Why Your Workplace Is Failing Neurodivergent Employees | with Shea Belsky

What does it actually take to create a fair hiring process for neurodivergent candidates and why does it matter for everyone, not just a few? In this episode, Kevin Cameron sits down with Shea Belsky, an autistic software engineer and neurodiversity advocate, to talk about the parts of hiring and onboarding that most companies are quietly getting wrong. Shea brings a direct, no-fluff perspective on when and how to disclose a diagnosis, why accommodations are an investment not an expense, and what onboarding looks like when it actually works. If you manage people, hire people, or are neurodivergent yourself — this conversation will shift how you think. Key Takeaways When disclosing a neurodivergent diagnosis, always frame it around a specific need — not just the label. The return on investment is a more capable, more confident employee. One in seven people worldwide are neurodivergent — far more than most workplaces acknowledge. Dropping someone into a new role with no ramp-up hurts everybody, but hits neurodivergent employees hardest. Workplace tools like AI note-taking and quiet rooms benefit the whole team — not just one person. Framing your needs to a hiring manager is not a warning. It is a map to your best work. Episode Highlights Why disclosing a diagnosis without context can backfire — and how to frame it effectively. The honest case for why accommodations pay for themselves. How one in seven people around you may be neurodivergent without either of you knowing it. The onboarding mistake that sets people up to fail from day one. Shea's vision for a tool that helps every employee cut through the masking and communicate what they actually need. Timestamps 00:00 — Introduction 02:28 — What neurodivergent candidates face in interviews 04:39 — When and how to disclose: framing it as a need 06:00 — What to tell a hiring manager vs a recruiter 07:21 — Why hiring managers fear getting it wrong 09:28 — Accommodations as investment, not expense 13:27 — Most common accommodations in interviews and on the job 15:11 — AI tools and cultural shifts that benefit everyone 17:29 — How many people around you are neurodivergent 23:43 — The onboarding mistakes companies keep making 29:08 — What Shea wishes existed for every employee 33:35 — Framing your needs as your superpower 35:12 — Shea's why Connect With Shea LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sheabelsky Website: https://www.sheabelsky.com/ If you found this advice valuable, please hit subscribe, leave us a review. Visit Talent Connect: Website: www.talent-connect.net LinkedIn: Talent-Connect Kevin's LinkedIn: Kevin Cameron PCC Production Credit: Edited and produced by @the32collective_ / https://www.the32collective.co/