Why Samantha Does This Work

Meet Samantha

Samantha’s journey has been one of resilience, self-discovery, and a fierce commitment to changing the status quo. Diagnosed in her 30s with autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) – alongside multiple autoimmune diseases, fibromyalgia, and other complex invisible conditions. These late diagnoses brought long-awaited clarity but also revealed the immense challenges she had quietly battled for decades.

As a child, Samantha never understood why she felt ‘different,’ and neither did those around her. Neurodivergence in girls often went unnoticed. Samantha found comfort in books, a place where she could escape. She pushed herself to do ‘normal’ things and excelled academically. On paper, she was the perfect student – an A* achiever with dreams of becoming a solicitor, but inside, she felt overwhelmed and isolated. She faced punishment from schools and society for behaviours that were symptoms of undiagnosed neurodivergence.

At just 14, it became unbearable, and she turned to substances to drown out the relentless noise in her mind. By 15, she was living in hotels, and by 16, she was in a homeless hostel for teenagers. Statistically, she had become a ‘lost cause’ before she had even reached adulthood. As an adult, there were years of addiction, breakdowns, struggling to fit in, and maintaining even day-to-day, simple tasks.

Her story did not end there; one day, a professional finally recognised the signs of neurodivergence. This moment was transformative. For the first time, Samantha understood that she was not ‘abnormal’ or ‘defective’ – she simply had a brain that worked differently.

Determined to take her second chance, Samantha learnt as much as she could. She studied psychology from home, alongside many commitments, with The Open University, graduating in 2025 (predicted first class). She completed a paid internship with The Open University, where she worked as a reciprocal mentor, supporting understanding of neurodivergence and creating content for inclusive education.

She holds an NHS qualification in peer-to-peer mental health work and has extensive experience in cognitive rehabilitation, residential children’s care, customer-facing roles and presenting.  Her work on inclusion and accessibility has been published by The Open University and used as a training resource. She has presented at a national conference, and her article on challenging power dynamics was featured in The British Psychological Society’s The Psychologist as just an undergraduate at the time.

What Sets Samantha Apart

Samantha brings not just her deep understanding of life, barriers, invisible disabilities, and neurodivergence, but also her down-to-earth approach. She uniquely combines lived experience, professional insight, and academic knowledge. Today, Samantha uses her voice to break down barriers, challenge stereotypes, and encourage spaces where people can thrive. She never claims to know it all about disability, neurodivergence or that things can be accessible for everyone, as to do so undermines individuals’ needs.