{"id":25347,"date":"2026-05-09T04:52:42","date_gmt":"2026-05-09T04:52:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/happyinthehills.com\/zentriathlete\/?p=25347"},"modified":"2026-05-09T04:59:43","modified_gmt":"2026-05-09T04:59:43","slug":"rwnktfpssson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/happyinthehills.com\/zentriathlete\/2026\/05\/09\/rwnktfpssson\/","title":{"rendered":"Rethinking Workplace Norms: Key Takeaways from Professor Sol Smith\u2019s Session on Neurodiversity"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Professor Sol Smith joined our ERG this week for a focused session on neurodiversity in the workplace<\/span>. His presentation challenged the assumption that employees should think, communicate, and perform in standardized ways. Instead, he framed inclusion as the work of removing unnecessary friction\u2014much of it created by <\/span>neuronormative<\/span> expectations rather than actual job requirements.<\/span><\/p>

The session covered ADHD, autism, burnout, communication norms, and the strengths that emerge when workplaces adapt rather than expect masking. Below is a recap for those who missed it or want a structured reference.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Neurodiversity and Workplace Norms<\/h3><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Sol opened by naming the core issue: most workplaces are built on the idea that people are interchangeable after training. This assumption\u2014neuronormativity\u2014creates barriers for neurodivergent employees whose regulation needs, sensory profiles, and communication styles differ from the default.<\/span><\/p>

He emphasized that inclusion is not about lowering standards. It\u2019s about designing environments where people can meet those standards without unnecessary cognitive or sensory load.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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ADHD in the Workplace<\/h3><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Sol reframed ADHD as a difference in motivation and attention regulation, not a deficit in effort. ADHDers often rely on interest, urgency, novelty, or emotional engagement to initiate tasks. From the outside, this can look like procrastination; in practice, it often produces strong crisis performance and creative problem\u2011solving.<\/span><\/p>

Key friction points:<\/span><\/p>

  • Task switching is costly<\/span><\/p><\/li>

  • Unclear timing increases cognitive load<\/span><\/p><\/li>

  • Sustained restraint (\u201cjust sit still and focus\u201d) is not neutral\u2014it drains capacity<\/span><\/p><\/li><\/ul>

    These aren\u2019t character flaws; they\u2019re predictable patterns of ADHD motivation<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Burnout and Regulation<\/h3><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Autistic and ADHD burnout were framed as serious outcomes of prolonged masking, sensory overload, and unsupported demands. Sol warned against the common instinct to \u201cpush harder\u201d by removing hobbies or regulating activities. Those activities often provide the nervous\u2011system support needed to function at work.<\/span><\/p>

    Early signs include:<\/span><\/p>

    • Irritability<\/span><\/p><\/li>

    • Heightened sensory sensitivity<\/span><\/p><\/li>

    • Loss of interest in regulating activities<\/span><\/p><\/li>

    • Reduced capacity to initiate tasks<\/span><\/p><\/li><\/ul>

      Burnout is not a failure of resilience; it\u2019s a signal of chronic misalignment.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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      Strengths and Inclusion Opportunities<\/h3><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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      Sol closed by naming the strengths that emerge when workplaces adapt:<\/span><\/p>

      • ADHD strengths: creativity, urgency response, high\u2011energy engagement, lateral thinking<\/span><\/p><\/li>

      • Autistic strengths: pattern recognition, deep focus, innovation, independent work, systems thinking<\/span><\/p><\/li><\/ul>

        Organizations benefit when hiring, communication, scheduling, and evaluation practices are flexible enough to let these strengths surface.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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        Neurodiversity Resource List<\/h3>\t\t\t
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        A curated set of tools, concepts, and references to support continued learning and workplace application.<\/em><\/p>

        \u00a0<\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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        Foundational Concepts<\/span><\/h2>\n
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        • \n

          Neurodiversity<\/span> \u2014 Natural variation in human cognition.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

        • \n

          Neuronormativity<\/span> \u2014 The assumption that everyone should think and work the same way.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

        • \n

          Masking<\/span> \u2014 Effort spent hiding traits or mimicking expected behavior.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

        • \n

          Burnout<\/span> \u2014 Exhaustion from chronic masking, overload, and unsupported demands.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

           <\/div>\n

          ADHD Resources<\/span><\/h2>\n
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          • \n

            ADHD motivation patterns<\/span> \u2014 Why urgency, novelty, and interest drive initiation.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

          • \n

            How to ADHD (YouTube) \u2014 Executive function and emotional regulation explained accessibly.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

          • \n

            ADDitude Magazine \u2014 Practical workplace strategies and lived\u2011experience insights.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

          • \n

            Russell Barkley\u2019s research \u2014 Evidence\u2011based work on executive function.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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            Autism Resources<\/span><\/h2>\n
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            • \n

              Autistic communication<\/span> \u2014 Directness, literal interpretation, and context specificity.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

            • \n

              Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) \u2014 Policy, advocacy, and first\u2011person perspectives.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

            • \n

              Autism Level Up \u2014 Tools for energy regulation and sensory needs.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

            • \n

              The Double Empathy Problem \u2014 Research on mutual misunderstanding between autistic and non\u2011autistic people.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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              Workplace Tools & Frameworks<\/span><\/h2>\n
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              • \n

                Workplace accommodations<\/span> \u2014 Clarity, flexibility, sensory adjustments.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

              • \n

                Job Accommodation Network (JAN) \u2014 Concrete examples for ADHD, autism, and executive function differences.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

              • \n

                Universal Design for Learning (UDL) \u2014 Designing environments that support diverse cognitive styles.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

              • \n

                Psychological safety research \u2014 Evidence that clarity and safety drive high\u2011performing teams.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                 <\/div>\n

                Books & Long\u2011Form Learning<\/span><\/h2>\n
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                  Unmasking Autism \u2014 Devon Price<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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                  ADHD 2.0 \u2014 Hallowell & Ratey<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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                  Divergent Mind \u2014 Jenara Nerenberg<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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                  NeuroTribes \u2014 Steve Silberman<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                   <\/div>\n

                  For Leaders and Caregivers<\/span><\/h2>\n
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                  • \n

                    Neuroaffirming communication<\/span> \u2014 Clear, explicit, low\u2011ambiguity communication.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

                  • \n

                    Sensory\u2011aware meeting design \u2014 Agendas, timing clarity, reduced multitasking load.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

                  • \n

                    Strength\u2011based evaluation \u2014 Aligning roles with cognitive strengths rather than conformity.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

                  • \n

                    Check\u2011in frameworks \u2014 \u201cWhat do you need to do your best work this week?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                    Professor Sol Smith joined our ERG this week for a focused session on neurodiversity in the workplace. His presentation challenged the assumption that employees should think, communicate, and perform in standardized ways. Instead, he framed inclusion as the work of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":22468,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"nf_dc_page":"","_eb_attr":"","pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","rs_blank_template":"","rs_page_bg_color":"","slide_template_v7":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[816],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25347","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nd-fl"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/happyinthehills.com\/zentriathlete\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25347","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/happyinthehills.com\/zentriathlete\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/happyinthehills.com\/zentriathlete\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/happyinthehills.com\/zentriathlete\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/happyinthehills.com\/zentriathlete\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25347"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/happyinthehills.com\/zentriathlete\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25347\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25353,"href":"https:\/\/happyinthehills.com\/zentriathlete\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25347\/revisions\/25353"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/happyinthehills.com\/zentriathlete\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22468"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/happyinthehills.com\/zentriathlete\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25347"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/happyinthehills.com\/zentriathlete\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25347"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/happyinthehills.com\/zentriathlete\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25347"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}