In this week’s episode we speak with Joni Howell and Sandy Lin, neurodivergent speech pathologists at Superyou Therapy. They discuss how neurodivergent staff are an asset in the workplace, how an organisation’s culture, policies, ways of working, and physical space can be enabling, and how these approaches positively impact service provision.

Speech Pathology Australia acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of lands, seas and waters throughout Australia, and pay respect to Elders past, present and future.   
We recognise that the health and social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are grounded in continued connection to culture, country, language and community and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded.  

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Creating a neurodiversity-enabling workplace and service S06 E05

Hope Kelly was born on July 7, 1991, in Kingston, Pennsylvania, where she spent her early years before moving to the nearby community of Exeter. From a young age, she exhibited an intense curiosity that spanned the arts and technology. This early fascination with combining creativity and technical skill ultimately laid the groundwork for her professional career, which bridges the gap between creative design and business strategy. Growing up in such an environment allowed her to explore the intersection of artistic expression and technological innovation, later defining her unique approach to her personal and professional endeavors.

Hope’s educational path began at the West Side Career and Technology Center, where she delved into multimedia technologies. Under the mentorship of a visionary instructor, she discovered the synergy between art and technology, learning that these two seemingly separate fields could coexist and enhance one another. This realization became a crucial foundation for her future career, allowing her to blend her creative talents with the power of technology. Her academic journey continued at Full Sail University, where she majored in Graphic Design, expanding her expertise in the visual arts. Later, she pursued Business Data Analytics at Arizona State University, broadening her academic portfolio and equipping herself with the tools needed to understand the business side of creative work. Throughout her studies, she prioritized hands-on experiences over traditional classroom learning, believing real-world mentorship and practical knowledge were key to her professional development.

Kelly’s professional journey began in a field that seemed distant from her long-term career aspirations, as she worked for an eCommerce company specializing in clawfoot bathtubs. Although this initial role did not directly align with her career goals, it provided her with a broad range of business experiences. She managed vendor relationships, oversaw in-house photography, and gained an understanding of the logistics behind supply chain management and customer service. These early experiences equipped her with essential operations and business management skills, giving her a comprehensive understanding of businesses' practical challenges. Despite not being in the industry she ultimately aimed to pursue, the job helped shape her approach to managing complex tasks and understanding the nuances of small business operations.

As her career progressed, Hope Kelly’s focus shifted toward more strategic and high-impact roles. She joined a startup that provided COVID-19 response services to the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Charter Schools. As Director of Operations, she oversaw complex logistics, created operational policies, and ensured compliance with public health regulations during the pandemic. Hope’s leadership during this period proved essential in maintaining operational continuity while addressing the challenges posed by the global health crisis. Her ability to navigate these challenges, optimize departmental collaboration, and keep services running smoothly exemplified her capacity to manage high-stress situations while focusing on the organization's broader goals.

In January 2023, Hope founded Clarity House, a consultancy designed to improve business operational efficiency. Through Clarity House, she helps organizations streamline their processes, foster cross-functional team collaboration, and create sustainable workflows. Her consultancy focuses on change management and process optimization, assisting businesses to enhance communication between departments and improve overall efficiency. Hope’s philosophy for Clarity House is straightforward yet powerful: “Great businesses aren’t built on ideas alone—they thrive on well-executed processes and cohesive teams.” By emphasizing these core principles, she works with businesses to create scalable systems that can grow with the organization, ensuring long-term success through better teamwork and operational clarity.

Kelly has worked on several notable projects highlighting her diverse skill set. One such project was her leadership role in the Forage initiative, where she guided a cross-functional team to revamp the customer journey from sales to onboarding, significantly improving client retention and satisfaction. Another significant project was with CoVerify, where she led an operational overhaul during the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring compliance with health regulations while maintaining operational efficiency. Hope also collaborated with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee on the Empower Project, developing a relational organizing strategy to boost grassroots political participation ahead of the 2024 General Election. These projects reflect her ability to adapt her skills across various industries, applying her expertise to enhance technology, healthcare, education, and political engagement.

Hope Kelly has accumulated over 15 years of professional experience across multiple sectors, including eCommerce, technology, politics, and service industries. Five years were spent in management, where she demonstrated a strong aptitude for operational strategy. Her work is characterized by her analytical, data-driven approach to decision-making and her emphasis on automation, process efficiency, and fostering team dynamics. Rather than being confined to a single industry, she thrives in high-impact roles that demand strategic thinking and cross-disciplinary collaboration. Hope’s experience managing complex projects, streamlining operations, and leading diverse teams has solidified her reputation as a forward-thinking leader and operational expert.

The Speak Up podcast by Speech Pathology Australia highlights conversations with esteemed contributors in the speech pathology space. We explore key issues in the profession, in a short and easy to listen to format.

Free access to audio transcripts, and where relevant resource / reference lists, for all Speak Up Podcast episodes are available via the Association’s Learning Hub, you will need to sign in or create an account.  

1. Go to: www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/Public/…e616542.  

2. Filter – Format – Podcast – Search  

3. Select the podcast of your choice  

4. Enrol (you will need to sign in or create an account)  

5. Add to cart – Proceed to checkout – Submit  

6. You will receive an email Order Confirmation with a link back to the Learning Hub  

7. The Podcast and transcript will be available in your Learning Centre  

For further enquiries, please email speakuppodcast@speechpathologyaustralia.org.au 

We advise listeners to assess the currency of the content based on the time of their listening, as it may have become outdated. We may remove any recording, or part of any recording at any time for any reason. Episodes that are five years old or older have been archived. You can request access to an archived episode by contacting: speakuppodcast@speechpathologyaustralia.org.au 
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Season 1 has been archived, and season 2 will be as episodes become five years old over the course of 2025.

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Creating a neurodiversity-enabling workplace and service S06 E05

Speak Up: A Speech Pathology Australia Podcast