Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2025 – Lizzie’s Story

To celebrate Neurodiversity Celebration Week, we spoke with Lizzie Percival, Graphic Designer at Vertas Group, about her career journey as a neurodivergent professional. Lizzie shared valuable insights, including the advice she would give her younger self and others embarking on their career paths.

This year, we’ve had the privilege of sharing inspiring stories from our neurodivergent colleagues, showcasing their experiences and achievements. We’re proud that these stories have already made a meaningful impact, supporting both young people and adults, and we hope that the insights shared this week will continue to inspire and support others.

We’re pleased to start the week by hearing from Lizzie about her story and advice.

What is your neurodiversity?

Dyslexia and undiagnosed autism and ADHD.

How have you found navigating the workplace as neurodivergent?

I am proud of my neurodiversity, it’s something that I am very open about and am always happy to talk about and share with others. But this wasn’t always the case.

There was a time when I felt embarrassed and ashamed that I was ‘different’. I would be scared to mention that I was dyslexic to new employers because I knew I would be met with prejudice and discrimination. Because of this, I have spent most of my career feeling like a fraud and that I didn’t deserve my place in a team. I have always had to fight to prove my worth and have my voice heard.

However, I’m so incredibly lucky that I have now found myself in an amazing and supportive team where I’m treated with respect and, most importantly, as an equal. Because of them, I have confidence in my ability for the first time in my life.

Reflecting on your career journey and growth as neurodivergent, what advice would you give to your younger self?

I wish when I was younger, someone had sat down and told me that I could be anything I wanted to be and that my disability was in no way a barrier; it didn’t define me; I just needed to have courage, determination, and most importantly belief in myself and my ability.

Another piece of advice is to be open and honest about your disability in interviews and the workplace. Scary, I know, but this doesn’t have to be done negatively. Talk about all the things you excel at because of your neurodivergence and how you would be an asset to the team. For example, logical reasoning, creative thinking, attention to detail and problem-solving skills.

Also, have the courage to own your disability. There’s only one you, so be the whole you every day and never be ashamed. Don’t compare yourself to others! We’re all unique, have different strengths and weaknesses, and move at different paces.

Do you have any tips or advice for others with similar experiences on how to thrive in their role?

Discover what you love doing. It might not be the first thing you try, but that’s okay. Keep going until you get there.

Find out what help and adaptations you are entitled to. Whether it’s preferential shifts, more time to complete tasks, having a proofreading buddy, or making sure the environment around you is just right for you, the list goes on. Sometimes, these can even benefit the whole team. At the end of the day, it’s an entitlement that allows you to help you perform at your very best.

One thing I still need to tell myself now is that we all make mistakes. Don’t dwell on them; learn from them and move on. Don’t let what you did yesterday affect your today. True progress isn’t just about tools. It’s about trusting yourself, unlearning self-doubt, rewriting the stories you’ve been told about what you can do, and stepping into the version of you that knows you’re more than capable.

Thank you for sharing, Lizzie. Read more about Lizzie’s story and the journey she’s been on here.

Next article