Meet Your Host

Megan Griffith (she/her) | Neurodivergent Life Coach (@megmoxie on TikTok)

Presentation:
So I'm Neurodivergent...Now What? Self-Diagnosis, Professional Diagnosis, and Other Next Steps

Megan Griffith is absolutely thrilled to host the second annual Neurodivergent Lived Experience Summit for you. She is an autistic & ADHD content creator and the CEO of Neurodivergent Magic. She's a certified life coach, with a focus on helping neurodivergent folks cope with executive dysfunction & internalized shame. These two things used to regularly destroy Megan's life, but now, thanks to everything she's learned about herself and her auDHD brain, she's able to cope in much healthier ways. When she's not working on her content or business, she can typically be found dying her hair or going on walks with her husband and son.

https://neurodivergentmagic.com/

Meet the Speakers

Kaitlyn Signorelli (she/her) | Confidence and Mindset Strategist
(@confidently_adhd on Instagram)

Presentation:

ADHD and the Effects of the Menstrual Cycle on Our Symptoms

Kaitlyn is a Confidence and Mindset Strategist for ADHD women. She teaches unstoppable ADHD women who are ready to ditch neurotypical expectations of "normal" productivity how to take control of their lives using their energy cycles, kick negative self-talk to the curb, and grow their self-confidence so that they can stand empowered in their decisions to honor the ways their brains work and live with confidence that even RSD flair-ups can't steal. She holds several coaching certifications including Confidence, CBT, REBT Mindset, and Emotional Intelligence. This global traveler lives on the east coast of the US with her husband and 2 children.

Kelsey Silver (she/her) | Operations Strategist (@kelseyesilver on Instagram)

Presentation:

Fail Fast, Fail Often for Success as a Neurodivergent Entrepreneur

Neurodivergent people are 3x more likely to become entrepreneurs, but most of the biz advice out there is structured for a neurotypical brain. With her decade of experience as a licensed therapist, corporate consultant, and MIT trained analyst, Kelsey is on a mission to support neurodivergent entrepreneurs in scaling their business, even on low spoons days, with strategies that work with their brain, not against it. Through her company, The Neurospicy CEO, Kelsey shares simple strategies to help neurodivergent entrepreneurs achieve success by embracing a business strategy that honors their neurodivergence and bankrolls their life.

https://kelseysilver.com

Camil Aponte (they/them) | Neuroinclusive Coach and Consultant
(@harmonicdivergence on Instagram)

Presentation:

Follow Your Special Interests & Monotropism

Neurodivergent (ADHDer and autistic), a student at heart and a geek, with more than 16 years of experience as an academic, educator, mentor, and curriculum developer at both university and school levels. From Puerto Rico, fully bilingual (English/Spanish). I use my experience as an educator, neurodivergent person, and parent of neurodivergent kids to help build a neuroinclusive society; this is why I became a Neuroinclusive Coach. My journey started as an undiagnosed neurodivergent child, navigating school, career, and parenthood. Not understanding my brain and lacking support made navigating a neurotypical world challenging. As we move through the different stages of life, our responsibilities, goals, and priorities shift, and strategies that work as a student might not work when you start a career or a family. I struggled with this firsthand when I realized that the systems I had in place that helped me succeed as a student were not the ones as a parent of neurodivergent children or in my career. This is why I've continued to learn and modify my toolbox to match the current needs and goals, and I would like to help you do the same. ADDCA AACC Certified (ADHD Coach Academy).

www.harmonicdivergence.com

Sara (she/her) | Content Creator
(@saranne_wrap on TikTok)

Presentation:

My Experience with Misdiagnosis as a P.O.C.

I am a late diagnosed AuDHD Latina. My goal with content creation is to spread awareness and remind people that they are not alone. Neurodiversity, entomology, animals, and art are my main special interests.

