Hi, I’m Emily, a late diagnosed autistic and ADHD Psychology graduate and I would love to share my experiences of how Aspire has helped me!
Before Aspire…
I have always really struggled with asking for and accepting support. As an undergraduate, I thought that my disabilities were simply mental health issues and tried and failed to understand my needs through that lens, even when offered support through DSA.
There are a lot of things that I’ve always struggled with in education and work; keeping deadlines, starting a task before the last minute, intense anxiety just to name a few. However, one of the biggest struggles I had during university was that I simply didn’t understand my needs or how to manage them. I couldn’t accept that I was disabled as that would be admitting the overwhelming and exhausting reality that I will always need support and that my struggles were something I would always have to manage, and put great effort into managing every single day forever.
Even after leaving university and admitting my disabilities, I still found myself struggling; I couldn’t stay organised in any area of my life and struggled to engage with useful tools to support me because it was all too much to remember on my own.
During Aspire…
When I first began using Aspire, I was blown away by how much support and knowledge is available in the same space. Not only is there so much to learn but there are also so many useful tools to engage with in an easily digestible way.
I discovered almost all of the software that I was given by DSA and learnt so many new tips and tricks about each one that I wish I’d have known during my time at university but am excited to apply in future work!
Using the toolbox, I learnt more about how my neurodivergent brain works, and coping mechanisms that can support me to be more productive. I love the different ways information is presented, I could watch a video or read a passage, or even play a game to test my comprehension. Another particularly helpful aspect is the wellness section in which I journal my reflections and gratitudes and work through my mental health goals.
By far the most useful section for me contains the tools for work; I can easily monitor all my jobs and break up tasks into smaller steps. These features will be particularly useful as I enter self employment as I am the only person responsible for organising and managing my workload - what was once a massive fear is now something I know I am capable of.
After Aspire….
With Aspire, I have noticed that I’m far more able to hold myself accountable to deadlines, even completing my first ever job as a self employed person.
I am more confident and steadfast in my well-being journey because I am able to document and process my thoughts and feelings so I can work through mental health challenges. I also understand my ways of working better; I now understand the motivators for my ADHD and how to be kind to myself when my motivation dips and my organisation suffers.
I have been able to learn how to support myself at my own pace, using resources that have been curated by professionals and those with lived experience themselves. Knowing that I could trust the information and resources was really valuable to me, especially coming from a Psychology background. I really appreciate the time and effort that has gone into creating resources that are founded in accurate research.
The most useful aspect of Aspire for me personally is the nature of the programme itself. Having the knowledge in the same space as the tools means I am no longer exhausted at the idea of managing my disabilities as I have everything I need to help me in just one helpful neurodiverse friendly app!
A final message….
It is never too late to take your life into your own hands. Aspire is a great way to start understanding yourself and your ways of working and to use this knowledge to improve yourself.
Self growth is hard. Accountability is hard. But Aspire makes it so much easier. Whilst no app will take away our struggles completely, Aspire does provide you with the tools and knowledge necessary to manage those struggles effectively. So what are you waiting for? Take advantage of the wealth of knowledge and tools at your fingertips!