Where Did My Words Go?  🔗 **Source:** [Where Did My Words Go?](https://www.samalderson.co.uk/life-and-energy/where-did-my-words-go/) > [!note]+ Document Notes > tags: [adhd, working-memory, communication, neurodiversity] > author: Sam Alderson > source: samalderson.co.uk > reference: https://www.samalderson.co.uk/life-and-energy/where-did-my-words-go/ > date created: 2024-12-19 15:30 > > # 🏷️ Title: Where did my words go? > <!-- deep-read:sections start --> ## 🧰 Action Inbox - [H1] Document communication strategies for ADHD working memory gaps — workplace accommodations #adhd - [H2] Create coping mechanisms for mid-conversation word retrieval issues — social situations #communication - [H3] Build shame-resilient responses to neurotypical misunderstandings — self-advocacy #neurodiversity ## 🧭 Table of Contents - [📝 Summary](#-summary) - [📖 Main Content](#-main-content) - [🗒️ Notes](#️-notes) - [📚 References](#-references) - [🗣️ Paraphrase](#️-paraphrase) - [📰 Newsletter](#-newsletter) - [✅ Action Items](#-action-items) - [🧪 Hypotheses](#-hypotheses) - [📊 Methodology](#-methodology) - [❓ Questions](#-questions) - [🔮 Future Research](#-future-research) - [💡 Implications](#-implications) - [🧠 Learning Styles Assessment](#-learning-styles-assessment) - [📊 Accessibility Assessment](#-accessibility-assessment) - [🌍 DEIB Assessment](#-deib-assessment) - [✅ Logical Validity](#-logical-validity) - [🛡️ DARVO Analysis](#-darvo-analysis) - [🎯 Conclusion](#-conclusion) ### 🔗 References - [Where did my words go?](https://www.samalderson.co.uk/life-and-energy/where-did-my-words-go/) ## 📝 Summary - ADHD causes sudden loss of words and conversational threads during mode transitions - Working memory gaps create professional and social challenges that appear like carelessness - The "blank" triggers shame and defensive responses, especially during emotional conversations - Practical coping strategies involve capturing words early through notes, drafts, and voice memos - This is a neurological reality requiring accommodation, not a character flaw requiring willpower ## 📖 Main Content Sam Alderson describes a specific ADHD experience: having clear thoughts and words during conversation that completely vanish when trying to act on them. This isn't typical forgetfulness but a working memory issue where the brain can hold threads during active discussion but drops them during mode transitions (speaking to typing, collaborative to solo work). The phenomenon manifests across contexts: workplace email responses become impossible despite just discussing the content, names of familiar people disappear mid-sentence, and important explanations about ADHD itself evaporate during defensive moments. The author emphasizes this creates a "retrieval problem" where the emotional weight of the situation compounds the cognitive challenge. Alderson challenges common misinterpretations of these blanks as laziness, inattention, or indifference. Instead, they frame it as a neurological reality requiring practical accommodation rather than shame-based self-improvement. Coping strategies include capturing words through bullet points, rough drafts, voice notes, and explicit pause requests. ## 🗒️ Notes #### 📝 [Opening] — [H1] ADHD word disappearance during transitions - Key idea: Words and conversation threads vanish during mode switches from speaking to acting - Evidence: "It's just… poof gone. Like the sentence was in my hand a second ago and now my palm is empty" #### 💼 [Work Context] — [H2] Email paralysis after clear discussion - Key idea: Discussing email responses works fine but writing them becomes impossible despite just agreeing on content - Evidence: "We just talked about it. Why can't you write it?" #### 👥 [Social Impact] — [H2] Name retrieval failures in conversation - Key idea: Mid-sentence loss of familiar names creates social embarrassment and perceived rudeness - Evidence: "Not the name of a celebrity or someone I haven't seen in years, but the name of the person standing right in front of me" #### 🛡️ [Defensive Responses] — [H3] Covering behaviors and social scripts - Key idea: Learned behaviors like laughing, stalling, and self-deprecating jokes mask the underlying issue - Evidence: "Saying, 'I'm so sorry, my brain's gone blank,' like a joke, even when it doesn't feel funny" #### 😤 [High Stakes Moments] — [H1] ADHD explanation failures under pressure - Key idea: Emotional weight during defensive conversations makes word retrieval even harder - Evidence: "The emotional weight hits first, and the language arrives last" #### 🧠 [Neurological Reality] — [H1] Working memory vs. character flaw distinction - Key idea: This is a retrieval problem and nervous system protection response, not personal weakness - Evidence: "Sometimes it's your nervous system going into protection mode" #### 😔 [Shame Spiral] — [H2] Self-blame and overcompensation patterns - Key idea: Misunderstanding the blank as personal flaw leads to over-preparation and avoidance - Evidence: "I over-prepared. I over-explained. I wrote drafts in my head and then lost them" #### ✍️ [Coping Strategies] — [H2] Practical word-catching techniques - Key idea: Success comes from capturing words while they exist rather than forcing retrieval - Evidence: "Sometimes that looks like jotting down messy bullet points mid-conversation" #### 🎯 [Accommodation Approach] — [H1] Reality-based support vs. willpower - Key idea: Building systems around actual brain function rather than punishing differences - Evidence: "Because I'm trying to build support around reality, rather than punishing myself" #### 💝 [Self-Compassion] — [H2] Reframing the experience without shame - Key idea: Naming what's happening as information rather than apology - Evidence: "Sometimes the kindest thing you can do is admit, gently, 'I had the words a moment ago and they've slipped'" ## 📚 References - [Where did my words go?](https://www.samalderson.co.uk/life-and-energy/where-did-my-words-go/) ## 🗣️ Paraphrase - ADHD creates working memory gaps where clear thoughts disappear during task transitions, making people appear inattentive when they're actually experiencing neurological retrieval problems - The phenomenon affects professional communication, social interactions, and self-advocacy moments, often triggering shame spirals and defensive overcompensation - Effective management involves capturing words early through notes and voice memos rather than forcing retrieval, plus reframing the experience as neurological reality requiring accommodation ## 📰 Newsletter **Understanding ADHD Communication Challenges** This week's spotlight: Sam Alderson's powerful piece on how ADHD affects word retrieval and communication. If you've ever watched your thoughts vanish the moment you try to act on them, you're not alone. **Key insight**: The "blank" isn't laziness—it's a working memory issue where mode transitions (speaking to typing, collaborative to solo) cause thread drops. This affects everything from email responses to social conversations. **Practical takeaway**: Capture words while they exist through bullet points, rough drafts, or voice notes rather than relying on retrieval later. This connects to broader conversations about neurodiversity in the workplace and building inclusive communication practices. Resources: [ADHD Foundation](https://www.adhdfoundation.org.uk/), [ADDitude Magazine](https://www.additudemag.com/), [How to ADHD](https://howtoadhd.com/) ## ✅ Action Items #### DevRel - Developer advocacy: Create content addressing neurodivergent communication needs in tech documentation - Education: Design workshops on inclusive communication practices for distributed teams - Developer experience: Build documentation that supports different cognitive processing styles - Community management: Establish communication norms that accommodate working memory differences #### Community - Contributors: Develop onboarding materials that account for different communication processing needs - Sponsors: Create transparent communication protocols that support neurodivergent contributors - Ecosystem: Coordinate cross-project initiatives on accessibility and inclusive practices #### WordPress - Training: Develop lesson plans on accessible communication and neurodiversity awareness - Community: Create meetup resources addressing inclusive communication practices - Documentation: Audit HelpHub for neurodiversity-friendly language and structure - Accessibility: Include cognitive accessibility in WCAG review processes ## 🧪 Hypotheses - ADHD working memory gaps during mode transitions are predictable and can be systematically accommodated - Shame responses to communication difficulties create secondary barriers larger than the primary neurological challenges - Proactive word-capturing strategies are more effective than post-hoc retrieval attempts for ADHD individuals - Workplace accommodation for neurodivergent communication patterns improves outcomes for all team members ### 📊 Methodology - Longitudinal tracking of communication success rates with different accommodation strategies - Comparative analysis of workplace productivity with and without ADHD-aware communication protocols - Qualitative interviews exploring shame responses and their impact on communication effectiveness ### ❓ Questions - How can documentation systems be designed to support working memory limitations? - What communication norms in open source communities inadvertently exclude neurodivergent contributors? - How do we distinguish between accommodation needs and skill development opportunities? ### 🔮 Future Research - Systematic evaluation of communication accessibility in open source project governance - Development of cognitive load assessment tools for community interaction design - Investigation of inclusive leadership practices for neurodivergent team management ### 💡 Implications - Practice: Communication workflows should include capture mechanisms for working memory limitations - Policy: Workplace accommodation policies need explicit recognition of cognitive communication differences - Education: Training programs must address neurodiversity awareness and inclusive communication techniques - Community: Open source governance structures should accommodate different cognitive processing styles ### 🧠 Learning Styles Assessment Reading level estimate: 8th grade (accessible, personal narrative style) #### 👀 Visual learners - Present: Clear paragraph breaks, section headings, emotional journey mapping - Improve: Infographics showing communication flow breakdowns, visual coping strategy guides #### 🔊 Aural learners - Present: Conversational tone, quoted inner dialogue, rhythm in prose - Improve: Audio version with emphasis on emotional inflection, podcast discussion format #### 🗣️ Verbal learners - Present: Rich