Ash Norton-Peters is an ADHD practitioner at ProblemShared. Diagnosed with both ADHD and autism as an adult, Ash combines her professional expertise with lived experience to offer invaluable support to her clients.
In this conversation, Ash reflects on her journey into ADHD care, tackles common misconceptions around ADHD and autism, and explains how the challenges she faced during her own diagnostic process shaped her approach to supporting others.
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Why did you decide to become an ADHD practitioner?
I was in general nursing originally and saw a job advert for an ADHD specialist nurse role in my local service.
I’d been extremely interested in ADHD since I was about 16 years old (and multiple friends with a diagnosis told me I should be assessed), so I decided to apply.
What unique strengths or perspectives do you feel your neurodivergence brings to your work?
I have autism and ADHD, and was diagnosed when I was around 28 years old. I feel like having personal experience of being diagnosed with these conditions and being assessed for them as an adult gives me a unique insight into the client’s experiences.
I’ve experienced first-hand how it feels to have my symptoms dismissed by a professional after an unfortunate experience with a GP when I was a teenager, and that has enhanced my awareness of the emotions involved in seeking a diagnosis, how important it is to consider these experiences sensitively, and listen to the client’s perspective.
I’d also say that ADHD, autism, and mental health are special interests of mine, which makes it a lot easier and more enjoyable to do my work and remember information that’s relevant to my role.
How does your way of thinking or problem-solving differ from what’s typically expected, and how has that been an advantage?
I have a good memory for facts that I find interesting, so I retain random information relating to medical conditions, mental health, and neurodivergence, which has been really useful throughout my nursing career. I've been referred to as an “encyclopedia” in all my previous jobs!
What’s one common misconception about your neurodivergence that you’d like to challenge?
That people can’t be academically or occupationally successful when they are neurodivergent. Or that we’re all the same!
Everyone’s symptoms, impairments, and presentations are different, so although you have to meet certain criteria to get a diagnosis, it’s important to really explore what’s happening for that person and what they’re struggling with to determine how best to help them.
I’ve been told on many occasions that I “don’t look autistic”, which doesn’t make any sense and makes it feel like the person doesn’t believe you.
Are there any workplace adjustments or approaches that help you thrive in your role?
Working from home has been hugely beneficial for me in terms of reducing the overwhelm that the social and sensory aspects of in-person work contribute to.
There are far fewer distractions as well; I know I’m a talker, and it was very hard to reign that in in an office environment!
Plus, it’s a lot easier to be ready on time when you don’t have to factor in traffic, which I could never seem to do.
What advice would you give to managers/employers looking to be more inclusive and supportive of neurodivergent employees?
Neurodivergent people have strengths as well as weaknesses and most of us want to be good at our jobs and perform well. Talk to your employees about what they need and where they thrive and try to support that as much as is reasonable for the environment/job role.
There is a bunch of guidance available about working with neurodivergent people, but everyone is different. Try to develop a personalised approach for each employee, and if you have an idea for something that could help, ask them how they feel about it.
I’ve heard about and personally experienced employers who mean well by putting in certain adaptations, but this has actually resulted in drawing unwanted attention to the employee and tension between themselves and their colleagues.
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Who are ProblemShared?
ProblemShared is a CQC-registered online mind health service, offering the highest quality mental health care and neurodevelopmental assessments.
We believe that diversity of thought drives success. We celebrate all minds and embrace the unique strengths that neurodivergent individuals bring. If you’d like to learn more about our values and commitment to supporting neurodivergent minds, please visit our About Us page.
