How Derek Put ‘Autistic, ADHD’ In His Email Signature And Thrived

In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr. Angela Kingdon welcomes technologist and advocate Derek Crager, who discovered he was Autistic and ADHD at age 50 — after decades of burnout, masking, and surviving unsafe workplaces.

Derek shares how that late diagnosis changed everything: his relationships, his leadership at Amazon, and his mission to build Pocket Mentor, a voice-based AI tool that helps real humans — not “ideal employees” — get the support they need in the moment they need it.

🪑 Attendees

Chair: Dr. Angela Kingdon — Author, community-builder, and Autistic advocate

Guest: Derek Crager — Autistic/ADHD technologist, founder of Pocket Mentor, and author of Human First AI

You: The Listener!

🗒️ Meeting Agenda

1. Opening remarks from the Chair
2. Member introduction: Derek’s 10-year road to diagnosis
3. Discussion: Work, masking, and Autistic safety
4. Key learnings from the meeting
5. Club announcements

🧾 Minutes from the Meeting

1️⃣ Opening Remarks

Angela opens the meeting by reminding listeners:

“You’re allowed to take ten years to get here. We saved you a seat.”

2️⃣ Member Introduction: Derek’s Story

Derek describes decades of dangerous job sites and social isolation before finally receiving his autism and ADHD diagnoses at 50. Realising his brain wasn’t broken — just wired for depth and precision — gave him permission to stop apologising for his curiosity.

3️⃣ Discussion Highlights

• From Surviving to Designing: How Derek turned his late diagnosis into an advantage at work.
• Human-First AI: Building tech that adapts to people, not the other way around.
• Autistic Belonging: Creating relationships and workplaces that honour honesty and safety.

4️⃣ Key Learnings

• Late diagnosis brings clarity, not limitation.
• Autistic design principles benefit everyone.
• Authenticity at work is psychological safety in action.

🔗 Links

• Web: https://www.practicalai.app
• New Book: https://www.humanfirstai.net (Free Chapter)

📣 Club Announcements

• 🎧 The Late Diagnosis Club is available on all major podcast platforms.
• 💬 Join our online meetups and community at latediagnosis.club.
• 💜 There is a small charge — but no one is turned away for lack of funds.

🎙️ Executive Producers: Amy Burns, Anamaria B Call, Andrew Banner, Anna Goodson, Ashley Apelzin, Audrea Volker, Ben Coulson, Brian Churcek, Cappy Hamper, Carley Biblin, Charlene Deva, Chloe Cross, Clay Duhigg, Clayton Oliver, Danny Dunn, Daria Brown, David Garrido, Emily Burgess, Eric Crane, Erik Stenerud, Fiona Baker, Grace Norman, Helen Shaddock, Jaimie Collins, Jason Killian, Jen Unruh, Jennifer Carpenter, Julia Tretter, Kathie Watson-Gray, Kenneth Knowles, Kira Cotter, Kristine Lang, Kyle Raney, Llew P Williams, Laura Alvarado, Laura De Vito, Laura Provonsha, Lily George, Nelly Darmi, Nigel Rogers, Rachel Miller, Tim Scott, Tyler Kunz, Victoria Steed, Yanina Wood.

🎧 Producers: AJ Knight, Bobby Simon, Da Kovac, Eleanor Collins, Emily Griffiths, Hannah Hughes, Jennifer Kemp, Jonas Fløde, Kate F, Katie N Benitez, Kendra Murphy, Lisa Dennys, Logan Wall, Louise Lomas, Melissa Nance, Nicola Owen, Rebecka Johansson, Sam Morris, Sarah Hannah Morris.

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