88: Navigating the Workplace as an Autistic Adult with Nicole Kubilus and Bret Thayer

Nicole Kubilus has a serious passion-call it a special interest-for autism advocacy. Diagnosed with autism at two years old, Nicole has pursued various types of autism advocacy work over the last twenty years.

Her artwork and poetry focus on celebrating the autistic experience and spreading awareness about ableism (which she uses to promote Understanding Autism). She is a former art educator and currently working towards a certification in counseling. She lives in Denver, Colorado.

Bret Thayer is a retired public school teacher and the parent of an autistic child. He brings his experience teaching autistic children in a mainstream classroom setting as well as a parent’s perspective navigating the complexities of having a child with special needs in public schools. He currently lives in northern Vermont.

Join us for this powerful conversation about Nicole’s experience in the workplace as an autistic adult, how Bret’s mentorship supported her as a first-year teacher, and what everyone can do to increase their awareness and refrain from expecting neurodiverse individuals to engage in emotional labor.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS:

How Nicole and Bret met and started working together.Nicole’s experiences as a first year teacher, disclosing that she had autism, and how Bret’s mentorship helped to support her.Nicole and Bret’s podcast, Understanding autism, and how they’re using it to break down stigmas and stereotypes around autism.Why intent matters in allyship.Advocating for accommodations in the workplace as a nuerodiverse person.Challenges Nicole encountered with neurotypical co-workers.What school districts and principals can do to increase awareness and training.Nicole shares with us a powerful poem she wrote about her experience with autism.

RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Visit understandingautism.info to learn more about Nicole and Bret and to listen to the Understanding Autism Podcast.Join the Understanding Autism Podcast Community of Facebook.Connect with Bret on TwitterFollow the Understanding Autism podcast on Instagram.Experience Nicole’s powerful graphite drawings and poetry.Check out UP Academy’s Project Literacy Curriculum at projectup.us. Get your copy of Rebel Educator: Create Classrooms Where Impact and Imagination MeetLearn more about Rebel Educator, explore our professional development opportunities for educators and students, and check out our project library.Visit us at UP Academy to learn more about our personalized and inclusive learning environment.Connect with Tanya and UP Academy on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram and learn more about her journey here.

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In each episode of the Rebel Educator podcast, I deconstruct world-class educators, students, and thought leaders in education to extract the tactics, tools, and routines that you can use as teachers and parents. Join me as we discuss how to shift the classroom, the learning environment, the mindset, and the pedagogy, to resist tradition, reignite wonder, and re-imagine the future of education.

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