Hi, I'm Sam. After decades of missing the signs, I was diagnosed with ADHD in January 2025. Looking back, the indicators had always been there, but the changes brought about by perimenopause made it impossible to continue masking and finally pushed me to seek the answers I desperately needed.
Receiving my diagnosis brought an overwhelming sense of relief. In the weeks leading up to it, I had convinced myself that I wasn't neurodivergent, so when the confirmation came, I felt a huge weight lift. Having an explanation for experiences that had shaped my life for so long gave me clarity, self-understanding, and the opportunity to challenge a lifetime of unhelpful narratives I'd been carrying about myself. It also sparked a passion to share my story so that others don't feel alone in their own journey.
For much of my life, I believed I simply wasn't trying hard enough, despite putting in immense effort. I struggled with interrupting others, completing tasks that didn't capture my interest, and relentless overthinking. My diagnosis helped me reframe these experiences. My brain isn't faulty; it simply works differently. While ADHD undoubtedly brings challenges, it also comes with significant strengths, including creativity, resilience, problem-solving, curiosity, and the ability to hyperfocus when I'm engaged and motivated.
Since then, I've been learning to work with my brain rather than against it. That has involved exploring strategies, tools, and environments that allow me to thrive, while recognising that understanding ADHD is an ongoing process of discovery and self-compassion.
Professionally, I work as an Accessibility & Inclusive Design Consultant, specialising in the creation of neuroinclusive environments. My work focuses on helping organisations, workplaces, housing providers, and public services better understand how the environments they design can either support or inadvertently create barriers for neurodivergent people. Through this work, I advocate for inclusive design approaches that recognise neurological differences and enable people to perform at their best. My own experience of ADHD has strengthened my belief that accessibility is about creating environments, systems, and cultures where everyone can participate and thrive.
Alongside my professional role, I serve as a Parish Councillor. Working within local government has given me a valuable perspective on the importance of representation, inclusive decision-making, and community engagement. Living and working with ADHD in both professional and public service settings has shown me that neurodivergent thinking can bring fresh perspectives, creativity, and innovation to leadership and problem-solving.
For me, becoming an ADHD UK Ambassador is about helping to shift the narrative around ADHD, particularly by challenging misconceptions such as the idea that "everyone is a little bit ADHD." ADHD is a recognised neurodevelopmental condition that can have a significant impact on people's lives, relationships, education, and careers. At the same time, it is important to recognise the strengths, talents, and unique perspectives that often accompany it.
Within the workplace, ADHD is still too often viewed through a deficit-based lens. In reality, neurodiversity represents a valuable source of talent, innovation, and alternative ways of thinking. Neuroinclusion is not simply about making reasonable adjustments; it is about creating environments where different thinking styles are recognised, valued, and supported. Through my work, advocacy, and lived experience, I am passionate about promoting greater awareness and understanding of ADHD, helping others recognise themselves sooner, and encouraging more balanced conversations about what it truly means to be neurodivergent. Ultimately, I want to help create a society where people with ADHD feel understood, empowered, and able to thrive as their authentic selves.
@sam.reed.123829
@samonshuffle