care to adult healthcare responsibility.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> What every young adult should know about their own health:

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Medication names

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Dosages

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Reasons for each medication

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Prescribing providers

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> How often medication is taken

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Allergies

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Diagnoses

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Past surgeries

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Medical history

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why "the little white pill" is not enough information at a doctor's appointment.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> HIPAA and why, after age 18, medical providers may need to speak directly with the adult patient unless appropriate permissions or legal arrangements are in place.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why independence is not the same as never asking for help.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> The difference between support, assistance, managing, rescuing, and taking over someone else's life.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Examples of healthy adult support:

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Making your own appointment but using reminders so you do not forget it

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Grocery shopping with a list so you do not come home with drinks, Oreos, and no dinner

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Using automatic payments because dates, mail, and due dates can disappear from an ADHD brain

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Getting help with complicated medical paperwork or insurance choices

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why money management is an adulting skill that schools often fail to teach.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Credit cards: what a credit limit actually means, why it is borrowed money, and why minimum payments can keep debt around much longer than expected.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Understanding APR, statement balances, pending charges, due dates, automatic payments, and bank-account balances.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why subscriptions quietly drain money: $9.99 feels small until 12 recurring charges become $120 every month.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why out-of-sight, out-of-mind can make neurodivergent adults especially vulnerable to forgotten subscriptions and surprise charges.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Transportation as independence: driving, public transit, rideshare, family support, walking, planning ahead, and knowing how you will get where you need to go.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why a transportation plan should exist before an appointment becomes someone else's emergency.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why mistakes are part of adulthood—and why neurodivergent young adults need room to make survivable mistakes.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> The DoorDash credit-card lesson: emergencies are emergencies, not food delivery when there is a cafeteria or grocery store nearby.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why financial consequences can be valuable when they are proportional, clear, and survivable.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Laundry, cat food, household supplies, forgotten groceries, and the reality that nobody has it together all the time.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why the goal is not preventing every mistake; it is noticing what went wrong and building a better system next time.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> The hard parent shift: moving from doing things for your child, to teaching them, to supporting them when they get stuck, to trusting them to manage more of their own life.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why some autistic adults will need significant support throughout adulthood, some will need very little, and many will need variable support depending on the task and season of life.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> How someone can be excellent at work and still struggle to call a doctor, clean a room, eat regularly, open mail, manage insurance, or remember appointments.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why human ability is not a straight line.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> The truth about "real adults": most people are winging it, using systems, asking questions, making mistakes, and pretending they understand insurance.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> What adulthood really is: building systems around what you are bad at, using your strengths, asking for help, and continuing to learn.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Your closing message to listeners: you are doing far better than you think you are.

About the Host
April Ratchford, MS, OT/L, is the host of Adulting with Autism, a podcast created to support autistic, ADHD, AuDHD, and neurodivergent adults as they navigate real life beyond childhood services.
As an autistic occupational therapist and parent of an autistic young adult son, April brings both professional experience and lived experience to conversations about executive function, independence, transition to adulthood, healthcare, money, parenting, work, relationships, self-advocacy, and the unglamorous everyday tasks that make up adult life.
Her approach is direct, practical, compassionate, funny, and realistic: nobody needs to become a perfect adult. They need tools, systems, support, and enough self-awareness to build a life that works with the brain they actually have.
Find the podcast, resources, episode links, and social channels at adultingwithautism.com.
Key Takeaways
p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Independence does not mean doing everything alone. It means knowing what you can manage, what you need help with, and how to access support without giving up control of your own life.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Adulting is not automatic at 18, 22, 30, 40, or 50. It is learned through information, experience, mistakes, systems, support, and repetition.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Neurodivergent adults may need direct, practical instruction in healthcare, money, transportation, food, routines, household tasks, and self-advocacy.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> You need to know your own medications, diagnoses, allergies, medical history, providers, and healthcare needs.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Credit cards are not free money. Subscriptions add up. Pending charges count. Automatic payments can be a helpful executive-function tool.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Parents cannot prevent every mistake—and young adults cannot learn adulthood without making some mistakes.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> The best mistakes are survivable ones: mistakes that teach a lesson without destroying someone's future.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Being professionally competent does not mean you will automatically be good at home care, phone calls, healthcare, finances, food, or paperwork.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Everybody is winging it. Older adults simply have more data, more mistakes, more practice, and more systems.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Asking for help before everything is on fire is a major adulting skill.

