Living Independently with an Aide w/ John McFadden and Kate Waltermeyer

Listen Here: https://youtu.be/G7zl20s5BCw

In this episode of Creating Communities for Neurodivergent People, we explore how learning and growth continue long after high school for neurodivergent individuals. Even as adults living independently, executive function and social learning remain essential parts of daily life.

Key topics include:

• Kate’s unique perspective as both John’s aide and someone who has ADHD and is on the Autism Spectrum

• The value and challenges of self-diagnosis as people age

• Kate’s lived experiences with ADHD (focus challenges, hyper-fixation, depression/anxiety, sleep and eating difficulties, and task overwhelm)

• Autism-related needs such as safe spaces, sensory sensitivities, overstimulation, and managing strong emotions

• How Kate and John support each other’s learning in reading, math, cooking, executive function, and social skills

• Why empathy, patience, and mutual respect create a strong aide–client relationship

• The ongoing importance of education and community engagement for neurodivergent adults

Takeaways:

Education never ends, being in community is vital, and independence is an evolving process supported by understanding and collaboration.

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Job Search Strategies for Neurodivergent Professionals w/ Neurodivergent Career Coach Jacob Levy

Listen Here: https://youtu.be/Mnl_2UJ8AA4

In this episode of Creating Employment for Neurodivergent People, Judith Weigle interviews Jacob Levy, a special education teacher and neurodivergent career coach about effective job-search strategies for neurodivergent and disabled individuals. Jacob shares his personal journey with hydrocephalus, how it shaped his professional mission, and why there is no single path to career success. Together, they explore how neurodivergent job seekers can leverage LinkedIn optimization, personal branding, content creation, and strategic outreach to secure meaningful, well-paid employment

Contact Jacob Levy

LinkedIn: Jacob Levy

https://www.linkedin.com/in/searchable4u?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

Website: https://searchable.work

Our conversation emphasizes empowerment, creativity, and visibility, helping job seekers communicate their value while navigating systemic barriers.

• Empowering neurodivergent job seekers

• Disability doesn’t mean inability

• LinkedIn strategy & algorithm awareness

• Resume optimization and outreach to companies

• Personal branding for neurodivergent professionals

• Content creation as a career tool

• Documenting your learning journey and expertise

• Highlighting soft skills and niche interests

• Side hustles for extra income, including Amazon product reviewing

• Turning lived disability experience into career strength

• Parents supporting neurodivergent adults

• Navigating a non-traditional career path

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In this episode of Creating Employment for Neurodivergent People, host Judith Weigle interviews Tessa McEvoy, an autistic adult, digital designer, and animator, about what meaningful neurodivergent employment actually looks like. This includes finding environments that work for Tessa’s sensory needs, processing abilities and social skills. Tessa shares the real challenges she has navigated in the workplace, workplace accommodations that benefit both employee and employer, this conversation centers on trust, respectful communication, and authenticity as foundations for success.

A little bit about Tessa

Tessa McEvoy is autistic graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in digital design. Her current special interests revolve around The Hollywood Tower Hotel attraction located in Disney World because of its art deco style. You can find her Tower of Terror fan illustrations here:

Tony O Tower https://youtube.com/@tonyotower?si=irIoMaiYvcyn4ADG

This interview offers practical insight for employers while validating the lived experience of neurodivergent professionals.

• Supporting neurodivergent talent in the workplace

• Why respectful communication based on trust matters

• Tessa’s creative path as a digital designer & animator

• Balancing strengths and challenges in creative roles

• Recent work experiences, including PostNet

• Securing reasonable accommodations that work for everyone

• The role of comfort objects at work for regulation and focus

• Maintaining authenticity on the job

• Neurodiversity at work beyond compliance

• A message to parents of neurodivergent children

• Neurodivergent job seekers and creatives

• Sustainable, respectful employment

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2026 Neurodivergent Employment Predictions w/Racheal Pallares, Neurodiversity Training Institute

Listen Here: https://youtu.be/MMLl2dMqtCk

In this episode from Creating Employment for Neurodivergent People, host Judith Weigle is joined by Racheal Pallares of the Neurodiversity Training Institute (NDTI) for a grounded, forward-looking conversation about the real trajectory of neurodivergent employment.

