Self-Compassionate Professor 209. Supporting the neurodivergent academic with Dr. Erica McIntyre
Jul 16, 2025
Dr. Erica McIntyre, an ADHD and organizational coach, is on a mission to support neurodivergent academics. She shares her experiences as an ADHD'er in academia and offers insights into how institutions can better support neurodivergent faculty. Erica emphasizes the importance of inclusive environments that benefit all academics, discusses the need for community support, and highlights small actions that can spark larger systemic changes. Her journey showcases the transformational power of understanding ADHD and fostering supportive systems.
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Erica's ADHD Diagnosis Journey
- Erica McIntyre was diagnosed with ADHD at 43 during her PhD, after years of challenges unnoticed because of the era and gender stereotypes.
- Her graphic design career had structure and support, which helped manage ADHD symptoms better than academia did.
Structure Enables Neurodivergence
- Flexible structure with clear routines can support neurodivergent people to thrive by giving them space to be themselves.
- Academia's lack of boundary between work and home constrains this needed space, intensifying challenges for ADHD individuals.
Neurodivergence as Identity
- Neurodivergence is a social identity highlighting brain differences, not deficits or disorders.
- Designing workplaces for neurodiversity improves conditions for all, promoting inclusivity and effectiveness.