Speaking
Presentations that make complexity understandable and change imaginable
Thought-provoking presentations that bring lived experience, research, practice and systems into conversation by helping audiences question familiar assumptions, understand complexity and recognise more neuroaffirming possibilities.
What an audience experiences
A coherent journey through experience, context and possibility
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Recognise something familiar: Stories, language and real-world experiences give audiences an immediate point of connection with the topic.
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See the wider pattern: Individual experiences are connected with relationships, environments, knowledge, power and the systems shaping what becomes possible.
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Reconsider the usual story: Familiar neuronormative assumptions become visible, creating room for alternative ways of understanding without flattening complexity into easy certainty.
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Imagine meaningful change: Audiences leave with clearer questions, new perspectives and practical possibilities for how change might begin within their own contexts.
The presentation experience
Accessible · Emotionally resonant · Conceptually rich
My presentations bring together different forms of knowledge without treating any one perspective as the whole story. They are:
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Grounded in lived experience without assuming one experience represents everyone
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Research-informed while making complex ideas accessible
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Connected to professional practice and the realities of applying ideas in context
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Systemically aware, connecting individual experiences with relationships, environments, structures and power
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Structured and coherent, giving audiences a clear thread through complex material
Seeing the whole context
The Ripple Framework offers flexible lenses for connecting familiar experiences with the wider relational and systemic patterns shaping them. It draws attention to:
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Identity, values, roles and direction
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Capacity, access, embodied needs and sustainability
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Relationships, reciprocity, boundaries and belonging
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Environments, structures, practices and systems
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Strengths, meaning, purpose, contribution and possibilities for what comes next
These are interconnected lenses that help audiences see an issue more fully, question familiar assumptions and recognise where meaningful change might become possible.
Presentation topics
My presentations often explore the intersections between neurodivergence, mental health, identity, accessibility, professional practice and systems change. Presentations can be shaped around the purpose, audience and context of your event rather than requiring your needs to fit a predetermined presentation.
Presentation topic examples:
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Autism, ADHD, giftedness and intersecting neurodivergence
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Neurodivergent identity, late recognition and unmasking
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Autistic mental health
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Burnout, capacity and sustainable participation
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Neuroaffirming practice
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Accessibility, inclusion and belonging
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Lived experience and whose knowledge counts
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Neurodivergence in workplaces and professional contexts
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Creating meaningful change within services, organisations and systems
Presentation examples:
PDA & Wellbeing: Supporting Autonomy in Children & Families
A neuroaffirming presentation exploring autonomy, safety, and wellbeing for PDA children and families, with a focus on moving beyond compliance toward curiosity, low-demand support, nervous system awareness, and relational care.
Neurodivergent Student Experiences and the Hidden Labour of University Success
A presentation exploring the invisible labour neurodivergent students perform in higher education, including masking, self-monitoring, sensory load, executive functioning demands, and institutional mismatch. This session invites more accessible, collaborative, and sustainable approaches to student belonging and success
Different Brains, Shared Classrooms: Understanding Neurodiversity
A presentation for student cohorts exploring neurodiversity, communication differences, sensory experiences, learning needs, friendship and belonging. This session helps students understand different brain types and practical ways to be supportive classmates and friends to neurodivergent peers.
Speaking formats & audiences
Speaking can be tailored to the purpose, audience and context of your event. I am available for:
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Keynotes and conference presentations
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Organisational and workplace presentations
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Panel discussions
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University and student presentations
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Community events
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Online and in-person speaking
Looking for something more participatory? If your goal is to build shared understanding, develop practical skills or explore how ideas can be applied within your team or organisation, Training may be a better fit.
Conferences · Workplaces · Universities · Health and human services · Professional groups · Researchers · Community organisations
Whether an audience is encountering an idea for the first time or already deeply engaged with the topic, presentations can be shaped around what will be most meaningful within that context.
About Caitlin
I’m Caitlin Hughes (she/they), an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, researcher and neurodivergent speaker.
My work sits at the intersections of lived experience, research and professional practice. Across these different forms of knowledge, I am particularly interested in what becomes visible when we move beyond individualised explanations and consider the relationships, environments, assumptions and systems surrounding neurodivergent experiences.
You can learn more about my professional experience, qualifications, research and approach via LinkedIn or below.
2026 QUT Guild Disability Officer
“Caitlin's work embodies all of the positive change we need around supporting and affirming neurodiverse students. Caitlin stood apart from other candidates as someone with strong social-justice oriented values, as well as a welcoming and kind approach to presentation delivery. She was a true joy to work with, and we received lots of positive feedback from attendees around how they benefited from the presentation. I would absolutely recommend Caitlin as a speaker, as I don’t believe you will find anyone better suited to speak about neurodiversity."
St Peters Lutheran College
"Caitlin delivered a thoughtful and engaging presentation to our Junior High students on “What would I tell my younger AuDHDer self.” She clearly explained the concept of neurodiversity, shared meaningful insights from her lived experience, and thoughtfully explored both the challenges and strengths of being AuDHD. Caitlin encouraged curiosity, acceptance, and empathy, leaving students with a deeper understanding and appreciation of individual differences."
Speaking Enquiry Form
FAQ
Can you tailor a presentation to our event or audience?
Yes. Presentations can be shaped around the purpose, audience and context of your event while remaining grounded in my areas of knowledge, research, practice and lived experience.
Do you speak online and in person?
Yes. Speaking is available online and in person. I’m based in Brisbane and can travel for conferences, organisational events and other speaking engagements. Travel requirements and associated costs are discussed as part of the enquiry.
What is the difference between speaking and training?
Speaking is designed to introduce ideas, open perspectives and invite people to think differently. It is particularly suited to conferences, events, panels and broader audiences.
Training goes further into understanding and application, making it more suitable when you want a team or group to develop shared knowledge, practical skills or ways of working.