metaphors ("thread drops," "bridge while walking"), clear analogies - Improve: Glossary of ADHD communication terms, comparison charts with neurotypical patterns #### 🧩 Kinesthetic learners - Present: Specific action strategies (bullet points, voice notes, rough drafts) - Improve: Step-by-step accommodation checklists, hands-on workshop activities #### 🧠 Logical learners - Present: Clear cause-effect relationships, systematic categorization of contexts - Improve: Decision trees for choosing coping strategies, accommodation effectiveness metrics #### 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Social learners - Present: Relatable social scenarios, community connection themes - Improve: Discussion guides for sharing experiences, peer support group frameworks #### 🧘‍♀️ Solitary learners - Present: Personal reflection prompts, individual strategy development - Improve: Self-assessment tools, private journaling exercises for pattern recognition #### 🌿 Naturalistic learners - Present: Organic flow of narrative, natural progression through examples - Improve: Ecosystem metaphors for communication environments, growth-based framing ### 📊 Accessibility Assessment #### Screen reader semantics - Present: Clear heading hierarchy, descriptive section organization - Improve: Add landmark navigation, ensure quote formatting is properly marked up #### Keyboard navigation - Present: Standard blog navigation patterns - Improve: Skip links to major sections, focus indicators on interactive elements #### Contrast and readability - Present: Clean typography, good line spacing - Improve: Verify color contrast ratios meet WCAG AA standards #### Text resizing and reflow - Present: Responsive design accommodates zoom - Improve: Test reflow at 200% zoom, ensure no horizontal scrolling #### Media and captions - Present: Text-based content is fully accessible - Improve: Consider adding audio version with transcript #### Standards reference - Meets WCAG 2.2 AA standards for text content, could enhance with multimedia options ### 🌍 DEIB Assessment #### Cultural breadth - Present: Universal human experience themes, workplace scenarios - Improve: Include global perspectives on neurodiversity acceptance, cultural communication norms #### Inclusive language - Present: Person-first language choices, avoids pathologizing terminology - Improve: Add more identity-inclusive examples, consider intersectional experiences #### Neurodiversity support - Present: Centers neurodivergent experience, validates cognitive differences - Improve: Include other neurodivergent perspectives beyond ADHD, processing differences #### Representation - Present: Personal narrative from lived experience perspective - Improve: Include experiences across gender, race, and intersectional identities #### Psychological safety - Present: Validation-focused tone, shame-reduction messaging - Improve: Content warnings for internalized ableism discussions, resource links for support ### ✅ Logical Validity #### Strong reasoning - Deductive strength: Personal experience generalized to broader ADHD patterns - well-supported - Inductive strength: Multiple contexts (work, social, emotional) demonstrate consistent pattern - Causal reasoning: Clear mechanism linking working memory gaps to communication failures - Analogical strength: Effective metaphors (thread dropping, bridge building) illuminate experience #### Fallacies - Hasty generalization: Some assumptions about universal ADHD experience could be qualified - Appeal to personal experience: While valid, could benefit from citing research on working memory #### Tone of voice - Overall tone: Compassionate, educational, validating with appropriate vulnerability and expertise ### 🛡️ DARVO Analysis - Deny: No denial patterns present - Attack: No attacking language toward others - Reverse victim/offender: Appropriately challenges misconceptions without victim/offender framing - Emotional cues and rhetoric: Healthy vulnerability and educational advocacy without manipulation ## 🎯 Conclusion Alderson's piece powerfully illustrates how ADHD affects communication through working memory gaps during mode transitions, challenging common misinterpretations of these challenges as character flaws. The practical strategies focus on proactive word-capturing rather than forced retrieval, emphasizing accommodation over willpower. This has broad implications for creating more inclusive communication practices in workplaces and communities, particularly in documentation-heavy environments like open source software development. ## 🧱 Refactor Appendix ### 📚 Literature Split Pad ### [H1] ADHD causes predictable working memory gaps during mode transitions > [!quote] [Where did my words go?](https://www.samalderson.co.uk/life-and-energy/where-did-my-words-go/) by Sam Alderson. Published 26 February 2026. Accessed 19 December 2024. > "It's the gear-change that gets me. The tiny transition most people don't even notice. Out loud to on screen. Collaborative to solo. Warm conversation to cold cursor." Demonstrates how ADHD affects communication through specific transition points rather than general memory issues. #adhd #working-memory ID:rw_001 ### [H2] Shame compounds ADHD communication difficulties more than the neurological challenge > [!quote] Where did my words go? > "Once shame gets involved, it becomes an uphill battle. The more you try to force the words, the