Christine Murray (she/her/they) | Licensed Certified Social Worker
(@socialworkerchristine on Instagram)

Presentation:

Accommodations for Sensory Processing Differences

Hello! My name is Christine Murray, and I am an LCSW in the state of MA and CSW in the state of RI. Nearly all of my knowledge on what it’s like to be an Autistic ADHDer with Sensory Processing Differences has been gained through self-discovery and educating myself, primarily learning from others’ lived experience. My main interests include human behavior, personality traits, and neurodivergence. I also enjoy identifying birds, being around animals, and doing arts and crafts.

Shauna (she/her) | ACE-Certified Health Coach & Personal Trainer

(@maybeitsmemaybeitsaudhd on TikTok)

Presentation:

Somatic Release for Poor Interoception and Proprioception

Hi, I'm Shauna *said in flat affect*. I’m an ACE-certified health coach and personal trainer with a mental health education background. It all comes in handy when I get to use that knowledge, training, and experience for my special interest in somatic healing for traumatized brains and bodies. I can’t cure anything, but helping others feel just a little bit better playing with the hand of cards they’ve been dealt is my life's mission.

www.co-regulators.com

Rebecca “Riki” Faith Quinn (she/they) | Content Creator/Advocate

(@reberrabon_bon on TikTok)

Presentation:

The Intersection of Autism and Feminism

Riki is an autism advocate and a crisis counselor for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. She centers mental health recovery and trauma recovery in her work.

Shelby Williams (she/her) | Social Worker/Therapist

(@shelby_thetherapist on TikTok)

Presentation:

cPTSD as a Form of Neurodivergence

Shelby is a fully licensed social worker in the state of Michigan who specializes in complex trauma (LMWS-C, CCPT II). Shelby graduated with her master of social work degree in 2020 from Grand Valley State University and has since worked as a children's homebased therapist in community mental health, and as an outpatient therapist in private practice with adults. She has experience working with children, families, perinatal mothers, and adults. Her favorite clients to work with are young adults who have struggled to gain deeper healing in therapy. As a trauma therapist, Shelby uses a variety of modalities and interventions, including Internal Family Systems/parts work, Polyvagal Theory, Compassion-Focused Therapy, Mindfulness, and Somatic Experiencing to attempt deeper healing and meaning. IFS is one of her favorite modalities because she has seen so many clients resonate with it (including herself), and has also seen such powerful shifts in how clients relate to themselves, the people in their lives, and to the world. Shelby is currently based in West Michigan. Please check out her website for more information or to get in contact with her.

shelbywilliamstherapy.com

Jamila Perry (she/her) | Content Creator

(@black_girl_uninterrupted on Instagram)

Presentation:

Bipolar & Grief

I was diagnosed with Bipoar 2 in 2017. I was medicated but under medicated and I was in denial up until January 2021. I went to IOP after my family begged me to go. I started my recovery from there. I was hypomanic during that time up until May because I was undermedicated. Then out of nowhere I fell into a deep depression. I found a new therapist and psychiatrist in July and was prescribed more meds that stabalized me. I do still have symptoms but they aren't as severe and don't last as long as they used to. I started my advocacy last October and now I go out in the community and tell my story for NAMI.

blackgirluninterrupted.com

Desi The Artist (she/they) | Artist/Content Creator

(@desitheartist on TikTok)

Presentation:

Neurodivergence & Parenting

I am a visual artist and neurodivergent content creator out of Memphis, Tennessee.

Jes Diverges (she/they) | AuDHD Coach

(@jesdiverges on TikTok)

Presentation:

Self-Sabotage Isn't Real: How to Stop Shaming Your Shame and What to Do Instead

Jes, she/they, is a trailblazing auDHD coach who works with autistic and ADHD individuals navigating CPTSD. They take a uniquely holistic, trauma-informed approach that fuses psychology, anti-racist frameworks, and radical authenticity. With a track record of empowering clients to honor their boundaries, understand their unique operating systems, and reconnect to their own joy, Jes is shifting the narrative around what it means to be neurodivergent. Get ready to have your perspective flipped and your self-compassion amplified as she debunks the myth of 'self-sabotage' in her transformative presentation. You will feel deeply seen, even in a room full of strangers, as Jes challenges the shame-centric narratives that have held you back and offers practical strategies for moving forward.

