ADHD, Disability, and Fierce Pride: What They Don't Want You to Know

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.

Episode 034: What if your ADHD wasn’t just a challenge—but a valid disability with legal rights and pride behind it? In this powerful Disability Pride Month episode, host Ron Souers dives into the overlooked intersection of ADHD and disability. You’ll learn what the ADA really says, why invisible disabilities like ADHD matter, and how speaking up (even when it’s hard) can change your life—and the system.

With real-life stories of resilience, powerful self-advocacy tools, and a tribute to disability rights legends like Judith Heumann and Stephen Wiltshire, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

👉 Whether you’re burned out, masking at work, or just learning to embrace your neurodivergence, you’ll walk away feeling seen, empowered, and ready to reclaim your voice.

✅ What you'll learn:

• What the ADA actually says about disability and ADHD

• How internalized shame, masking, and ableism block us from getting help

• Real tools to speak up at work, school, or life—even when it's hard (below)

• The story behind the Disability Pride flag (and what each color represents)

• Powerful examples of disabled individuals who changed the world

• How to embrace your strengths, not just manage your symptoms

Whether you’re feeling dismissed, burned out, or unsure where you fit—this episode will leave you feeling empowered, seen, and proud of who you are.

ADHD-Friendly Self-Advocacy Script (Sample)

💬 “Hey, I wanted to check in about something important. I have ADHD, which is recognized as a disability under the ADA. That means sometimes I need certain things in place to show up at my best. One small accommodation that helps a ton is [insert need here, like written follow-ups after meetings or flexibility around focus breaks]. It’s not about getting out of work—it’s about doing it better. Thanks for hearing me out!”

🌀 Want to make it more YOU? Try these tweaks:

• 💡 “My brain works like 27 browser tabs open at once. This helps me stay on the right one.”
  
  

• 🧠 “ADHD means I process things differently. When I have [insert accommodation], I’m in my zone.”
  
  

• ⚡ “I’m not asking for less—I’m asking for access.”
  
  

📄 ADA Fact Sheet Link

Sometimes knowing your rights makes you feel like you’ve got a secret superpower cape under your hoodie.

🦸‍♂️ Here's your power-up:

👉 ADA Fact Sheet: What Counts as a Disability and What Your Rights Are
(Yes, ADHD counts. Yes, you’re allowed to ask for support. No, you don’t need to feel guilty.)

📌 Key facts in ADHD-friendly bites:

• ✅ ADHD = legally recognized disability
  
  

• 🧩 A “disability” is anything that significantly affects a major life activity (like focusing, remembering, time management)
  
  

• 🔑 You have the right to reasonable accommodations at work, school, and more
  
  

• 🛠️ You do NOT need to tell everyone your life story—just the part that helps you get what you need
  
  

🌱 Invite to Connect with the Community (ADHD style)

Feeling like the only space cadet in a room full of Earthlings?

You're not alone—and you're not broken.

💌 Come hang with other beautifully wired brains who get it. We share wins, faceplants, memes, and actual helpful tools.

🎉 Join the Fierce Kindness Circle here
🧠 For ADHDers, dreamers, overthinkers, and kindness-powered rebels

💬 Sample post you can drop:

“Just found out ADHD counts under the ADA—how did I not know this?! Anyone else navigating workplace stuff or accommodations right now?”

Other Great Ways to Connect with Me:

👩‍🏫Strength Coaching with Ron: www.youradhdguy.com
📬 Subscribe & join The Kindness Circle!

👩‍🦯Tik Tok @RonSolo1

📻 Patreon Patreon.com/ronsouers
📨Email Ronsouers@dadhdwss.com

"Don' Mind Me, I Just Have ADHD!" w/ Ron Souers:

Hosted by Social Shift coach and fierce kindness and ADHD advocate Ron Souers, this podcast is a raw, real, and a radically compassionate space for adults navigating ADHD, depression, anxiety, and the beautiful chaos of being neurodivergent in a neurotypical world.

Each week, Ron dives deep into the emotional archaeology of what makes us feel “too much” or “not enough,” and unearths practical, science-backed strategies to shift your perspective. From masking and rejection sensitivity to procrastination, imposter syndrome, and the ADHD–LGBTQ+ intersection, no topic is off-limits.

This is more than a podcast—it’s a permission slip to feel, to heal, and to take up space.

Expect:

🔥 Hard truths wrapped in kindness
🔥 Courageous conversations with guests who get it
🔥 Simple tools for focus, rest, connection, and growth

You don’t need to be fixed. You just need to be seen.
So hit subscribe, take a deep breath, and let’s make it cool to be different—together.

Recent Episodes:

The Wounds We Carry: ADHD, Trauma, and Healing (Part 1 with Kayla Crane)

Mental Health at Work: Why You’re Burned Out and Still Hiding It