From Masking to the Microphone: Reflecting on an Unforgettable Neurodiversity Celebration Week

Last week was...well, it was something else!

If you’d told me ten years ago that I’d one day be standing on stage at New Scotland Yard, speaking to an audience of police officers, professionals, and leaders while also being streamed live across the UK, I would’ve laughed and asked what film you were quoting. And yet, there I was, invited to be a guest speaker at the opening of the UK Police’s Neurodiversity Celebration Week.

And not just speaking, but speaking honestly.

Talking openly about masking, self-doubt, and identity. About being neurodivergent in systems not designed for minds like mine. And, perhaps most powerfully, about what it means to finally find your voice after years of hiding it.

The Honour of the Invite

Being asked to speak at New Scotland Yard wasn’t just an invitation, it was a moment of genuine pride. I walked into that room not just as an author or advocate, but as someone who had spent a lifetime trying to fit in before finally realising that the real power lies in standing out.

I opened with a little bit of theatre: presenting myself under my author pseudonym and then challenging the audience to consider whether they would trust me in a specialist or policing role. Once the guesses were in, I revealed my professional background, and that’s when the room changed.

That moment wasn’t about trickery. It was about confronting assumptions. It was about showing how quickly we label others, and how easily we overlook potential when it doesn’t fit the mould.

It landed.

And then…came the crash.

Hello, Imposter Syndrome (Again)

After the talk, I wandered the streets of London for a few hours. My brain, ever the overachiever, decided this was the perfect time to rerun every single word I’d said. Did I over share? Did I sound preachy? Did my “I am a liar” line miss the mark?

Classic imposter syndrome, showing up right on cue.

But then came the messages.

Emails. LinkedIn DMs. People reaching out to say they’d never heard neurodivergence spoken about in that way before. That it made them think. That it made them feel seen.

And suddenly, that internal noise got a bit quieter.

Moments That Matter

Throughout the week, I had the privilege of attending incredible events, including the closing celebration at the University of Derby. While I wasn’t speaking at that one, it was just as powerful. I watched people who had once been attendees at my talks now stepping up to share their stories. Some who I recall telling me they would never feel brave enough telling their story on a stage, and yet there they were!

That, for me, was the most humbling moment of all.

Because it showed that the ripple effect is real. That visibility matters. That when we speak up, we give others permission to do the same.

Why This Week Hit So Hard

This wasn’t just about one talk. It was a full-circle moment for someone who spent most of their life masking, trying to pass as “normal,” and feeling like their brain was too loud, too weird, too much.

But last week, I stood, figuratively and literally, in my truth. I spoke about my upcoming book NeuroEdge for the first time in front of a live audience, holding the only printed copy in existence like it was some kind of ancient scroll. It felt real.

Not just the book, but the mission behind it.

Because this isn’t just about my story. It’s about all of us, those who’ve had to unlearn shame, navigate burnout, and redefine what success looks like outside the neurotypical rulebook.

The Neurodiversity Movement, Not the Moment

Neurodiversity isn’t a trend. It’s not a hashtag you use for a week and forget the next.

It’s a movement. A necessity. A long-overdue shift in how we understand, support, and celebrate the way different minds work.

And while progress is happening slowly yes, but surely, it still comes with resistance. Lip service is easy. Real inclusion takes effort. But I’ve seen what’s possible when people actually listen, when systems start to adapt, and when neurodivergent voices are given the mic instead of being told to stay quiet.

This week reminded me why I do this work. Why I wrote NeuroEdge. Why I keep speaking, even when self-doubt tries to shut me up.

If You Take One Thing Away

I want you to know this: you don’t need to “fix” yourself to fit the world. The world needs to open up to fit you.

NeuroEdge is my way of helping with that shift. It’s raw, real, and rooted in lived experience. It’s for anyone who’s ever felt like they had to hide, shrink, or mask just to survive. And it’s for the allies and changemakers who want to be part of building something better.

You can pre-order the book now (shameless plug but hey, it matters):

📖 Pre-order NeuroEdge – Out June 18th

✉️ Join the newsletter – for behind-the-scenes, reflections, and things I don’t always say on stage

Final Thoughts

Ten years ago, I wouldn’t have imagined this week.Ten years ago, I was still trying to disappear.Last week, I showed up...and I showed up fully as me.

Now, I’m asking: what would happen if more of us did the same?What would it look like if neurodivergence wasn’t hidden, apologised for, or explained away—but embraced as the asset it truly is?

Let’s find out together.