Episode 35: Ainslee Hooper

Welcome to episode #35 We’re thrilled to be joined by Ainslee Hooper today.

Ainslee is the driving force behind Ainslee Hooper Consulting, which helps public-facing organizations strengthen their disability inclusion. With a background in Anthropology and a unique approach to holistic inclusion, Ainslee is not just a researcher but a transformative advocate. She's earned accolades, including the 2020 Geelong Employment Award. Ainslee is a passionate advocate and a valued member of several advisory committees. When she's not advancing the cause of inclusion, she's doing the strength sport of a strong woman.

Welcome to the show Ainslee!

Questions

1. Can you tell us about your experience with neurodiversity? When did you realize that you weren’t neurotypical? What challenges did you face? What is it like now?
   1. Close family got diagnosed + friends got diagnosed and shared experiences “But I’m neurotypical and I do that too”
   2. Liked rules of COVID lockdown
   3. Anxiety around networking events
   4. Nutritionist - list of what I don’t eat longer than what I eat. 
      1. Referral to a psychologist and then a psychiatrist
2. What "work" projects are you concentrating on?
   1. Disability inclusion consulting
   2. Access and inclusion plans
      1. Internal and external stakeholders
   3. Wheelchair user gives empathy
   4. Customer experience journey map
   5. Anthropology is a special interest
      1. Linguistic, biological, cultural, archaeological
      2. Elicit stories from stakeholders
3. What do you do to optimize productivity during your working hours?
   1. 2005-2011 Bachelor of Arts: super focused and organized
   2. Different days of the week are devoted to different activities:
      1. Monday = Professional Development (LinkedIn strategy)
      2. Tuesday = Client engagement
      3. Wednesday = Content Creation
      4. Thursday = Project work day
      5. Friday = Admin and podcasts
4. What resources (books, philosophies, apps, sensory toys) do you find most helpful for productivity and habit formation?
   1. Trello for project management, Zapier
   2. Atomic Habits by James Clear
   3. Philosophies: lean into special interests at work
5. Where can people connect with you or find your work?
   1. LinkedIn 
   2. Website
6. JC: Do you have any final words or asks for our audience?
   1. If you think you’re neurodivergent and can afford it, get assessed

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