Meet Daryl – It’s 3 PM somewhere, so the fact that he is completing various side quests simultaneously now makes complete sense!

Talking about neurodivergence is probably, ironically, one of the hardest topics for me to talk about… This blog will make you question every conversation we have ever had, from attending our training, receiving my emails or as someone I am comfortable being my true self around. 

So, let’s go for it; let’s rip off the Band-Aid!

Hi… I’m Daryl McMullan. I’m the Managing Director of The Inclusivity Group and all the companies that fall within the group. I’m an NRCPD registered BSL/English Interpreter, Lipspeaker, Electronic Notetaker, Theatre Interpreter and Professional Supervisor. If you didn’t blink, you might also have seen me briefly as the BSL Interpreter/Lipspeaker on the 2023 TV series The Great British Bake Off, where I was privileged to support a friend in achieving their goals. I am also an obsessive fan of theatre and making theatre and performances accessible.

So, that’s the corporate bit out of the way, let’s get real

I’m Daryl, a fast-talking, overthinking and storytelling Dyslexic. I care about everything, feel emotions strongly, and often, when tired, can’t remember how to spell the word THE! My Neurospiciness does not end here; I may also have ADHD, and I worry about people I care about constantly. I also LOVE my dogs, tortoise, kids, mother, and partner more than any human being should! Ooo, yes, and somewhere in all this, I find myself running a company or two, mentoring people I admire and interpreting more shows than anyone should.

Cool, I’m happy we got that out of the way! My heart has not jumped out of my shirt, even though it feels like it should have.

People’s Perception of you is everything, or is it?

Neurodivergence is a term that is used more and more often these days, but often it has negative connotations to it.

Dyslexics can’t spell, ADHD’ers can’t focus, and both are categorised as unintelligent. These thoughts shoot through my brain every time I meet someone and decide to disclose to them what makes me, me. TO BE CLEAR: I do not agree with any of those statements—far from it—but I worry others do, as that is what society tells people or at least what TV portrays. No matter how many articles, research projects, books or self-accounts I read, this worry remains.

Being neurodivergent, or Neurospicy as I prefer to call it, is something I’m immensely proud of. Having said that, it is also my biggest vulnerability, my very own Kryptonite. 

My thinking is different from everyone else’s. I never think in chronological order. I think creatively. I talk wildly. I remember random facts that are irrelevant to most but will be useful at some point. I see people differently and will pick up on the subtlest change or emotional shift in people. All of these things make me great in many aspects of my various roles, but they also throw up challenges.

Let’s change some perceptions of neurodiverse people

People who are neurodivergent (particularly Dyslexic and ADHD): 

• Think outside the box,
• Are super-intelligent,
• Feel emotions strongly,
• Are often thinking of at least six thoughts at once and can be unable to separate them (let us work through them all, we will finish each thought/story), 
• Can struggle with rejection sensitivity,
• Often, we put ourselves down, feel like an imposter and worry about our worthiness.

Neurodivergence, or a different way of thinking

With all this being said, it’s important to me that the next generation can positively think about themselves. They see their differences as a skill and an asset. They can be proud of who they are and not worry about what others think. Most importantly, they should not have those thoughts going around in their heads about what others might be thinking about them. They should know there are support systems out there, colleagues who will help them to be their best, friends who will always support you and schemes, such as Access-To-Work to ensure you can be your best you, whatever that might be.

The final thought

Being who I am, a business owner, a small human owner, a neurodivergent individual, a dog, a tortoise and an amazing small human parent has taught me so much. Even with this, forcing myself to be comfortable talking to others about who I am, learning what makes me – me, and how I manage to fit into the corporate world has been my biggest eye-opener.

Having others tell me about the impact of knowing others are similar to them, and the reassurance that they provide gives me a selfish and warm feeling inside. I get to make a difference to others and how they see themselves by being vulnerable about who I am, so if you can also, then know it will make a difference to someone else.

To find out about our other team members and how we support individuals like Daryl, check out The Inclusivity Group.