What March 13 exposed for me was how much “professionalism” had actually been a regulation strategy people were performing inside environments that didn’t match their neurobiology.
Once people experienced even temporary control over pace, transitions, and sensory load, it became obvious that many systems weren’t measuring capability — they were measuring survival.
I love that you’re framing this as structural design work. It changes the whole conversation from fixing people to building environments bodies can actually think inside.
Love this. Being full time in an office resulted in most of my executive function bandwidth being dedicated to everything but work. The best and most productive years of work I ever had were the 2020-2022 years.
This resonates. As both a parent and a SLP, I’ve seen exactly what you’re describing, kids labeled as the problem when the environment is the actual barrier. We got a glimpse in 2020 of what happens when you remove some of that pressure, and then we just rebuilt the same systems again.
I couldn’t agree with you more, Kelly. Inclusion isn’t a kindness project, it is a design decision.
There are two levels that I constantly straddle at the moment. One is how to make organisational systems more inclusive, less energy draining, more equitable. The other is how we as individuals make small system changes to make our own work more sustainable.
Both intersect, both are important, and both are too often treated as separate problems.
When systems are poorly designed, the burden shifts to individuals to compensate. That invisible effort is rarely acknowledged, but it is everywhere and disproportionally affects disabled professionals, women, caregivers and other underrepresented communities.
Thanks for this! It’s so true! Check out my autism Substack. I’m gradually revising and moving the best of 15 years worth of posts from my old blog on Blogger to here!
This line stopped me: “behavior is often a nervous system response.” I published something this morning about exactly this.
About being neurodivergent in rooms that were never safe and being told I was too sensitive for accurately reading them. About the difference between a broken nervous system and one that was simply correct.
You named something here that most people are still too uncomfortable to say out loud. The system was the problem. It was always the problem.
I don’t work in an office and never have but WOW WOW this did something important to my framing of…. Idk, so many things. Productivity. My recent ADHD diagnosis. My processing in general (hence: I likely am autistic, though no official diagnosis there).
Best years of my life. I mean, obviously there were horrible things but I didn't have to spend hours commuting every day, didn't have to mask, could do 6am work start with getting up at 5:30 instead of 3am... But somehow keeping businesses running during the worst isn't productive enough, we must waste time chatting at the coffee machine in the office.
Yes! I am not the problem. I have tried to “fix” myself my whole life and I’m done. I’m pushing back against these systems now, or just opting out, because I can’t any more
I’m 62 and feel the same. I have pushed back for quite a long time a d am now opting out. It’s been too much for me. I have to believe I did my part, however, in moving the needle.
Thank you so much for your efforts. Because of people your age pushing back the lives of people like me in my 30s are better and you can believe we’re out here fighting for the same for our kids.
I’m a School Psychologist and I’m neurodiverse. Early on in my life I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression. And had a childhood (0-17) significant for traumas. It’s not until I obtained multiple degrees and was deep into my career that I discovered I am on the Autism spectrum. The depression’ and anxiety were simply manifestations of trying to survive and not understand why the world was the way it was.
My career has been so immensely satisfying in advocating for families and children that the public school system has failed. The system, the adults running it, however, have made my life a living hell. I’ve kept at it regardless because it’s all I’ve ever known. Multiple degrees, hundreds of hours of continuous professional development, and just the work itself—working with children, analyzing, statistics, writing children’s histories.
I have refused to assess and place children in Special Education until every stone has been unturned in what else may be contributing to their pain — ACEs, mental health, culture, ineffective teachers. On and on. Admin hate this approach with a passion.
I’m currently 3 years from retirement and accessing my hard earned pension. But I can’t tolerate my new direct supervisor at all who is the worst out of every one I’ve ever worked with. I’m trying to figure out how to resign and what else I could do for the next 3 years. Living off SS when I turn 62 next month is not enough.
I’m utterly exhausted. The system finally broke me.
I’m retraining to be an education support worker and working in the system is what worrying me most. I’m actually looking at alternative things I can and I’m not even in the system 😬
It’s one of the most toxic, manipulative, micromanaging environments you can work in — schools. Lots of unwell adults working with our littles and being awful to one another at the same time. Some great ones for sure, but few and far between.
I’ve worked in commercial media, with car dealers, real estate and In local government so it will be very interesting to see how I find the education department 😂
Yes.
What March 13 exposed for me was how much “professionalism” had actually been a regulation strategy people were performing inside environments that didn’t match their neurobiology.