This discussion moves past surface-level inclusion messaging to examine career trajectory planning, how employers truly view neurodivergent employees, and an essential reality check: workplace standards must remain high for everyone.

Please be sure to like and subscribe to Creating Employment for Neurodivergent People for even more career support tips, strategies and advice: https://youtube.com/@creatingcommunitiesnp?si=Gv83gvQqWM7o-VsS

Who is Racheal Pallares?

Racheal shares how her work supports neurodivergent adults—and parents of neurodivergent young adults—through career coaching, job search guidance, and workplace success strategies. Her approach centers on helping individuals identify what they enjoy, where their strengths lie, and how to build a career that aligns with their interests rather than forcing themselves into unsupportive systems.

What we discuss:

• Career Trajectory Planning for neurodivergent professionals

• How employers evaluate neurodivergent talent in real-world settings

• Why high performance standards must remain consistent

• The difference between accommodation and lowered expectations

• What neurodiversity hiring programs are getting right and wrong

• 2026 predictions for neurodivergent employment, training, and retention

• Accountability, growth, and long-term success in inclusive workplaces

• Neurodivergent professionals planning long-term careers

• Employers, HR leaders, and hiring managers

• Workforce development professionals

• Educators and job coaches

• Policymakers and inclusion leaders

• Anyone interested in evidence-based neurodiversity employment

This conversation emphasizes dignity, competence, accountability, and opportunity: not performative inclusion.

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Neurodivergent Employment Support & Career Coaching | Racheal Pallares (Neurodiversity Training Institute)

In this episode of Creating Employment for Neurodivergent People, I’m joined by Racheal Pallares, CEO and Founder of the Neurodiversity Training Institute, along with co-host John, for a conversation about finding and sustaining neurodivergent-friendly employment.

Racheal shares how her work supports neurodivergent adults—and parents of neurodivergent young adults—through career coaching, job search guidance, and workplace success strategies. Her approach centers on helping individuals identify what they enjoy, where their strengths lie, and how to build a career that aligns with their interests rather than forcing themselves into unsupportive systems.

John also shares his lived experience navigating today’s job market, including the difference between working in environments that supported his access needs versus those that created barriers.

Workplace Training for Neurodivergent Individuals

Support for autistic, ADHD, AuDHD, dyslexic, and dyspraxic adults, including:

• Job search coaching

• Career coaching for the unmasked professional

• Workplace success strategies for executive functioning challenges

• Productivity tools designed for neurodivergent brains

Training and consultation that helps organizations:

• Improve communication and productivity

• Implement accommodations that actually work

• Design workplace policies that support autistic, ADHD, and AuDHD professionals

• Rethink environments that weren’t built with neurodivergent people.

Why This Conversation Matters?

Neurodivergent adults are capable, skilled, and innovative—but often excluded by outdated workplace structures. This episode highlights practical solutions for both job seekers and employers looking to build inclusive, sustainable work environments.

Who Is Racheal Pallares?

*CEO and Founder of the Neurodiversity Training Institute.

*Career Coach and Corporate Trainer

*Organizational Psychologist

*Corporate Recruiter

www.NeurodiversityTrainingInstitute.com

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Empowering Neurodivergent Job Seekers | Inclusive Hiring with Nancy Wells of AbleTalks

In this episode of Creating Communities for Neurodivergent People, I sit down with Nancy Wells, Licensed Professional Counselor and founder/CEO of AbleTalks, Inc., to discuss effective strategies that help autistic and neurodivergent adults thrive in employment.

We explore how neurodivergent job seekers can succeed through video job applications, soft skills development, tailored job placements, and strength-based career planning. Nancy also shares insights on building confidence, improving workplace communication, and creating inclusive opportunities that allow neurodivergent individuals to become experts in their own lives.

This conversation highlights the importance of mentoring, self-advocacy, and community-based employment programs—plus upcoming initiatives AbleTalks is developing to support neurodivergent workers and future leaders.