www.jesdiverges.com

Elena Chambers (she/her) | Disability Advocate

(@elenachambers_ on TikTok)

Presentation:

How to Ask for Accommodations in Various Settings

Elena Chambers is a disability advocate and writer from Ann Arbor, Michigan. She graduated from the University of Michigan in 2022, where she earned degrees in music and anthropology and was a two-time recipient of the James B. Angell Scholar award. Her writing has been published numerous times by Mentality Magazine and Steps Wellness. She maintains a disability advocacy blog called Dyscalculia Community where she writes about disability in a social context, societal-level ableism, and her personal experience of growing up with a learning disability. She is also active on social media platforms, such as TikTok and Instagram, where she posts about issues pertaining to disability justice, inclusion, and awareness. She has spoken at the 2023 Neurodivergent Lived Experience Summit and the 2022 World Unmasking Day, as well as being interviewed on the Beyond 6 Seconds Podcast. In addition to her disability advocacy, Elena has worked as a special education paraprofessional in the Ann Arbor Public Schools and is currently working on her Masters in Social Work at the University of Michigan.

dyscalculiacommunity.wordpress.com

Adrina Vines (she/her) | Content Creator

(@blackgirladhd on Instagram)

Co-Presentation with Marissa (below):

Navigating the World as a Black Woman with ADHD

Adrina is a 32 year old Houstonian who is a natural born creative. She loves anything that involves thinking abstractly. She enjoys writing poetry and fiction, art, graphic design, and spending time with her loved ones, including her cat Mango. When Adrina was diagnosed with ADHD at 29, everything in her past/current life began to make sense. She began to understand why things that seemed “simple” were difficult, or why she couldn’t keep her mind from being filled with a million ideas and creations. Being a BADHDIE has made the journey more difficult, but the destination has always stayed the same.

Marissa Ford (she/her) | Content Creator

(@blackgirladhd on Instagram)

Co-Presentation with Adrina (above):

Navigating the World as a Black Woman with ADHD

Marissa is a 34 year old educator currently living in Houston. When not working, Marissa loves spending time with family, friends, and lounging with her dog, Sushi. Some of her hobbies include creating art, traveling, trying new foods and collecting discarded hobbies. She loves anything that involves crime and solving mysteries. She was late comer to the ADHD diagnosis party but always knew she was a BADHDie. Life post diagnosis has provided the clarity she never knew she needed to increase success, decrease stress and improve advocacy through accommodations and power of voice.

Sheila Henson (she/her) | ADHD & Neurodiversity Coach

(@adhdcoachsheila on TikTok)

Presentation:

ARFID: More Than Just "Picky Eating"

Sheila Henson is an ADHD and Neurodiversity Coach and Educator, drawing from her personal experience with ADHD and Dyscalculia to empathize with and understand the challenges faced by her clients. With a diverse range of expertise, Sheila works with individuals, couples, families, and organizations, providing support through coaching, mediation, and training. She firmly believes that the keys to behavioral change lie in education, meeting individual needs, combating shame, and embracing self-acceptance. Sheila is dedicated to fostering connection and community, and is passionate about creating supportive and inclusive environments where people can learn to connect with one another and with themselves.

sheilahenson.com

Layla Saad (she/her) | NYT & Sunday Times Bestselling Author, Thinker & Creator

(@laylafsaad on Instagram)

Co-Presentation with Sharona (below):

The Joy and Importance of Neurokindred Friendship

Layla Saad is Black neurodivergent writer, thinker and creator. She is the author of the NYT and Sunday Times bestseller Me and White Supremacy, an antiracism education workbook. Me and White Supremacy was shortlisted for Book of the Year by the British Book Awards in 2021, and has been translated into six languages. Layla is also the founder and CEO of Become A Good Ancestor, a learning destination that empowers us with the tools and resources we need to heal ourselves, our relationships, and the world—from personal and systemic oppression. She is a globally respected thinker, educator, and podcast host on the topics of justice, healing, change-making, creativity, and becoming a good ancestor.

