From Awareness to Acceptance: What My Autism Diagnosis Taught Me About Work and Wellbeing

Bev Blacklock Bio

An Employability and Careers Specialist with a strong background in supporting individuals to unlock their potential and navigate meaningful career pathways, Bev Blacklock brings both academic insight and practical experience to her work. She holds a Level 6 qualification in Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG), along with a Joint Honours degree from Northumbria University in Childhood Studies and Guidance & Counselling.

Bev is deeply passionate about people development and is a dedicated mental health and neurodiversity advocate. She actively champions greater awareness, inclusion, and workplace support for individuals with autism, ADHD, and other neurodivergent experiences.

Through her writing, Bev shares honest reflections, practical advice, and thought-provoking perspectives on careers, wellbeing, and inclusive workplaces. Her mission is to empower others to thrive authentically while encouraging organisations to create environments where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.

Bev Blacklock's Blog

Autism Awareness…or Autism Acceptance? A Journey Worth Honouring

April is widely recognised as Autism Awareness Month. But for me, and for many within the autistic community, it raises a bigger question: should this really be Autism Acceptance Month?

Awareness is valuable. It opens doors and starts conversations. But awareness alone is passive.

Acceptance is active. It invites understanding, inclusion, and meaningful change, not just for a month, but every day of the year.

For me, this isn’t just a professional viewpoint. It’s deeply personal.

The Diagnosis Experience: More Than a Moment

Receiving my autism diagnosis wasn’t a single moment, it was the beginning of an ongoing process of understanding.

After spending three years on a waiting list, I had plenty of time to imagine how I might feel. But the reality was far more complex.

The diagnosis brought clarity in ways I hadn’t expected. Suddenly, so many of my past experiences made sense; the challenges, the strengths, and the way I see and interact with the world.

But alongside that clarity came emotions I hadn’t fully anticipated:

👉Relief👉Validation👉Confusion👉Shock👉And yes, even grief.

Or, as I later came to understand…grelief.

Understanding “Grelief”

I first heard the term grelief during a webinar hosted by Emily Honor Hubbard, and it resonated deeply. It perfectly captured that blend of grief and relief that can come with a diagnosis.

In the early days of my diagnosis, a friend and colleague helped me reframe moments from my past. I found myself feeling sadness for my younger self, alongside a level of compassion I hadn’t previously allowed.

I still remember one conversation in particular that we had. While I felt uncertain, she was full of positivity. She reminded me of everything I had achieved; navigating childhood and school, returning to college, going to university, building a career, living independently at 19, and managing relationships along the way. She reminded me of everything I had accomplished in my life.

That perspective mattered.

There was grief in recognising the times I felt misunderstood or unsupported, but there was also relief:

Relief in understanding myself.

Relief in recognising there was a reason behind my experiences.

Relief in moving forward with greater self-awareness.

That experience gave me permission to reflect and to sit with those emotions without judgement.

And more importantly, it helped me realise something powerful:

It’s okay to look back.

Reflection Isn’t Regression

For a while, I worried that reflecting on the past might hold me back. But I’ve come to understand that reflection isn’t about staying stuck, it’s about moving forward with greater awareness.

Looking back has allowed me to reframe my experiences with compassion. I can now recognise that I was doing the best I could with the knowledge and support I had at the time.

Today, reflection is a tool for growth. It helps me move forward with clarity, confidence, and self-compassion.

And if reflection feels difficult, you don’t have to do it alone. Speaking to people you trust can offer valuable perspective and help guide you forward.

How My Autism Has Shaped My Work

My experience with autism, alongside years in the workforce, has shaped my path working towards a career in Organisational and Occupational Psychology.

What began as a personal journey has evolved into a professional passion: understanding how workplaces can better support individuals to truly thrive, not just function and struggle with a fake smile.

Through my lived experience, I’ve developed a strong awareness of how workplace environments can either enable or hinder people. I notice the nuances, from communication styles, to expectations, to structure, and to the often-unspoken pressures.

I’ve also seen how small changes can have a significant impact. Clear communication, flexible working styles, and simply being listened to can transform both wellbeing and performance.

It’s reinforced a belief I hold strongly: when people feel understood and supported, they perform at their best.

The Workplace: Why Diagnosis Matters

Receiving a diagnosis has been empowering, not just personally, but professionally. It’s given me the language to understand how I work best, what I need to succeed, and how to advocate for myself.

And I know I’m not alone in that.

A diagnosis can unlock confidence, clarity, and potential in the workplace.

But real impact happens when organisations take responsibility too.

Too often, I see meaningful, well-intended, awareness campaigns in April, the posts, the start of new initiatives, and a promise to continue conversations, and then things go quiet.

That’s where we need to challenge ourselves.

Supporting neurodivergent employees shouldn’t be limited to a single month. It should be embedded into everyday working life.

That means:

• Creating psychologically safe environments

• Normalising adjustments rather than treating them as exceptions

• Encouraging open conversations without fear of judgement

• Valuing different ways of thinking and working

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My challenge to organisations is simple: What are you doing in May, June, and beyond?

Because when organisations truly embrace this, they don’t just support autistic employees, they unlock innovation, engagement, and stronger, more inclusive cultures for everyone.

The Power of Connection

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is the value of connection.

Finding people who understand, or who are willing to understand, has made a huge difference. Whether through work, professional networks, communities, or everyday conversations, those connections create a sense of belonging. I have so many individuals I could shout out, such as colleagues who have become lifelong friends (they know who they are) and communities such as Psychology Business Incubator.

They remind me that I’m not alone.

And that shared understanding is powerful.

Listening to My Mind and Body

Another key part of my journey has been learning to listen to myself.

For a long time, I lived by a “just get on with it” mindset. I pushed through, masked, and adapted to environments that didn’t always feel right. In the simplest form I just didn’t want to let anyone down, so I pushed my body and mind beyond its limits.

My diagnosis gave me the opportunity to pause and reconnect.

Now, I ask myself:

• What do I need right now?

• What helps me thrive?

• What’s draining my energy?

  
  

I’m learning that listening to those signals isn’t weakness, it’s strength. It’s how I show up as my best self, both personally and professionally.

From Awareness to Acceptance

So yes, this month is called Autism Awareness Month.

But for me, it’s about something more.

It’s about acceptance.

It’s about understanding.

And it’s about creating lasting change.

Because this isn’t just a conversation for April, it’s one we need to have all year round.

My diagnosis wasn’t an endpoint, it was the beginning, and it continues to shape not only who I am, but how I support others to thrive.

I’d love to keep this conversation going. What does Autism Acceptance mean to you, and how can we carry it beyond April?

 PBI Take: Bev’s piece captures something important. Awareness starts conversations, but acceptance changes daily experience. Her reflection on diagnosis and “grelief” shows how clarity creates self-understanding. Organisations often stop at visibility, not design. Real inclusion shows up in expectations, communication, and everyday flexibility. The question isn’t what you do in April, but what continues after. That’s where meaningful change actually happens.