In this episode of Atypical 9to5, host Rayna Spasova–van Aalst speaks with Iris Brugman, an autistic social designer, researcher, and expert by experience. Iris shares how her motto, “Finding Power in Thinking Divergently,” drives her innovative work in tackling societal challenges through design. Together, they explore the challenges autistic women face in the workplace, the importance of understanding accommodations, and ways to break down systemic barriers in education and employment.

Learn more about Iris Brugman and her work on LinkedIn.

Key Moments

00:00 - Welcome to Atypical 9to5 00:17 - Meet your host, Rayna Spasova - van Aalst 00:52 - Introduction to the podcast and guest 01:30 - Iris Brugman: a journey in social design 02:32 - The power of thinking divergently 04:35 - Superpowers vs. powers: a deeper dive 07:28 - Navigating disclosure in the workplace 21:41 - Challenges for autistic women in the workforce 30:13 - Balancing work from home and office 33:17 - Final thoughts and advice 37:12 - Conclusion and where to find more Information

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