Rhi-Define Coaching & Consultancy

I’m here to ensure future generations don’t "slip through the net" like I did 👋 • In nursery, I was almost held back a year due to struggling socially. (Yet no one considered I might be autistic.) • In year 3, I was always asking for more work to complete. (Yet no one considered this might be ADHD hyperactivity.) • In year 9, my parents were told I was “academically gifted but very easily distracted”. (Yet no one considered that I might be an interest-led ADHDer, masking their autism by always trying to “fit in”.) • In sixth form, I had to drop out of school because of debilitating "panic attacks". (Yet no one considered these might be autistic meltdowns, triggered by burnout.) Throughout my childhood/teenage years, there were plenty of signs that I was neurodivergent. But no one in my life had been trained to look for them. At least, not in somebody that looked like me. *That* is why challenging perceptions and stereotypes is so important. 📚 How to be You: https://lnkd.in/gqK6hMkW 📚 Unmasked: https://lnkd.in/etcBkyMP Video description: I'm a white woman with long, red/brown hair and glasses. I'm wearing a black and white dress, speaking on a panel at the Oxford Union Debate. #Neurodivergent

The 2024 ADHD Awareness Month theme is "Awareness is Key!" So here's some fun (and not-so-fun) facts about ADHD:   👉 ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition - it's something that we're born with and the first symptoms typically appear between the ages of 3 and 6 👉 ADHD is not a mental illness or a learning disability 👉 ADHD is not caused by too much sugar or screen-time, and you cannot "grow out of it" 👉 adults have only been able to be diagnosed with ADHD since 2008 👉 which is one of the reasons why there's been a 400% increase in the number of adults seeking diagnosis since 2020 👉 boys are 3x more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than girls, even though the number of boys and girls with ADHD is the same 👉 which is why the average age of diagnosis is 7 years old for men and 35 years old for women 👉 children with ADHD are 100x more likely to be excluded from school 👉 ADHD comes with a 5x higher risk of suicide, and 1 in 4 women with ADHD have attempted suicide 👉 waiting lists for ADHD assessments are up to 10 years long in some parts of the UK (or simply not available at all) and there is little to no support available while people are waiting on these lists.   The goal of ADHD Awareness Month is to provide reliable information and resources to help people thrive with ADHD.   So if you like to read (or listen to audiobooks 🙋🏻♀️) here are a few of my favourite books about ADHD:   📗 A Hunter in a Farmer’s World by Thom Hartmann - https://amzn.to/4eDoGIq 📕 ADHD an A-Z: Figuring it Out Step by Step by Leanne Maskell - https://amzn.to/3BugZ94 📙 ADHD Works At Work by Leanne Maskell - https://amzn.to/4dwudzm 📘 Dirty Laundry: Why adults with ADHD are so ashamed and what we can do to help by Richard Pink and Roxanne Emery - https://amzn.to/4dtIsFm 📗 UNMASKED: The Ultimate Guide to ADHD, Autism and Neurodivergence by Ellie Middleton - https://amzn.to/3XQnXN3 📕 Journeys Through ADDulthood by Sari Solden - https://amzn.to/3TRgIn0     Learn more about ADHD Awareness Month here: https://lnkd.in/ePdxUiQJ   Get ADHD Coaching here: https://lnkd.in/e9HbM-ji   Enquire about awareness sessions and training here: https://lnkd.in/eBQVG2nz   Learn more about what I do here: https://lnkd.in/ePCU6fZJ   #ADHDAwarenessMonth #Neurodiversity #ADHDCoaching #AwarenessIsKey

ICYMI - October is ADHD Awareness Month! ...and I’m excited to share, educate and advocate for a topic that’s deeply important to me - not just as a coach, but as someone who has experienced the thrills and challenges of ADHD firsthand. ADHD has been misunderstood for a long time - often labeled as simply an inability to focus or sit still. But as an ADHDer, and someone who works with a lot of other ADHDers, I’ve come to learn that it’s so much more than that. It’s about how we experience the world, the unique lens we bring to everything we do and our incredible strengths that often go unnoticed. For me, ADHD means: 👉 honesty and transparency in my communication 👉 a sense of fairness that drives me to advocate for others 👉 an insatiable curiosity that fuels my love for learning and growth 👉 enthusiasm that shows up in the work I do, helping me push boundaries and find creative solutions 👉 the ability to focus on details that others might miss 👉 the drive to keep moving forward, even when the going gets tough These are just a few of the great strengths I've realised since discovering my ADHD. While there are challenges, learning to embrace and work with my brain’s unique wiring has transformed both my personal and professional life. And that’s the message I want to share this month. 🗣 Raising Awareness & Building Confidence ADHD Awareness Month is about more than understanding the condition - it’s about giving others the confidence to speak up and own their ADHD. Whether it’s at work, in social situations or in daily life, having the right support and accommodations can make all the difference. And that’s why I’m passionate about working with individuals and organisations to build more inclusive environments that celebrate neurodiversity. 📚 What Can You Do? ✅ If you’re an individual with ADHD, embrace your strengths. You have so much to offer the world. ✅ If you’re an employer, learn how to support your neurodivergent team members. Simple adjustments can lead to thriving, innovative teams. ✅ If you’re looking for help, know there are resources available - whether it’s ADHD coaching, support networks or initiatives like the UK’s Access to Work grant that offers workplace assistance for those with ADHD. ✨ How I Can Help As an ADHD Coach and Neuroinclusion Consultant, I work with individuals and organisations to help people with ADHD thrive in all areas of life. Whether you’re looking to improve your productivity, build a stronger support system or educate your team on how to create a more inclusive work culture, I’m here to help. What are your plans for this ADHD Awareness Month? Get ADHD AF pin badges here: https://lnkd.in/eRBNXfhG Get ADHD Coaching here: https://lnkd.in/e9HbM-ji Get help with Access to Work here: https://lnkd.in/ekAfSkvH #ADHDAwarenessMonth #Neurodiversity #ADHDCoaching #AccessToWork Rhi-Define Coaching & Consultancy The NeuroSpicy Company