Once people experienced even temporary control over pace, transitions, and sensory load, it became obvious that many systems weren’t measuring capability — they were measuring survival.
I love that you’re framing this as structural design work. It changes the whole conversation from fixing people to building environments bodies can actually think inside.
Thank You! That’s exactly what my CEO needs to hear! Trying to enact a policy to make us return to the office. Really? Now?!?! No way
Love this. Being full time in an office resulted in most of my executive function bandwidth being dedicated to everything but work. The best and most productive years of work I ever had were the 2020-2022 years.
This resonates. As both a parent and a SLP, I’ve seen exactly what you’re describing, kids labeled as the problem when the environment is the actual barrier. We got a glimpse in 2020 of what happens when you remove some of that pressure, and then we just rebuilt the same systems again.
I couldn’t agree with you more, Kelly. Inclusion isn’t a kindness project, it is a design decision.
There are two levels that I constantly straddle at the moment. One is how to make organisational systems more inclusive, less energy draining, more equitable. The other is how we as individuals make small system changes to make our own work more sustainable.
Both intersect, both are important, and both are too often treated as separate problems.
When systems are poorly designed, the burden shifts to individuals to compensate. That invisible effort is rarely acknowledged, but it is everywhere and disproportionally affects disabled professionals, women, caregivers and other underrepresented communities.
Thanks for this! It’s so true! Check out my autism Substack. I’m gradually revising and moving the best of 15 years worth of posts from my old blog on Blogger to here!
This line stopped me: “behavior is often a nervous system response.” I published something this morning about exactly this.
About being neurodivergent in rooms that were never safe and being told I was too sensitive for accurately reading them. About the difference between a broken nervous system and one that was simply correct.
You named something here that most people are still too uncomfortable to say out loud. The system was the problem. It was always the problem.
Thank you for this.
— Amanda, Reason Season Lifetime
I don’t work in an office and never have but WOW WOW this did something important to my framing of…. Idk, so many things. Productivity. My recent ADHD diagnosis. My processing in general (hence: I likely am autistic, though no official diagnosis there).
Best years of my life. I mean, obviously there were horrible things but I didn't have to spend hours commuting every day, didn't have to mask, could do 6am work start with getting up at 5:30 instead of 3am... But somehow keeping businesses running during the worst isn't productive enough, we must waste time chatting at the coffee machine in the office.
Yes! I am not the problem. I have tried to “fix” myself my whole life and I’m done. I’m pushing back against these systems now, or just opting out, because I can’t any more
I’m 62 and feel the same. I have pushed back for quite a long time a d am now opting out. It’s been too much for me. I have to believe I did my part, however, in moving the needle.
Thank you so much for your efforts. Because of people your age pushing back the lives of people like me in my 30s are better and you can believe we’re out here fighting for the same for our kids.
I’m a School Psychologist and I’m neurodiverse. Early on in my life I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression. And had a childhood (0-17) significant for traumas. It’s not until I obtained multiple degrees and was deep into my career that I discovered I am on the Autism spectrum. The depression’ and anxiety were simply manifestations of trying to survive and not understand why the world was the way it was.
My career has been so immensely satisfying in advocating for families and children that the public school system has failed. The system, the adults running it, however, have made my life a living hell. I’ve kept at it regardless because it’s all I’ve ever known. Multiple degrees, hundreds of hours of continuous professional development, and just the work itself—working with children, analyzing, statistics, writing children’s histories.
I have refused to assess and place children in Special Education until every stone has been unturned in what else may be contributing to their pain — ACEs, mental health, culture, ineffective teachers. On and on. Admin hate this approach with a passion.
I’m currently 3 years from retirement and accessing my hard earned pension. But I can’t tolerate my new direct supervisor at all who is the worst out of every one I’ve ever worked with. I’m trying to figure out how to resign and what else I could do for the next 3 years. Living off SS when I turn 62 next month is not enough.
I’m utterly exhausted. The system finally broke me.
I’m retraining to be an education support worker and working in the system is what worrying me most. I’m actually looking at alternative things I can and I’m not even in the system 😬
It’s one of the most toxic, manipulative, micromanaging environments you can work in — schools. Lots of unwell adults working with our littles and being awful to one another at the same time. Some great ones for sure, but few and far between.
I’ve worked in commercial media, with car dealers, real estate and In local government so it will be very interesting to see how I find the education department 😂
I just got to say, I love your Business Name! 💓
thanks for sharing