What if neurodivergent talent is not a workplace problem to accommodate—but one of the most underused sources of creativity, innovation, and future-ready thinking?
In this episode of Adulting with Autism, I talk with Dr. Bonnee Price-Linden, a pediatric neuropsychologist, neurodiversity consultant, and founder of Burch Price & Associates. Dr. Linden has spent more than 30 years supporting children, families, schools, universities, and organizations around autism, ADHD, learning differences, neurocognitive development, and workforce inclusion.burch-price-associates.ce-go+1
We discuss what happens after diagnosis and school supports end, why graduation is not the same thing as readiness for adult life or employment, and how vague workplace expectations, culture-fit hiring, unclear onboarding, and masking drain neurodivergent employees.
Dr. Linden challenges organizations to think beyond individual accommodations and instead redesign the systems that determine who gets hired, who gets heard, who burns out, and who gets to thrive.
In This Episode, We Cover
p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Who Dr. Bonnee Price-Linden is: pediatric neuropsychologist, forensic psychologist, founder and CEO of Burch Price & Associates, and director of Linden Neuropsychological Services.burch-price-associates.ce-go+1

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why she describes neurodivergent talent as one of the most underutilized resources in the workforce.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> What organizations can gain from neurodivergent employees: innovative thinking, creative problem-solving, pattern recognition, different perspectives, and less "single-track" decision-making.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> The transition problem: why school supports may stop while adult independence, college, employment, finances, social demands, and self-advocacy needs increase.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why early intervention should include future employment, agency, decision-making, independence, and real-world skill development—not only "getting through the school year."

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> The danger of assuming a young adult will suddenly manage everything independently once they reach college or employment.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> College transition challenges, including social navigation, self-management, working memory, communication, organization, and the loss of familiar support systems.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why universities may advertise neurodiversity programs but still struggle to offer meaningful transition support in practice.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why graduation is not the finish line.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> The difference between "getting a degree" and building sustainable capacity to hold a job, manage stress, avoid burnout, and live independently.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why parents are often encouraged to prepare their children to fit into existing systems instead of expecting systems to become more inclusive.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> The importance of parents, educators, clinicians, universities, employers, and self-advocates working together rather than passing responsibility down the line.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why standard interviews and "culture fit" can screen out highly capable autistic and ADHD candidates.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> How interview processes often reward eye contact, quick social responses, conventional communication style, and similarity to the interviewer rather than job-relevant ability.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> The role of workplace ambiguity: vague feedback, unclear priorities, unwritten expectations, confusing onboarding, and why they can drain cognitive energy.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why unclear communication is not only a neurodivergent issue—many employees struggle when leadership messages are diluted through layers of hierarchy.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> The need for organizations to clarify who is responsible for what, what success looks like, and how feedback should be communicated.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Workplace masking: pretending to understand, performing expected social behaviors, replaying the day at night, and using off-hours to decode what happened.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> How masking can contribute to fatigue, poor mental health, reduced retention, missed contributions, and burnout.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why the real cost of masking is often invisible to employers until an employee disengages, becomes ill, or leaves.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Accountability versus blame: why leaders should not assume that a performance problem means lack of effort.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> The danger of assigning the worst possible motive to a missed task, late arrival, different communication style, or executive-function struggle.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why workplace systems need to be designed collaboratively, not imposed entirely from the top down.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> The difference between capability and capacity.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why a person can be highly intelligent and highly capable while still needing help with processing speed, working memory, task chunking, attention management, organization, or sustainable output.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why working memory and processing speed are key friction points in teams, classrooms, and corporate settings.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> How teaching chunking, time management, planning, communication, and self-awareness early can support long-term career sustainability.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why being "the smart kid" does not automatically prepare someone for work, relationships, emotional health, self-advocacy, or adulthood.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> The hidden emotional burden of being brilliant but constantly aware that you are processing, responding, or navigating differently.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Meaningful neuroinclusion: not jargon, not tokenism, and not forcing sameness—but building teams and organizations where different ways of thinking are genuinely welcomed.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why Dr. Linden is skeptical of treating accommodations as the whole solution.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> The difference between creating one-off accommodations and redesigning the workplace infrastructure so a wider range of people can succeed from the beginning.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> What parents can do: seek a thorough neuropsychological evaluation, understand strengths and challenges, build supports early, and choose clinicians who understand education-to-employment transitions.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> What an ADHD/autistic employee can do when misunderstood at work: ask for a conversation about how to share ideas, how to contribute best, and how the team can communicate more effectively.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why teams should intentionally ask: "How do we make sure quieter, more direct, slower-processing, or differently communicating people can contribute their ideas?"