Here’s how *not* to respond if someone tells you they’re thinking of an Autism or ADHD assessment: 👉 ‘what’s the point?’ 👉 ‘why do you need a / another label?’ 👉 ‘I get it for people who are really ‘severe’, but you’re not’ 👉 ‘I could probably be diagnosed if I went for an assessment too’ 👉’you’re fine - people like you / you’re highly functional / successful’ 👉 ‘why do you need to let other people define you?’ 👉 ‘everyone’s brain is different, so maybe you just need to look inside instead of outside’ 👉 ‘well then what happens?’ I’ve just had the ironic experience of all of these things being said to me about seeking an Autism assessment. It reminded me of the privilege I’ve had of a formal ADHD diagnosis for the last few years in no longer having to continually justify why I needed it. I didn’t expect this from the people in my life these days, maybe naively because I thought they all accepted my neurodivergence. It’s *extremely* vulnerable & difficult to tell someone you’re seeking any kind of help. I can’t express how demoralising, humiliating and upsetting it is to feel judged & criticised for this by someone you trust. Instead of invalidating someone in this situation, please try saying things like: ✅ ‘I hope you’re okay’ ✅ ‘I’m sorry you’ve been going through this alone’ ✅ ‘I’m here to listen if you want to talk about it’ ✅ ‘Is there anything I can do to help?’ ✅ ‘your experiences are valid’ ✅ ‘I’m here for you’ Sadly, you’d be surprised at how rare it is to get a response like this. People are not getting these assessments for fun - they’re extremely invasive, confronting, and stressful (to say the least). If someone is at the point of actually talking about it, they need your support - not your judgement. Have you had an experience like this? #ADHD #Autism Become an ADHD Coach in September here: https://lnkd.in/eVGyn8YY

It would be easy for me to say 'ADHD is a superpower'. After all, I've achieved things that society quantifies as 'super'. But I'll never call it a superpower, because - If I have ONE sip of alcohol, I can't stop drinking. At my worst, I was handcuffed and put in a police car, as my fearful parents watched on. - I have frequent anxiety attacks. I recently called a friend of mine (you know who you are) to replace me at a speaking gig I was booked for, because I was having one. I felt like a massive imposter and it got the better of me. - When someone criticises me, no matter how tiny the criticism, I shut down completely. It's like a punch to the heart and I'm unable to function for several hours, sometimes days. ADHD has enabled me in many ways, but it's also disabled me in many. I'm aware of the negatives, and I'm able to manage them a lot of the time, but often I'm not, and on those days, ADHD is bloody terrible. So when you see a 'successful' person call their ADHD a superpower, I would assume they're not being entirely honest about the dark side of it.

What does skill regression mean for autistic people? Skill regression refers to when someone's skill ability backtracks. Autistic people often feel like they become "more autistic" once diagnosed or realise they're autistic. They struggle with more and cannot do the things they used to. 📌 I used to attend school 9am-3pm every day. 🤚 Now, I would burn out to a crisp if I did that. 📌 I could work a full-time job. 🤚 I made myself sick doing this and can now only manage part-time work alongside self-employment. 📌 I travelled for over a month, said yes to all holidays and events. 🤚 Travel is now a traumatic experience for me and I say no to things out of fear of how I may cope. 📌 I used to be able to just do. Cooking, looking after myself, leaving the house. 🤚 Now, this is a much bigger weight. I feel like I get "stuck" at home or burnout far quicker. 📌I could sit in exam halls and ignore the sound of people around me 🤚Now, I can barely leave the house without headphones and struggle with my sensory issues more than anything else. It's not that I did not struggle before, i just hid it, even from myself. I didn't realise I was autistic, I was heavily masked and I did not know my own boundaries. I still faced burnout, I just didn't have the langauge. I psuhed aside warning signs. I made myself ill but had no idea why. Now, I know my boundaries more. I have faced what I can and can't cope with and it is harder now to mask and pretend I can do it. Skill regression is a real issue that autistic people face. It imapcts your work, your mental health and all aspects of you life. But how do you come to terms with not being able to do the things you so easily used to do? We are not liers or faking it. We just have a different understanding and reality now.

