by Emily Fellows, DSA and Workplace Assistive Technology Recipient
For many people, organisation is a skill they develop over time. For me, as a late-diagnosed autistic person with ADHD, it has always been a daily struggle.
Staying on top of tasks, deadlines, and projects has never come naturally. My mind jumps ahead to the perfect end product, skips over the practical steps needed to get there, and becomes overwhelmed by the sheer scale of what lies ahead. Without support, disorganisation quickly turns into anxiety, procrastination, and missed opportunities.
That is why the task management section of Aspire has become one of the most transformative tools in my life.
It is not simply a digital planner. It is a system that understands how my brain works — and helps me work with it, rather than against it.
When Organisation Is a Disability-Related Barrier
Whether caused by ADHD, autism, or both, organisation has always been one of my biggest barriers.
I find it difficult to:
• Break large projects into smaller steps
• Visualise deadlines clearly
• Keep track of multiple responsibilities at once
• Start tasks without feeling overwhelmed
Without intervention, this often-meant projects felt unmanageable before I had even begun. Anxiety would build. Tasks would be delayed. Deadlines would creep closer.
Aspire’s task management tools have slowly but surely changed that.
The calendar within Aspire has become my primary calendar. Every project, task, and event I upload appears automatically, allowing me to see my workload visually and clearly. This alone has been life-changing.
Seeing everything in one place allows me to:
• Monitor deadlines realistically
• Balance my workload
• Avoid unpleasant surprises
• Stay motivated by visible progress
For the first time, organisation feels achievable.
Turning Overwhelm into Manageable Steps
One of Aspire’s most powerful new features is the project upload tool.
By uploading my own project brief, Aspire’s AI:
• Extracts the key information
• Breaks the project into six manageable steps
• Assigns deadlines to each stage
• Recommends relevant articles, videos, and assistive technologies
This directly addresses one of my biggest difficulties: breaking projects down.
Normally, my mind jumps straight to the final outcome. I rarely consider the smaller steps needed to get there. Aspire does that work for me.
Suddenly, what once felt like a single overwhelming task becomes:
• A clear plan
• A structured process
• A series of achievable actions
Instead of seeing a mountain, I see a path.
Reducing Anxiety Around Starting
Starting a new project is one of the hardest parts for me.
The anxiety can be so intense that I avoid beginning until it becomes absolutely unavoidable. This pattern followed me throughout education and into working life.
Aspire’s project planning features have dramatically reduced this barrier.
Within seconds of uploading a brief, I am given:
• A structured plan
• Clear deadlines
• Targeted resources
• A realistic starting point
This transforms a terrifying unknown into something tangible and manageable.
Instead of asking, “Where do I even begin?”
I can simply begin.
Accountability That Actually Works
Like many people with ADHD, I struggle with motivation until a deadline is dangerously close.
Self-imposed deadlines rarely work. I know I set them myself — and I know I can ignore them.
Aspire solves this in a simple but powerful way.
By breaking projects into smaller steps with earlier deadlines, Aspire creates external accountability. Each stage carries its own sense of urgency, triggering motivation earlier and more consistently.
As a newly self-employed person, this has become even more important.
Without lecturers, managers, or supervisors, I am now solely responsible for:
• My time
• My workload
• My deadlines
Without Aspire, I would struggle greatly.
With it, I remain organised, accountable, and in control.
More Than Productivity — Building Independence
The task management section of Aspire is not just about efficiency.
It is about independence.
For the first time, I can:
• Manage complex projects confidently
• Track my own progress
• Take responsibility for my schedule
• Recognise my achievements
Even something as simple as ticking off a completed task has become deeply motivating.
Tasks that once caused intense anxiety and then disappeared quietly now feel like genuine accomplishments — and they deserve recognition.
A Tool for Education, Work, and Life
Aspire’s task management tools are valuable for anyone.
But for people like me — who struggle with:
• Organisation
• Time management
• Task initiation
• Accountability
They are life-changing.
The new project upload tool, in particular, has helped me develop skills that I will rely on for the rest of my career.
It has taken me from overwhelm to organisation.
From anxiety to action.
From dependence to independence.
And I am only just beginning to explore what is possible.
If, like me, you struggle with organisation, time management, or accountability, I cannot recommend Aspire’s task management tools highly enough.
Sometimes, the right support does not just help you cope.
It helps you finally thrive.