Layla (she/her) and Sharona (she/they) were friends for years, when Sharona found out they were AuDHD. It was not long after, Layla realised she was too. In this Fireside Chat they have a conversation about: Black neurokindred friendship and 1) The importance of having someone who knows and understands on the journey of being late-diagnosed in your life, 2) Acceptance (from diagnosis to intergration), and 3) Intersectional and cultural influences on the neurodivergent journey.

https://www.patreon.com/becomeagoodancestor

Sharona Lautoe (she/they) | Thinker, Writer, Creative, and Fangirl

(@iamshazzablue on TikTok)

Co-Presentation with Layla (above):
The Joy and Importance of Neurokindred Friendship

Sharona is black Surinamese femme, agender, fat, bisexual 40 year old single parent from the Netherlands. After experiencing burnout since their teens, they had done just about everything (from therapy to meditation and heaps of personal development) before getting a diagnosis for autism at age 38. Their special interests in no particular order: Heartstopper, tattoos, Stranger Things, Marvel, London, Red White & Royal Blue, true crime, behavioural psychology, Autism & ADHD. As a writer, they have written as a columnist for magazines, their own Patreon account and released their poetry collection The Divine Wild in 2017. They had their own coaching practice for several years and have also done work as a community organizer in the Dutch Ballroom scene and as co-founder of the grassroot initiative Black Trans Art & Joy Fund. Currently they are working in marketing in performing arts/ theatre.

Layla (she/her) and Sharona (she/they) were friends for years, when Sharona found out they were AuDHD. It was not long after, Layla realised she was too. In this Fireside Chat they have a conversation about: Black neurokindred friendship and 1) The importance of having someone who knows and understands on the journey of being late-diagnosed in your life, 2) Acceptance (from diagnosis to intergration), and 3) Intersectional and cultural influences on the neurodivergent journey.

Georgia Holliday (she/her) | Neurodivergent Content Creator, Advocate & Writer

(@georgiaholliday_ on Instagram)

Presentation:

The Phenomenon of Skill Regression in Late-Diagnosed auDHDers

Georgia is an autistic, ADHD content creator who shares about neurodivergence, chronic illness and mental health through her own lived experience. She uses her platform to help both undiagnosed and diagnosed AuDHDers feel less alone, raise awareness around what it actually means to be disabled and educate people on topics she is passionate about (such as feminism, LGBTQIA+ topics and other social issues). This is Georgia's second year speaking at the Neurodivergent Lived Experience Summit.

Josh Tarrant (he/they) | Content Creator

(@nuerodiversedragon on TikTok)

Presentation:

Spoon Theory

My name is Josh. I’m 23 years old I attend school at Front Range Community College and I work part time at the Longmont Humane Society. I started creating content on TikTok in 2021 in hopes to create a community and to educate others on my experience of being autistic.

Gene Lee (he/they/she/xe) | Content Creator

(@alina.gene on TikTok)

Presentation:

Autism & Social Justice

Alina-Gene Lee has been documenting their life on TikTok for over two years.
https://beacons.ai/alinagene

Annalee Wright (she/her) | Broadway Performer/Writer

(@nobodyspecialforreal on TikTok)

Presentation:

Hyperverbal/Hyperlexic Autism: Misconceptions & Suggestions

Annalee Wright is a Broadway performer and television actress (MTV) who coaches artists on social emotional learning and writes about the late diagnosed Autistic experience.
www.annaleewright.com

Chelsia Potts (she/her) | Educator and Unmasking Coach

(@heavyonthedr on TikTok)

Presentation:

The Unmasking Process

Chelsia Potts is a thoughtful leader in education with over ten years of experience in higher education administration, K-12, and non-profit leadership. As a late-diagnosed autistic/ADHD woman of color, Chelsia brings a unique perspective to her work, incorporating her personal experiences and insights into her professional endeavors. Her passion is helping others learn to unmask after trauma to reach their personal best.