Topics we discuss in this episode:

I. Empowering Neurodivergent Job Seekers

II. Thinking “Career,” Not Just “Job”

III. Identifying & Using Soft Skills for Neurodivergent Employment

IV. Neurodivergent Hiring Success Story

V. Neurodivergent Leadership & Communication

VI. Tailored Job Placement for Autistic Individuals

VII. Peer Mentoring & Self-Advocacy

VIII. Inclusive Workplace & Employment Initiatives

IX. Disability-Focused Video Job Applications

X. Neurodivergent Career Coaching Retreat

Who is Nancy Wells?

Nancy Wells is a Licensed Professional Counselor and the founder/CEO of AbleTalks.org, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities to take ownership of their lives and careers. She is a passionate advocate for inclusive employment, inspired in part by her experience as a parent of two autistic daughters.

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Know Your Rights: Disability Employment & Housing w/Ibrahim “Bebo” Saab, Esq. w/Disability Rights California

In this episode you will learn about advocacy and legal rights for people with intellectual and physical disabilities to include various aspects of disability support, educational transitions, employment opportunities, housing options and protection against financial abuse.

1. Regional Centers in each county provide financial support for developmental and intellectual disabilities:

Autism

Cerebral Palsy

Intellectual Disabilities

Epilepsy

These are conditions that occur as an outgrowth of intellectual disabilities / supportive living services.

Income does not affect eligibility for services.

Acts as a payor of last resort, requiring documentation of attempts to exhaust generic resources before providing assistance.

2. Self-advocacy is important within the disability rights community for the following services:

IHSS (In-Home Supportive Services) for physical and intellectual disabilities

Transitioning from high school or college to work opportunities requires a different aspect of support services

Under the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) transition planning must begin at age 16, including conversations with the individual regarding their interests and future plans.

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2012 provides free employment services and support.

The Department of Rehabilitation supports students with disabilities through education and employment opportunities like “self-determination dollars” and micro-enterprise programs for people with disabilities to start their own companies.

Employment First Policy in California aims to provide competitive, integrated employment opportunities, moving away from segregated work environments and minimum wage jobs.

Disability Rights California is the largest disability rights organization in the country, but there are other Disability Rights organizations in almost every state.

3. Financial Abuse of Disabled Individuals is a concern.

Financial abuse is prevalent within caregivers and others who manage money for disabled people.

Alternatives to Conservatorships, another avenue of potential financial abuse includes power of attorney, supportive decision-making, advance directives that emphasize empowerment and protection against financial abuse.

4. Housing: One of the biggest challenges in transitioning from high school to employment are the parents who don’t want to let their children with disabilities leave home. Knowing how to have the right support services for your disabled child will help parents feel more comfortable about having their child leave home.

Living where you feel comfortable is most important for disabled people.

Options in Housing:

Supported Living

Foster Family / Host Family

Brookwood Community, Texas

Lambs Farm, Illinois

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Therapy Reimagined for Neurodivergent People w/Natalie Zimm, M.A. LMFT

“I feel better already!”

Listen Here: https://youtu.be/Z74tSjpfBvg

In this episode of Creating Communities for Neurodivergent People, you will meet Natalie Zimm, Psychotherapist, Author, Artist. Her niche client base is ADHD, AuDHD, and Autism. Plus, Highly Gifted and Highly Sensitive People, Creatives, and OCD/anxiety. Natalie is AuDHD. Married to her husband with ADHD.

How Natalie came to work in this area of neurodivergency

Some of the issues therapy can address: Masking, Social Skills, Social Justice, Overstimulation, High Sensitivity, Feeling Invisible

Importance and Meaning of receiving a diagnosis: Compassion for ourselves and for others, and Comparison with Others; quieting the Inner Critic as a result of understanding ourselves

Intimate Relationships for people with Autism and ADHD/AuDHD and the challenges when two people are on the spectrum

Takeaways

1. Understand why you feel exhausted from masking at social interactions

2. Unlock options in your working schedule

3. Free your mind from feeling awkward and slighted

4. Free your inner child to feel self-love

5. Turn the feeling of invisibility to recognition

Natalie Zimm: www.NatalieZimmTherapy.com

💬 Learn more about Natalie Zimm: www.NatalieZimmTherapy.com

🔴Be sure to subscribe to Creating Communities for Neurodivergent Communities for more neurodivergent success stories: https://youtube.com/@creatingcommunitiesnp?si=cSVBBUOHeWrmkVdz

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