Adelle Tracey on Dyselxia & Dyscalculia: "I thrive in environments others find stressful"
Jan 17, 2024
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Adelle Tracey, a middle-distance track athlete representing Great Britain and Jamaica, shares her inspiring journey overcoming dyslexia and dyscalculia. She discusses how early diagnosis empowered her to thrive under pressure. Adelle reflects on the mental strategies athletes use to manage stress on race day and the joy of blending her athletic pursuits with creative passions like makeup artistry. She advocates for neurodiversity, emphasizing the unique strengths of neurodivergent individuals while dispelling common misconceptions.
Adelle Tracey highlights the empowering impact of early diagnosis on neurodivergent individuals, fostering confidence and understanding of their unique challenges.
The podcast emphasizes the importance of creativity as a beneficial outlet for neurodivergent individuals, aiding in self-expression and emotional well-being.
Deep dives
The Birth of Seedlip
The creation of Seedlip, the world's first distilled non-alcoholic spirits, originated from the desire to provide a different drinking experience. Founded by an autistic entrepreneur in 2015, Seedlip aimed to cater to individuals seeking sophisticated beverage options without alcohol. This innovative product quickly gained traction, reaching 35 countries and numerous prestigious bars and restaurants in just three and a half years. The blends are described as delicious and intriguing, offering an alternative to traditional sugary mocktails that are often unappealing.
Navigating Neurodivergence: Dyslexia and Dyscalculia
The discussion emphasizes the challenges faced by individuals with neurodivergent conditions, such as dyslexia and dyscalculia. The speaker shared personal experiences, including the impact of early diagnosis on their confidence and learning journey, making it easier to understand their differences. Dyscalculia, often described as 'dyslexia for numbers,' can manifest in difficulties with reading numbers, telling time, and processing numerical information, underscoring the daily hurdles faced by those affected. The importance of understanding and supporting neurodivergent individuals, especially in educational settings, was highlighted as crucial for their development.
Adele Tracy's Athletic Journey
Middle-distance athlete Adele Tracy discussed her journey of representing Great Britain and Jamaica on international stages, balancing her sporting career with her creative outlet in makeup artistry. She shared the emotional and psychological aspects of being diagnosed with dyslexia and dyscalculia, illustrating how understanding her neurodivergent brain has empowered her in athletics. Tracy's experiences revealed how crucial it is to create structured environments for tackling challenges, particularly on race days where time management and mental clarity are vital for performance. Her story highlights the resilience found in embracing one’s unique cognitive processes, using them to thrive in competitive settings.
The Role of Creativity in Neurodivergence
The importance of creativity was emphasized as a beneficial outlet for neurodivergent individuals, providing a sense of fulfillment and self-expression. Adele Tracy expressed her passion for makeup artistry alongside her athletic pursuits, showing how creative endeavors can alleviate the pressures of academic and professional challenges. This blend of sports and art allows Tracy to navigate her neurodivergence more effectively, demonstrating that engaging in creative activities can enhance overall well-being. The discussion pointed to the need for educational systems to recognize and nurture diverse talents, encouraging environments where individuals can excel in their unique ways.
From measuring sunflowers in Jamaican hills to racing against the clock, numbers have never come easy for track athlete Adelle Tracey.
In this chat with Ben, Adelle candidly shares the challenges and strengths that come with neurodivergent conditions, Dyscalculia and Dyslexia, and the benefits of early diagnosis.
Adelle imparts on-track wisdom, how to thrive under pressure and serves up a powerful reminder that your only competition is yourself.
On "The Hidden 20%," host Ben Branson chats with neurodivergent [ADHD, Autism, Dyscalculia, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Tourette's etc.] creatives, entrepreneurs, and experts to see how great minds.. think differently.