Your Voice Matters

About Your Voice Matters

Welcome to Your Voice Matters, a podcast amplifying the voices of the SEND and neurodivergent community. Hosted by Asma Jacob, a dedicated SEND Therapist with 20+ years of experience, we create a safe space to share stories, build connections and inspire understanding. In each episode, we explore powerful stories and perspectives from neurodivergent individuals, their families, and professionals dedicated to supporting the SEND community. Together, we address key topics like advocacy, mental health, navigating education, and building inclusive communities. Your Voice Matters is a place where every voice is valued—because real change happens when we listen, learn, and embrace the diversity of human experience. Whether you're part of the neurodivergent community or an ally, this podcast will leave you inspired, informed, and ready to make an impact. Subscribe today and join the conversation—because your voice matters.

Publisher

Asma Jacob

Category

health & fitness · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

11 Dec 2024

Latest episode

2 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

31 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   2 Sept 2026

   Understanding Autism, Identity & the Power of Community with Rebecca Duffus

   What if the struggle isn't something wrong with you, but an environment that was never built with your brain in mind? We're exploring autistic identity, and why understanding your needs matters more than any label. "There's a high correlation between your sense of wellbeing and understanding of your autistic identity." - Rebecca Duffus In this episode of Your Voice Matters, host Asma is joined by autism specialist, author and advisory teacher, Rebecca Duffus to discuss what it really means to understand autistic identity. Rebecca shares her journey from working in a specialist school to writing Autism, Identity and Me, a workbook helping children and teenagers explore what being autistic means to them. Together, they explore how parents and professionals can approach a diagnosis conversation with care, why community and connection matter so much, and how understanding your own needs (not fixing them) is the real starting point. It's an episode full of practical, gentle guidance for anyone supporting a neurodivergent child, young person, or themselves. Key takeaways: Understanding your needs, strengths, and challenges as an autistic person matters far more than any label on its own. When talking to a child or young person about being autistic, watch your language: swap "you're autistic, but…" for "you're autistic, and…" to keep the message positive. There's no single "right" way to tell a child they're autistic. Take their lead, choose a comfortable setting, and drip-feed information over time rather than delivering it all at once. Connecting with other neurodivergent people both online and in person, is strongly linked to wellbeing and self-esteem. Every autistic person's experience is different. When you've met one autistic person, you've only met one. "It's tricky because language is really important, but it's balancing the fear of saying the wrong thing with not saying anything at all." - Rebecca Duffus About Rebecca: Rebecca Duffus BSc, PGCE, MA is an experienced Advisory Teacher with a Psychology Degree and a Masters in Autism and Education. She has 19 years' experience working with students and educators in both mainstream and specialist education settings as well as within local councils, charities and education services. Rebecca has been a speaker at conferences across the UK, developed a range of parent programmes, and provides training and coaching for settings. Where to find Rebecca: Website (https://www.rebeccaduffus.com/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/rebecca.duffus) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/rebeccaduffusautism) --- Learn more about Achievable Journey (http://www.achievablejourney.co.uk/) Follow Your Voice Matters and connect with Asma on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and X. Remember to subscribe to Your Voice Matters wherever you listen to podcasts! Share this episode with someone who could benefit from hearing the voice of the SEND and neurodivergent community. Mentioned in this episode Autism, Identity and Me workbook Spectrum Gaming  (https://www.spectrumgaming.net/) National Autistic Society (https://community.autism.org.uk/) Lyric Rivera: Neurodivergent Rebel (https://neurodivergentrebel.com/)

2. 

