What if workplaces were designed around people?

STEM Careers with the Lightyear Foundation | Future Voices

Future Voices, sponsored by Warburtons, explores how families and professionals can support the career aspirations of neurodivergent and disabled young people. Hosts Celina and Lucy speak with Hannah Ford Tomlinson (they/them), Communities and Partnerships Program Manager at the Lightyear Foundation, a UK charity focused on making STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) more accessible and inclusive for disabled and neurodivergent young people while also partnering with the wider STEM sector. Hannah shares their non-linear career path from studying physics and science communication to museum work and ultimately Lightyear, discussing autism, workplace confidence, and the importance of supportive managers and reasonable adjustments. Celina reflects on barriers in law, including inaccessible assessment processes, long hours, and lack of part-time routes. The episode centers on designing work around people’s needs so they can thrive.

00:00 Welcome and Sponsor

00:51 Episode Preview and Big Question

02:19 Meet the Hosts

05:01 What Lightyear Foundation Does

08:00 What STEM Really Means

10:54 Hannah’s Non-linear Career Path

16:59 If Work Fits People

19:11 Barriers and Reasonable Adjustments

24:10 Supportive Managers and Workplace Safety

27:56 Where to Find Lightyear

28:47 Final Thanks and Subscribe

Find out more about

Lightyear Foundation https://www.lightyearfoundation.org/

Mentoring with Inclusive change https://inclusivechange.co.uk/mentoring-services

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