1. S1, Ep1: Discovering you're autistic in adulthood - and finding work that fits you, when you don't fit work

Welcome to Squarepeg, the podcast in which neurodivergent women, trans and nonbinary people explore navigating a neurotypical world and share their insights, challenges and successes. Lis Parsons is an Open University tutor from North Wales who describes herself as ‘the classic gifted student with no social skills’. Diagnosed autistic in her 40s, she says that in some ways she’s a ‘slow learner’, but despite experiencing interruption in her education, she has gone on to achieve a BSc in Psychology and an MA in Creative Writing. In this conversation I talk with Lis Parsons about growing up and trying to make sense of life before diagnosis; trying to find a doctor who understands autism in women; the challenges of staying in employment - and paying the bills - when you’re autistic; finding engaging and rewarding work that suits us and fits our needs; and how being autistic can give us certain advantages in life. Squarepeg is a podcast in which neurodivergent women, and trans and nonbinary people, explore navigating a neurotypical world and share their insights, challenges and successes. I hope that these conversations will be inspiring and thought provoking, open you up to new ways of thinking about being neurodivergent, and help you feel more connected to a worldwide community of people with similar experiences. I’m Amy Richards, and after being diagnosed autistic at the age of 37 I’m now on a mission to learn more about different perspectives and issues around being a neurodivergent adult in a world that feels like it doesn’t quite fit. If you'd like to connect or get in touch, you can find me on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/squarepeg.community/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/squarepegautism  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/squarepegautism/  Or on my website: http://squarepeg.community/