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Dr. Linden's bottom line: neurodivergent people belong in the workforce because of their talent and humanity—not because they are "cute," inspirational, or a compliance obligation.

About the Guest
Dr. Bonnee Price-Linden, PhD, is a pediatric neuropsychologist, forensic psychologist, consultant, and founder of Burch Price & Associates. She has more than 30 years of experience working with children, families, schools, universities, corporations, and government agencies around neurodevelopment, autism, ADHD, learning differences, cognitive rehabilitation, trauma, and workforce inclusion.burch-price-associates.ce-go+1
Dr. Linden is also the owner and director of Linden Neuropsychological Services, where she provides neuropsychological consultation, assessment, counseling, remediation, and strategic support for children and families.lindenneuropsychologicalservices+1
Through Burch Price & Associates, she helps organizations redesign systems, address bias, improve hiring and retention, train leadership and HR teams, and create more sustainable pathways between education and employment for neurodivergent people.burchprice+1
Find Dr. Linden, her workshops, corporate trainings, videos, and neuroinclusion resources at burchprice.com. You can also find her through Linden Neuropsychological Services at lindenneuropsychologicalservices.com.burchprice+1
Key Takeaways
p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Neurodivergent talent can strengthen organizations through creativity, pattern recognition, innovation, and different ways of solving complex problems.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> School graduation is not the same thing as readiness for college, work, independence, self-advocacy, or a sustainable adult life.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> The education-to-employment gap grows when young people are trained only to comply with systems instead of learning to understand their own strengths, needs, choices, and capacity.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Standard interviews and "culture fit" can exclude candidates who have the skills to do the job but do not perform neurotypical social expectations.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Masking may look like success during the day while creating intense mental and physical recovery demands at night.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Capability and capacity are not the same: someone can be brilliant and still require clearer instructions, task chunking, working-memory supports, or a more sustainable pace.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Accommodations matter, but better organizational design is more powerful: clear expectations, inclusive teams, flexible communication, transparent onboarding, and multiple ways to contribute.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> When employees are misunderstood, one constructive action is to initiate a conversation about how they can best share ideas and contribute to the team.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Parents, schools, universities, businesses, and self-advocates must work together before young adults reach the workforce—not after they are already burning out.

What happens when you spend your childhood being called a brat, a problem, or "bad"—and only later realize that you were an autistic child trying to survive without the language, support, safety, or understanding you needed?
In this episode of Adulting with Autism, I talk with Juan Colon, author of The Untold Story of an Autistic Orphan: The Awakening. Juan shares his journey through abandonment, instability, homelessness, incarceration, fatherhood, late autism diagnosis, and the long process of learning to understand himself with compassion instead of shame.amazon+1
For Juan, "the awakening" means more than receiving an autism diagnosis. It means recognizing patterns, accepting responsibility for choices, forgiving people who hurt him, understanding that trauma shaped behavior on all sides, and choosing not to repeat the pain he experienced as a child.
This is a raw and hopeful conversation for autistic adults with complicated pasts, parents seeing familiar traits in their children, and anyone trying to move from survival mode into healing, accountability, and a more peaceful life.
In This Episode, We Cover
p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Who Juan is: a Puerto Rican father, family man, autism advocate, and first-time author who describes himself as an ordinary man who survived unusual circumstances.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why family, fatherhood, love, accountability, and staying positive are central to Juan's identity.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Juan's memoir, The Untold Story of an Autistic Orphan: The Awakening, and why he chose to write it.amazon+1

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> What "the awakening" means: understanding himself, seeing his behavior from others' perspectives, and finding a deeper sense of purpose.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> How autism understanding helped Juan view past conflicts, misunderstandings, and painful relationships with more compassion.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why forgiveness is not necessarily about excusing another person; it can be a way of releasing the emotional weight you continue to carry.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Growing up without knowing he was autistic.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Childhood traits that make more sense now: intense curiosity, sensory-driven impulses, strong reactions, difficulty explaining behavior, and being misunderstood by adults.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Juan's story about cutting his grandmother's clothing because the sound and sensation created an urge he could not explain at the time.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> How sensory seeking or sensory-driven behavior can be misread as intentional misbehavior or "being bad."

