Diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in their 40s and graduating with a doctorate years later, Dr. TC Waisman, EdD'20, was the first openly neurodivergent student in their graduate program at the Werklund School of Education at the University of Calgary.
Waisman was recently the keynote speaker for Empowering Neurodivergent Talent: Insights for Employers, an event hosted by UCalgary's Work-Integrated Learning for Neurodivergent Students (WIL ND) Initiative, where they spoke to employers about neuro-inclusive changes they could introduce into the workplace.
An atypical journey
Being racialized, multiply disabled and non-binary while seeking a diagnosis later in life led to many barriers throughout Waisman’s education and career.
“When an instructor, dean of a faculty, first responder, leader etc. finds out that I am autistic, the first reaction is often one of incredulousness,” says Waisman. “Because they aren’t familiar with BIPOC autistics, they tend not to believe it’s possible that I am autistic and, therefore, they often conclude that I am either looking for attention, looking for special treatment, or being difficult.”
Waisman says they received support from outspoken and dedicated supervisors while completing their Doctor of Education in leadership, policy and governance at UCalgary. This often required them to educate their professors and mentors who were learning about neurodiversity and neuro-inclusion for the first time.
“Having to do the invisible labour of educating instructors, supervisors, leaders, administrators, staff and fellow students was extremely taxing,” says Waisman.
“There were times I was ready to quit the program not because the program was difficult, but because I was exhausted from fighting for understanding and space.”
Waisman sees their neurodivergence as a strength and uses the lessons they learned from their experiences to support others navigating school and work as a neurodivergent person. They now work as a community advocate for disability justice and neuro-inclusion, speaking and working with partners across the globe, and is the co-founder of the Autistic Researchers Committee at the International Society for Autism Research (INSAR).
Waisman is proud of their atypical journey.
“I was 48 years old when I was diagnosed, 50 years old when I started carrying out autism research, and 51 years old when I graduated and became a doctor," Waisman says. "It was a long, strange trip reaching my goals, but I reached them, nonetheless. I wish I could tell my younger self that I am not broken, and I am the way I am because there are great gifts in my differences.”
Words of wisdom
Waisman suggests some strategies neurodivergent people can use to navigate their work environments:
- Understand your strengths. Make a list of your strengths. It can help others to see you through a strengths-based lens.
- Understand your needs and advocate for yourself. If you ask for what you need, your supervisor will provide a reasonable accommodation if they can. It’s important to seek accommodations before it becomes a crisis for you.
- Ask for or find a workplace buddy. Try to find someone who is patient and kind. Let them know you may ask a lot of questions up front and thank them for their patience as you learn. If you aren’t sure about a protocol, ask about it rather than trying to guess at what is needed.
- Adhere to your boundaries. If you are uncomfortable or unsure if what is being asked of you is within the expectations of your role, ask your supervisor and/or work buddy.
- Give yourself time. Learning how to carry out your role takes time and patience for everyone, not just you. You are not only learning a new job, but you are also learning how to integrate into a new culture, and that takes time.
Most importantly, Waisman reminds us that an atypical journey is a worthwhile journey.
“Don’t give up," Waisman says. "Privilege your own inner voice over others. Take breaks. Take as long as you need and change your goals as needed. You’ve got this.”
To share your story about neuro-inclusion, email nd.wil@ucalgary.ca.
