Autistic coming-of-age stories – with Kelly Coons

01/17/22 • 43 min

1 Listener

Beyond 6 Seconds: Neurodiversity stories from neurodivergent people

Before Kelly Coons was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at the age of thirteen, she had a coming-of-age story that was mostly deemed as neurotypical. However, she always felt isolated and, until her diagnosis, believed that she was to blame.

After her diagnosis, Kelly became passionate about disability advocacy and promoting autistic pride. Today she is an autism advocate and a novelist who studied English at Smith College.

During this episode, you will hear Kelly talk about:

Growing up with two autistic brothers – and how she got her own autism diagnosis
How Kelly learned she is autistic – a year after her parents and teachers already knew
Her autism advocacy – and why she likes answering people’s questions about autism most of the time
Life as an autistic college student
The story behind her novel, All Ways, and how it counteracts common literary narratives about autism by centering autistic experiences and voices

To find out more about Kelly and her work, check out her website, learn more about her novel "All Ways" and connect with her on Instagram or LinkedIn.

Watch the video of this interview on YouTube!

Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes!

Click here for the episode transcript.

*Disclaimer: The views, guidance, opinions, and thoughts expressed in Beyond 6 Seconds episodes are solely mine and/or those of my guests, and do not represent those of my employer or other organizations.*

After her diagnosis, Kelly became passionate about disability advocacy and promoting autistic pride. Today she is an autism advocate and a novelist who studied English at Smith College.

During this episode, you will hear Kelly talk about:

Growing up with two autistic brothers – and how she got her own autism diagnosis
How Kelly learned she is autistic – a year after her parents and teachers already knew
Her autism advocacy – and why she likes answering people’s questions about autism most of the time
Life as an autistic college student
The story behind her novel, All Ways, and how it counteracts common literary narratives about autism by centering autistic experiences and voices

To find out more about Kelly and her work, check out her website, learn more about her novel "All Ways" and connect with her on Instagram or LinkedIn.

Watch the video of this interview on YouTube!

Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes!

Click here for the episode transcript.

Previous Episode

Natalie Brooks – Dyslexia in Adults

Feeling frustrated and alone, Natalie Brooks started posting on Instagram about her struggles as a dyslexic adult in the workplace.

She soon realized that her experiences resonated deeply with dyslexic adults around the world -- and it inspired her to expand her social media following into a global online community!

Through her company, Dyslexia in Adults, Natalie has built a supportive and collaborative community where dyslexic adults discuss the challenges and strengths of their dyslexia.

During this episode, you will hear Natalie talk about:

How a working environment that benefits dyslexic employees can also benefit everyone at work
Her own struggles with self-doubt and low self-confidence at work
Why she decided to share her struggles on social media, and how that led her to create a supportive online community for dyslexic adults
How she handles her imposter syndrome when it comes to talking about her company
Her perspectives on common dyslexic strengths

For more information about Natalie and her work, visit her website at www.dyslexiainadults.co and follow her on Instagram @dyslexia_in_adults.

Watch the video of this interview on YouTube!

Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes!

Click here for the episode transcript.

Next Episode

My life so far with dyspraxia – with Rosemary Richings

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Rosemary Richings is a writer, author, panel member of Dyspraxia Magazine, and co-founder of Dyspraxic Alliance, a global online support network by and for dyspraxics. When she was four years old, she was diagnosed with dyspraxia (developmental coordination disorder).

In 2014, Rosemary started her own freelance writing business to reduce the stress of finding an accessible work environment. Her debut book, “Stumbling Through Space and Time: My Life So Far with Dyspraxia” is being published in the fall of 2022. Recently, Rosemary joined the board of trustees of Dyspraxic Me, a peer group for dyspraxic youth.

During this episode, you will hear Rosemary talk about:

Her dyspraxia diagnosis, and how dyspraxia affected her at school
Her struggle to find a supportive working environment where she could truly thrive
How she developed her longtime passion for writing into a freelance writing business
What had inspired her to write her book about dyspraxia, and how social media connected her to a publisher

To find out more about Rosemary and her work, you can find her with the following links below!

Rosemary’s Twitter

RosemaryRichings.com (Rosemary's consulting website)

RosieWritingSpace.com (Rosemary’s writing blog)

DyspraxicMe Twitter

Dyspraxic Alliance Twitter

Watch the video of this interview on YouTube!

Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes!

Click here for the episode transcript.

This episode also features a promo for the new season of 2 Lives, a podcast about people who faced darkness and how those incidents changed the trajectory of their lives.