Let's Talk Disability - Neurodiversity

Описание: Featuring PJ Hemmaway & Julia (Graduate Intern, Medical School & EDI Secretary)
Hosted by Professor Jackie Carter




In the very first episode of Let’s Talk Disability, Professor Jackie Carter launches the series with a conversation that sets the tone for everything that follows: open, honest, warm and deeply rooted in lived experience. She brings together PJ Hemmaway, the University’s Chief Information Officer, and Julia, a recent graduate and staff member living with autism and ADHD, for a thoughtful and energising dialogue about disability, workplace culture and meaningful inclusion.


Julia speaks with clarity, humour and insight about her journey from undergraduate to Master’s student and now graduate intern in the medical school. She reflects on living with a hidden disability, the challenges of masking, and the anxieties that come with navigating new environments while trying to appear “neurotypical”. She talks candidly about things others often take for granted — eye contact, pacing conversations, uncertainty around expectations — and the invisible effort disabled staff expend to fit into workplace norms.


Yet her story also shines with strength. Julia describes the unique advantages of her neurodivergence: hyperfocus, attention to detail, directness, deep analytical thinking and the ability to follow complex processes meticulously. She shares how these strengths enable her to be a highly effective and committed member of Professional Services, especially in administrative and procedural work. Her reflections illuminate why neurodivergent staff are not just contributors, but assets to the University.


Sitting opposite her, PJ Hemmaway responds with genuine curiosity, humility and care. He speaks openly about his own dysgraphia, the value of difference, and his leadership commitment to visibility, approachability and co‑creation. PJ asks thoughtful questions about Julia’s experiences — how she discloses disability, what support she needs, and what managers can do better. He acknowledges the gaps in IT accessibility and service responsiveness, and embraces Julia’s feedback as actionable insight rather than criticism. His willingness to learn publicly models the allyship the series seeks to cultivate.


Together, they explore powerful themes, including:

• masking, anxiety and the emotional labour behind hidden disabilities
• the importance of clarity, check‑ins and confidence‑building from managers
• how EDI‑explicit recruitment messaging can empower disabled applicants
• the strengths neurodivergent staff bring to detail‑oriented and high‑focus work
• why peer networks and safe spaces matter for disclosure and wellbeing
• co‑creating accessible services and involving disabled staff in design
• the reality that large institutions change slowly — and why persistence matters
• balancing independence with support for early‑career staff

Throughout the conversation, both guests bring warmth, humour and vulnerability. Julia’s honesty about forgetting to drink water during hyperfocus, PJ’s openness about learning from mistakes, and Jackie’s reflections on the wider disability culture shift make this first episode deeply relatable.


As the episode closes, PJ commits to improving accessibility and responsiveness in IT support for staff and students. Julia asks for continued, consistent emphasis on EDI across the University — not just for her own benefit but for the wellbeing of all disabled colleagues and future applicants.


This opening episode is hopeful, reflective and full of humanity — a perfect introduction to a series centred on listening, learning and building a more inclusive University for everyone.



Send us your questions or comments to [email protected] with the subject 'LTD' or connect with Jackie on Linkedin at   / drjackiecarter  


Listen, learn, and help drive real change—because disability inclusion benefits everyone.