   20 May 2026

   Autism, ADHD & Burnout: Prioritising Needs over Labels with Lyric Rivera

   What if exhaustion wasn't a character flaw but your brain working twice as hard just to get through the day? We're exploring autism, ADHD, burnout, and why understanding your needs matter. "We're like a beautiful constellation, and we all have differences and you've got a place where you fit in." In this episode of Your Voice Matters, Asma Jacob is joined by Lyric Rivera (also known online as the Neurodivergent Rebel), an autistic ADHDer, author, and workplace inclusion consultant. Lyric shares their personal journey, from being diagnosed with autism at 30, followed by a later ADHD diagnosis in their mid-30s. They talk about what each process looked and felt like. We explore how autism and ADHD can intertwine, and how unmet needs and masking can lead to burnout. Listeners will come away with a fresh perspective: understanding your needs matters more than labels. Key takeaways: Autism and ADHD diagnoses are very different. The autism assessment often requires childhood history and family input, while ADHD assessment tends to be more straightforward and adult-focused. Hiding or adjusting autistic and ADHD traits to fit in (known as masking) takes a real toll. Over time, the effort of constant masking can lead to burnout, physical illness, and loss of skills. Knowing your needs matters more than labelling every trait. Rather than sorting behaviours into "that's autism" or "that's ADHD," it's better to focus on what support you need. Neuro-affirming workplaces benefit everyone. When environments are designed with neurodivergent needs in mind, everyone benefits. This could include flexible working hours, reduced sensory load, and clear communication. You don't need to have it all figured out. Whether you have a diagnosis or not, you can advocate for yourself by naming what you need and that is enough. "The things that neurodivergent people need benefit everyone, if we just lean into them." About Lyric: Lyric Rivera is a late-identified Autistic and ADHD adult, best known for their blog, NeuroDivergent Rebel, and for the best-selling business ethics book, Workplace Neurodiversity Rising (which was praised in Forbes as "an excellent 'how to manual 'based on lived Experience and professional competence.") Other titles Lyric has worked on include the popular children's workbook Autism, Identity, and Me (adult version coming soon), and Neurodivergent Rebel's The Weight of Normal (released this past fall). The philosophy of Neurodivergent Consulting is to support the creation of accessible workplaces and other spaces (via universal design) that enable Neurodivergent (and all) people to fully realize their unique talents and fresh perspectives through care and support of the whole person. This allows us to bring our full selves to the spaces we enter. Where to find Lyric: 🔗 Neurodivergent Rebel Website (https://neurodivergentrebel.com/) 🔗 Neurodivergent Consulting Website (https://neurodivergentconsulting.org/) 🔗 Neurodivergent Rebel Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/NeurodivergentRebel) --- Learn more about Achievable Journey (http://www.achievablejourney.co.uk/). Follow Your Voice Matters and connect with Asma on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and X. Remember to subscribe to Your Voice Matters wherever you listen to podcasts! Share this episode with someone who could benefit from hearing the voice of the SEND and neurodivergent community.

3. 

   15 Apr 2026

   Finding Yourself After a Late Autism and ADHD Diagnosis with Lyric Rivera

   Trigger warning: This episode touches on themes of childhood bullying, internalised shame and medical trauma, autistic burnout. What if everything that made life harder finally had a name and started to make sense? We're exploring late autism and ADHD diagnosis. "There's not one way to be autistic. There's as many ways to be autistic as there are autistic people in the world." In this episode of Your Voice Matters, host Asma Jacob is joined by Lyric Rivera, a late-identified autistic and ADHD adult, writer, and the creator of Neurodivergent Rebel. Lyric was 29 when they received their autism diagnosis, and over the past 10 years they have built a thriving community dedicated to sharing lived experience, challenging myths, and celebrating neurodivergent identity. Lyric and Asma talk openly about what life looked like before diagnosis such as the masking, the burnout, the sense of never quite fitting in. Then how everything began to shift once Lyric understood themselves as autistic. Whether you are newly identified, supporting someone you love, or simply curious about neurodivergent experiences, this conversation is for you. "The worst times of my life have kind of forced me to do the most growth." Key takeaways: No two autistic people are the same, it's a vast spectrum and every person's experience is shaped by their own unique combination of identity, background, and co-occurring conditions. Stop comparing yourself to others. Masking has a real cost. Years of hiding traits and trying to fit in leads to exhaustion and burnout. Understanding why you mask, and learning to unmask safely, is a vital part of autistic self-discovery. A diagnosis can be the beginning, not the end. Over time shame is replaced with self understanding and acceptance. Safe relationships are possible once you know your needs. Small, consistent strategies make a big difference. From 'parking lot' notebooks for ideas and tasks, to body doubling in the mornings and time-blocked calendars, there are actionable tools that support focus, memory, and regulation. About Lyric: Lyric Rivera is a late-identified Autistic and ADHD adult, best known for their blog, NeuroDivergent Rebel, and for the best-selling business ethics book, Workplace Neurodiversity Rising (which was praised in Forbes as "an excellent 'how to manual 'based on lived Experience and professional competence.") Other titles Lyric has worked on include the popular children's workbook Autism, Identity, and Me (adult version coming soon), and Neurodivergent Rebel's The Weight of Normal (released this past fall). The philosophy of Neurodivergent Consulting is to support the creation of accessible workplaces and other spaces (via universal design) that enable Neurodivergent (and all) people to fully realize their unique talents and fresh perspectives through care and support of the whole person. This allows us to bring our full selves to the spaces we enter. Where to find Lyric: 🔗 Neurodivergent Rebel Website (https://neurodivergentrebel.com/) 🔗 Neurodivergent Consulting Website (https://neurodivergentconsulting.org/) 🔗 Neurodivergent Rebel Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/NeurodivergentRebel) --- Learn more about Achievable Journey. (https://achievablejourney.co.uk/) Follow Your Voice Matters and connect with Asma on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and X. Remember to subscribe to Your Voice Matters wherever you listen to podcasts! Share this episode with someone who could benefit from hearing the voice of the SEND and neurodivergent community.

Who has been a guest on Your Voice Matters

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Riko Ryuki
• Nia Zihni
• Carolyne Shallop
• Carly Considine
• Jude

Podcast Authority Score: 31 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

61

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

0