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> The labels placed on him in childhood: brat, bad, troublemaker, disruptive, and difficult.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Being kicked out of school and treated as a behavior problem rather than a hurting child with unmet support needs.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> How his son's autism assessment became the beginning of Juan's own self-recognition.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Seeing his son show behaviors similar to the stories he had heard about his own childhood.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> How becoming a parent helped Juan understand some of the stress and fear his own mother may have experienced as a single parent.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why seeking an autism assessment was part of a broader process of understanding unstable work patterns, conflict avoidance, and the tendency to leave jobs or situations when they felt unsafe.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> How diagnosis changed his parenting: pausing before arguing, trying to see his child's perspective, and responding with more understanding.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why autistic adults who are questioning themselves do not need to be perfect—or wait until they are overwhelmed—to seek guidance.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> The importance of accepting uncertainty, asking questions, seeking support, and being willing to learn more about yourself.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Childhood abandonment, instability, life on the streets, incarceration, and the desire to create a family life Juan did not have as a child.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> How the desire to become a present, loving father helped him keep moving through hardship.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Shame and memoir writing: how to look back honestly without letting the past become your permanent identity.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Juan's central self-compassion message: treat yourself as you would treat your best friend.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Redemption as forgiveness, responsibility, repair, letting go, and creating peace.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Juan's "book bag full of rocks" metaphor for the heaviness of resentment, anger, tension, and unresolved pain.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> How diagnosis and a compassionate relationship with his wife helped reduce conflict and improve communication.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why being met with love, patience, and gentleness can interrupt an old pattern of defensiveness, argument, running, or escalation.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Moving from survival to reflection: recognizing the pattern of running from consequences and deciding to face hard things instead.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> How asking a social worker for help became a turning point in choosing a more stable direction.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Writing a book while autistic: hyperfocus, emotional intensity, revisiting buried memories, crying, planning, and staying with a project because it felt meaningful.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> The patterns writing revealed: rigid thinking, intense arguments, difficulty letting go without clear proof, and going deeply into a belief or conflict.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Therapy as support—not proof that someone is "crazy."

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why avoiding therapy may be connected to fear, stigma, ego, shame, or the belief that needing help means weakness.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> What parents can do when their child's traits bring up grief, confusion, or painful memories from their own childhood: face the feelings, seek support, and resist running from what hurts.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Juan's hope: his children and family will experience a life with more love, stability, safety, and support than he did.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why Juan feels "rich" through family connection, healing, and giving others hope—not only through money or status.

About the Guest
Juan Colon is the author of The Untold Story of an Autistic Orphan: The Awakening, a memoir about his experiences with childhood loss, abandonment, instability, homelessness, incarceration, fatherhood, survival, and late autism discovery.amazon+1
Juan's story centers on the power of self-understanding, accountability, forgiveness, family, faith, and choosing a different path. Through his memoir and public conversations, he shares a message for autistic adults who may feel defined by their past: as long as you are here, there is still room to learn, repair, grow, and build a life that feels more aligned with who you are.
His book is available as a Kindle title through Amazon under Juan and Ibelise Books.amazon+1
Key Takeaways
p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> An autism diagnosis can help adults reinterpret years of conflict, sensory experiences, social struggle, impulsivity, and shame with greater accuracy and compassion.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Being misunderstood as a child can create a painful identity story: "I am bad," "I am a problem," or "something is wrong with me."

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Sensory-driven or autistic behavior is not automatically malicious behavior. Children often need curiosity, support, and explanation—not punishment and labels.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Understanding your autistic child may help you recognize and heal pieces of your own childhood story.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Accountability and self-compassion can coexist. Understanding why something happened does not erase responsibility, but it can help create a different response next time.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Forgiveness can be a release for the person carrying pain; it does not have to mean pretending harm never happened.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Therapy is not proof that you are broken or "crazy." It is one way to seek support, perspective, tools, and healing.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Your past may explain parts of your story, but it does not have to decide the life you build from here.

p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> A meaningful "why"—such as parenthood, family, love, or a desire to break cycles—can help people choose a different path even when change is difficult.