ADHD Works At Work 🙌 This book is a MUST for EVERYONE! Whether you 👉 have ADHD yourself 👉 manage ADHD-ers 👉 work alongside ADHD-ers 👉 are an ally to the ADHD community 👉 are part of (or want to be part of) a company that fosters neuroinclusion 👉 simply want to learn more about the challenges that ADHD-ers face in the workplace Grab your copy of ADHD Works At Work today: https://lnkd.in/eMXmFQ4R #ADHD #Neurodiversity #ADHDWorks -- 👋 Hi, I'm Rhiannon. I talk about ADHD, autism and embracing neurodiversity to help everyone thrive. Ways to work with me: ✅ 1:1 ADHD Coaching - https://lnkd.in/e9HbM-ji ✅ Neurodiversity Workshops and Training Sessions - https://lnkd.in/gX2F2EWc ✅ Neurodiversity and DEI Consulting Services - https://lnkd.in/eBQVG2nz ✅ Access to Work Application Support - https://lnkd.in/ekAfSkvH

The only person subjectively influencing accommodations should be the person who needs them 👏 And yet: ❗️Managers are more likely to approve accommodation requests from disabled workers with good past performance as opposed to poor (Florey and Harrison) ❗️Whether a person is accommodated has been found to be influenced by their personality traits (Von Schrader et al) ❗️18.1% of employers reported manager reluctance as a barrier to implementing reasonable accommodations (Neurodiversity in Business (NiB) - the Neurodiversity Charity A neurodivergent person’s access to employment should not depend on the attitude of their manager 🙅🏻♀️ #NeuroInclusion #NeurodiversityAtWork #Neurodiversity #DEI #ADHD #ActuallyAutistic #ADHDCoaching -- 👋 Hi, I'm Rhiannon. I talk about ADHD, autism and embracing neurodiversity to help everyone thrive. Ways to work with me: ✅ 1:1 ADHD Coaching - https://lnkd.in/e9HbM-ji ✅ Neurodiversity Workshops and Training Sessions - https://lnkd.in/gX2F2EWc ✅ Neurodiversity and DEI Consulting Services - https://lnkd.in/eBQVG2nz ✅ Access to Work Application Support - https://lnkd.in/ekAfSkvH

5 things you should be doing before EVERY meeting: 1. Asking the question, "Does this really need to be a meeting, or could it be an email?" 2. Sharing a full agenda and breakdown of what to expect with all attendees. 3. Letting people know that it's okay if they prefer to keep their camera off. 4. Letting people know that they can communicate using the chat function if that feels more comfortable, or email you directly after the call. 5. Letting people know that you'll be recording the meeting and sending out a list of action points afterwards, so they can just focus on being present rather than trying to simultaneously listen and make notes. Not only do these things make for more neuroinclusive meetings, they actually just make for better meetings in general 🤷🏻♀️ What would you add? 👇🏼 #ADHDAwareness #Neurodiversity #InclusiveWorkplaces #ADHDCoaching #ReasonableAdjustments #WorkplaceStrategies Original credit - Ellie Middleton -- 👋 Hi, I'm Rhiannon. I talk about ADHD, autism and embracing neurodiversity to help everyone thrive. Ways to work with me: ✅ 1:1 ADHD Coaching - https://lnkd.in/e9HbM-ji ✅ Neurodiversity Workshops and Training Sessions - https://lnkd.in/gX2F2EWc ✅ Neurodiversity and DEI Consulting Services - https://lnkd.in/eBQVG2nz ✅ Access to Work Application Support - https://lnkd.in/ekAfSkvH

Want to learn more about how we can create ADHD-Inclusive Workplaces? Check out this fantastic post by Rowan about how embracing neurodiversity isn't just about doing what's right; it's also about unlocking unique strengths like creativity and out-of-the-box thinking ✨ For more tips - https://lnkd.in/eFW-XvfY Bridget Killoury #ADHDAwareness #Neurodiversity #InclusiveWorkplaces #ADHDCoaching #ReasonableAdjustments #WorkplaceStrategies -- 👋 Hi, I'm Rhiannon. I talk about ADHD, autism and embracing neurodiversity to help everyone thrive. Ways to work with me: ✅ 1:1 ADHD Coaching - https://lnkd.in/e9HbM-ji ✅ Neurodiversity Workshops and Training Sessions - https://lnkd.in/gX2F2EWc ✅ Neurodiversity and DEI Consulting Services - https://lnkd.in/eBQVG2nz Other resources: 💡 Website Resources - https://lnkd.in/eUReZX8C 💡 Free Coaching Events - https://lnkd.in/eSFM9Zam 💡 Access to Work Application Support - https://lnkd.in/ekAfSkvH 💡 Book a Business Call - https://lnkd.in/eBQVG2nz