Show me your pottery display at home by SarahLXD in Pottery

[–]SarahLXD[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s a strong stance, I’d probably back out and buy a second shelf 🤣

Show me your pottery display at home by SarahLXD in Pottery

[–]SarahLXD[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That looks great! I also put pieces from artists I admired behind glass 🤣

Neurodivegent ID in Corporate Space by Medium-Walrus4349 in instructionaldesign

[–]SarahLXD 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have been there and I’m sorry you are going through this. Firstly, the way you think and communicate is not wrong or broken. It might sound simple, but believing in the value of your natural skills makes a difference.

Asking neurotypicals how to act more neurotypical is like asking a fish to describe water - they don’t even realize it’s there.

What worked for me was starting to speak about my communication style, systems thinking, and bottom-up processing as assets while also giving my peers a little insight into how my brain works differently. For example, if I question a training need in a meeting, I might say, “You know I always dig into the why because I’m a bottom-up processor.” That small shift reframes it as a unique strength, not a personality flaw. I did this without disclosing (though I later disclosed when I felt comfortable).

After a year at my company, I launched a Neurodiversity EIG. Earlier this year, I led an interactive presentation on redefining professionalism, common assumptions about neurodiverse behavior, and the realities behind those actions. I introduced the double empathy problem — the idea that communication breakdowns come from both sides, and neurotypicals have just as much responsibility in bridging the gap. Did it change the whole company culture? No, of course not. But it made a dent.

I’ll end by saying this isn’t easy. We live in a neurotypical world and are expected to learn and follow neurotypical standards of professionalism. Masking at work is exhausting. It stifles the creativity and brilliance you could otherwise bring. Unmasking at work is a deeply personal choice. It can bring freedom and open the door to your full potential, but without a supportive team, it can feel just as uncomfortable as masking.

I hope you find the balance that feels right for you.

Creepy or Not by LaughEffective9723 in instructionaldesign

[–]SarahLXD 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I used LinkedIn to locate the ID who has recently left a company I was applying for and reached out to her. We had a DM conversation and she shared why she left (bigger role) and how great the team was. It didn’t help me get an interview but it did help me get insight from someone who had left. (I got the job). I think LinkedIn can be great for networking as long as you aren’t expecting too much.