What happens when autistic children grow up—and the supports, services, funding, and public attention begin to disappear?
In this episode of Adulting with Autism, I talk with Tammy Michelle, co-founder of the Chaka Khan Foundation, founder of Artistology, artist advocate, entertainment executive, and mother of two autistic adult sons. Tammy shares her family's advocacy journey, beginning with her sister Chaka Khan's recovery work and expanding after Tammy's eldest son, Tallon, was diagnosed autistic in the early 2000s.chakakhanfoundation+1
We talk about the gaps Black and Brown families face in autism diagnosis, resources, and advocacy; the service cliff that affects autistic adults after childhood; and why the Chaka Khan Foundation's Beyond 25 initiative centers workforce development, technology training, gaming, community, and long-term quality of life.
Tammy also shares why music has been a powerful force for communication, regulation, healing, connection, and expression throughout her family's life—and is a foundational tool for the Foundation's work in supporting neurodiverse communities. Grounded in its profound role in the brain, Tammy explains how music, mindfulness, and mediation are some of the most important supports autistic adults can build. 
In This Episode, We Cover
Who Tammy Michelle is: co-founder of the Chaka Khan Foundation, founder and CEO of Artistology, artist manager, creative-wellness advocate, and longtime entertainment executive.artistology

The origins of the Chaka Khan Foundation in 1999, when Tammy and Chaka Khan began creating community support connected to substance-use recovery, women's healing, and underserved youth.chakakhanfoundation

How Tammy's advocacy expanded after her eldest son Talon was identified as autistic.

The early 2000s reality of autism awareness: limited public understanding, stereotypes shaped by media such as Rain Man, and fewer visible resources for families.

Why parents may react defensively at first when someone raises developmental concerns—and how understanding can grow with information, support, and time.

The barriers Black and Brown families have historically faced in accessing accurate diagnosis, early intervention, special education services, advocacy, and resource navigation.

Why lack of information about legal rights and services can become an access barrier in underserved communities.

The foundation's early partnership with Cure Autism Now and its role in autism-awareness efforts, resource fairs, fundraising, and community outreach.chakakhanfoundation

How family advocacy evolved from autism awareness to tutoring, education, women's recovery support, wellness programs, and community empowerment.chakakhanfoundation.

The experience of parenting an autistic adult: Talon is now 28, uses limited spoken language, and continues to have adult goals, desires, relationships, interests, and a right to community.

Why "non-speaking" does not mean "has nothing to say" or "does not want the same things other young adults want."

The questions parents begin facing as their children become adults:

What happens after parents are gone?

What services will remain?

What does self-sufficiency look like for this person?

How can families plan for communication, safety, autonomy, relationships, and quality of life?

The Chaka Khan Foundation's Beyond 25 initiative, which focuses on skills development, independence, career growth, community, and what happens when systems stop showing up for autistic adults.

Gaming, esports, technology training, and workforce development as potentially meaningful pathways for neurodivergent adults.

Why gaming is more than entertainment: it can involve real skills, professional roles, technical systems, teamwork, strategy, design, broadcasting, production, and career opportunities.

Tammy's younger son's late autism diagnosis and the relief that can come from finally understanding lifelong social, sensory, and communication differences.

Why a diagnosis can bring validation rather than limitation.

What employers can do to make hiring, onboarding, feedback, and advancement more accessible: identify strengths, recognize unique skill sets, use real assessments, and create opportunities that align with capability.

Autism awareness, acceptance, inclusion, and access as a pathway: awareness creates understanding; compassion allows inclusion; inclusion makes access more possible.

Playground communication boards: large public visual-communication boards featuring play activities, wants, needs, and emotion choices.

How communication boards help children communicate what they want to do, what they need, and how they feel without requiring spoken language.

Why public play spaces should include communication access as part of standard community design.

Music and regulation: how Tallon sings more fluently than he speaks, uses music as a source of connection and calm, and enjoys Michael Jackson videos.

Music as medicine: Tammy's experiences with musicians in her family, her brother's stroke recovery, and the use of sound and singing bowls as supportive tools.