When “Just Focus” Never Made Sense | ADHD and Autism with Hannah Badenhop

About this episode

Hannah Badenhop discusses her experiences as a neurodivergent student and the challenges of traditional learning environments.

“I always felt a bit like an alien… I was different to everyone else and wasn’t really sure why.” Before her ADHD and autism diagnoses, Hannah Baden Hop kept hearing the same advice: just focus. But in the classroom, that instruction never made sense. In this episode, she shares what school was really like as a neurodivergent student, how understanding her brain changed her confidence, and why visual learning and interest-driven focus made such a difference. If you’ve ever struggled to pay attention in traditional classrooms, felt “different” growing up, or are supporting neurodivergent learners, this conversation explores what actually helps and why one-size-fits-all learning often misses visual thinkers. Hannah Badenhop has worked across multiple roles at Autism South Australia, where she champions neuro-inclusive practice through community engagement and resource development. As a neurodivergent professional herself, she contributes to initiatives such as Neuro Inclusive Recruiting and the Autistic Guide to Adulthood, helping ensure autistic voices shape the supports designed for them. 00:02:46 — Feeling like an outsider in class Hannah describes growing up feeling “like an…

People in this episode

Host: Jeremy Nagel

Guest: Hannah Badenhop

Topics covered

• ADHD
• autism
• neurodiversity
• education
• learning strategies

Keywords

• ADHD
• autism
• neurodivergent
• visual learning
• education

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Autism South Australia, Neuro Inclusive Recruiting, Autistic Guide to Adulthood

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