In this episode of Don’t Do Your Best, we talk about the realities of navigating everyday life as neurodivergent people, from the tasks we avoid to the accommodations we shouldn't have to fight for.

We get into mobile hygienists, side hustles, why we hate doing our taxes, and the Canadian Disability Tax Credit. We also unpack the ADHD tax, Steph’s creative approach to accountability (hello, fake deadlines), and how fidget tools somehow require an accommodation conversation ???

Katie shares her bingo card of avoided tasks, and we talk about advocating for your needs at the dentist.

In this episode:

00:00 – Intro
00:30 – Mobile hygienists
05:13 – Side hustles
09:45 – We hate doing our taxes
14:50 – The Canadian Disability Tax Credit
19:04 – The ADHD tax
20:36 – Steph keeping herself accountable with fake deadlines
22:15 – Fidget tools require an accommodation?
29:19 – Katie’s bingo card of all the tasks she’s been avoiding
43:03 – Advocating for your needs at the dentist
46:48 – wrap-up

In this episode, Steph shares a life update after quitting her job, and Katie catches us up on becoming a working gal again.

We chat about trying to beat the habit of always trying to do our best, and how receiving our diagnoses is changing the way we approach job changes and interviews.

We’re reflecting on what it means to navigate work, relationships, and everyday expectations with a better understanding of ourselves as Autistic people.

TimeStamps

00:00 — Intro

03:58 — Life Update from Steph After Quitting Her Job

07:52 — Examples of Our Habit of Doing Our Best

13:18 — Life Update from Katie (She’s a Working Gal!)

37:00 — Meeting Other Autistic People

44:33 — How We’re Approaching Job Changes and Interviews Post-Diagnosis

55:14 — Wrap-Up

Resources Mentioned

Neurodiversity Affirming Checklist

Yellow LadyBugs workplace guides:

⁠Finding the Right Work Fit - A Guide for autistic and AuDHD People (Part 1)⁠

⁠Looking for Work - A Guide for Autistic and AuDHD People (Part 2)⁠

⁠Disclosure & Masking at Work – A Guide for Autistic and AuDHD People (Part 3)⁠

⁠Workplace Adjustments & Supports – A Guide for Autistic and AuDHD People (Part 4)⁠

⁠Sustaining Work & Avoiding Burnout – A Guide for Autistic and AuDHD People (Part 5)

In Part 2 of this two-part episode, we continue the conversation about fluctuating capacity and what happens when you realize that something needs to change. This time, we’re talking about accommodations, advocating for your needs, and the challenges that can come with trying to get the support you actually need.

We share some of our own experiences seeking and using accommodations, including the gap that can sometimes exist between knowing what you need, communicating those needs, and actually having them met.

We also get into Steph quitting her job, self-employment, running away to the woods (because obviously), and navigating the job search.

In this episode:

00:00 Intro
01:06 Knowing When to Take a Step Back
13:09 Our Experiences Seeking & Using Accommodations
49:28 Steph Is Quitting Her Job
56:53 Self-Employment
1:00:40 Running Away to the Woods
1:02:30 Looking for Work
1:08:20 Wrap Up

Resources Mentioned:

Yellow LadyBugs workplace guides:

Finding the Right Work Fit - A Guide for autistic and AuDHD People (Part 1)

Looking for Work - A Guide for Autistic and AuDHD People (Part 2)

Disclosure & Masking at Work – A Guide for Autistic and AuDHD People (Part 3)

Workplace Adjustments & Supports – A Guide for Autistic and AuDHD People (Part 4)

Sustaining Work & Avoiding Burnout – A Guide for Autistic and AuDHD People (Part 5)

Accounts to follow mentioned:

Instagram: @retrophiliacart

We’d love to hear from you! What was something new you learned from this episode, or what would you like us to dive deeper into next?