Creating space for neurodivergent people by default | Shirin Yazdian | TEDxNHS

Quick Overview

Shirin Yazdian advocates for a cultural shift in healthcare, moving away from the default of hiding neurodivergence (like ADHD) during professional interactions, urging healthcare systems to actively build inclusive practices that assume competence and belonging for neurodivergent clinicians, such as herself, rather than waiting for disclosure.

Key Points: Shirin Yazdian, a Psychology Master's student and neurodivergent individual, shared her personal story about navigating the professional world while having ADHD. She recounted receiving feedback after a job interview suggesting she not disclose her ADHD because 'you don't look like you have it,' highlighting internalized stigma. Yazdian rejected an offer from a role where she felt she had to hide her neurodivergence, emphasizing that the perceived incompatibility between ADHD and traits like compassion, creativity, and resilience is false. She argues that many neurodivergent individuals carry shame, fearing that disclosing their condition will cause others (supervisors, managers, colleagues) to doubt their competence or perceived well-being. The speaker challenges the idea that acceptance begins only at the point of disclosure, asserting that inclusion must be the default setting in healthcare culture. Yazdian advocates for building systems that support neurodivergent clinicians, politicians, athletes, and celebrities, enabling them to thrive without constant performance anxiety about their diagnosis.

Context: Shirin Yazdian delivers a TEDxNHS talk focusing on the experience of being neurodivergent, specifically citing her own journey with ADHD in professional settings. The talk centers on overcoming the societal and systemic pressure to conceal or apologize for neurodivergent traits, arguing that the healthcare system and society at large must proactively foster inclusion rather than waiting for individuals to disclose their conditions.

Detailed Analysis

Shirin Yazdian shares her experience navigating professional life while being neurodivergent, specifically dealing with ADHD. She describes the intense pressure to hide her diagnosis, recounting an early job interview where she was told not to disclose her ADHD because she 'didn't look like' she had it, leading her to reject the job offer. She details carrying immense shame about being neurodivergent for years, fearing that disclosure would cause colleagues, managers, or even mentors (like Iranian presidents or physiotherapists) to doubt her competence, compassion, creativity, or resilience. Yazdian critiques the current culture where disclosure is often treated as a prerequisite for accommodation or acceptance, arguing that inclusion should be the default state. She calls for a fundamental shift in language and systemic culture within healthcare and other fields, ensuring that neurodivergent individuals can show up fully and openly without having to constantly justify their existence or abilities.