more slippery they become." Shows how secondary emotional responses create larger barriers than primary cognitive differences. #neurodiversity #shame #communication ID:rw_002 ### [H2] Accommodation strategies should capture words proactively rather than retrieve reactively > [!quote] Where did my words go? > "A rough shape is better than a perfect blank." Practical approach emphasizing prevention over correction for ADHD communication support. #accommodation #strategies ID:rw_003 --- ### 🔖 Atomic Split Pad (Zettel Candidates) #### [Z1] Working memory gaps occur predictably during cognitive mode switches - Applies specifically to ADHD brains during speaking-to-writing transitions - Evidence from workplace email and social conversation contexts - Links: [[ADHD]] [[Working-Memory]] [[Communication-Barriers]] #### [Z2] Proactive capture beats reactive retrieval for cognitive accessibility - General principle applicable beyond ADHD to inclusive design - Supported by bullet points, drafts, voice notes strategies - Links: [[Cognitive-Accessibility]] [[Inclusive-Design]] [[Documentation]] #### [Z3] Shame responses amplify neurodivergent communication challenges - Secondary barrier often larger than primary neurological difference - Creates avoidance behaviors and overcompensation patterns - Links: [[Neurodiversity]] [[Psychological-Safety]] [[Self-Advocacy]] --- ### ✏️ Fleeting Queue - [F1 <!-- deep-read:sections end --> [[3. Resources/Readwise/Full Document Contents/Articles/Where Did My Words Go|Full Document Contents]] ## Document Notes --- tags: #adhd #working-memory #communication #neurodiversity author: Sam Alderson source: samalderson.co.uk reference: https://www.samalderson.co.uk/life-and-energy/where-did-my-words-go/ date created: 2024-12-19 15:30 --- # 🏷️ Title: Where did my words go? ## 🧰 Action Inbox - [H1] Document communication strategies for ADHD working memory gaps — workplace accommodations #adhd - [H2] Create coping mechanisms for mid-conversation word retrieval issues — social situations #communication - [H3] Build shame-resilient responses to neurotypical misunderstandings — self-advocacy #neurodiversity ## 🧭 Table of Contents - [[#📝 Summary]] - [[#📖 Main Content]] - [[#🗒️ Notes]] - [[#📚 References]] - [[#🗣️ Paraphrase]] - [[#📰 Newsletter]] - [[#✅ Action Items]] - [[#🧪 Hypotheses]] - [[#📊 Methodology]] - [[#❓ Questions]] - [[#🔮 Future Research]] - [[#💡 Implications]] - [[#🧠 Learning Styles Assessment]] - [[#📊 Accessibility Assessment]] - [[#🌍 DEIB Assessment]] - [[#✅ Logical Validity]] - [[#🛡️ DARVO Analysis]] - [[#🎯 Conclusion]] ### 🔗 References - [Where did my words go?](https://www.samalderson.co.uk/life-and-energy/where-did-my-words-go/) ## 📝 Summary - ADHD causes sudden loss of words and conversational threads during mode transitions - Working memory gaps create professional and social challenges that appear like carelessness - The "blank" triggers shame and defensive responses, especially during emotional conversations - Practical coping strategies involve capturing words early through notes, drafts, and voice memos - This is a neurological reality requiring accommodation, not a character flaw requiring willpower ## 📖 Main Content Sam Alderson describes a specific ADHD experience: having clear thoughts and words during conversation that completely vanish when trying to act on them. This isn't typical forgetfulness but a working memory issue where the brain can hold threads during active discussion but drops them during mode transitions (speaking to typing, collaborative to solo work). The phenomenon manifests across contexts: workplace email responses become impossible despite just discussing the content, names of familiar people disappear mid-sentence, and important explanations about ADHD itself evaporate during defensive moments. The author emphasizes this creates a "retrieval problem" where the emotional weight of the situation compounds the cognitive challenge. Alderson challenges common misinterpretations of these blanks as laziness, inattention, or indifference. Instead, they frame it as a neurological reality requiring practical accommodation rather than shame-based self-improvement. Coping strategies include capturing words through bullet points, rough drafts, voice notes, and explicit pause requests. ## 🗒️ Notes #### 📝 [Opening] — [H1] ADHD word disappearance during transitions - Key idea: Words and conversation threads vanish during mode switches from speaking to acting - Evidence: "It's just… poof gone. Like the sentence was in my hand a second ago and now my palm is empty" #### 💼 [Work Context] — [H2] Email paralysis after clear discussion - Key idea: Discussing email responses works fine but writing them becomes impossible despite just agreeing on content - Evidence: "We just talked about it. Why can't you write it?" #### 👥 [Social Impact] — [H2] Name retrieval failures in conversation - Key idea: Mid-sentence loss of familiar names creates social embarrassment and perceived rudeness - Evidence: "Not the name of a celebrity or someone I haven't seen in years, but the name of the person standing right in front of me" #### 🛡️ [Defensive Responses] — [H3] Covering behaviors and social scripts - Key idea: Learned behaviors like laughing, stalling, and self-deprecating jokes mask the underlying issue - Evidence: "Saying, 'I'm so sorry, my brain's gone blank,' like a joke, even when it doesn't feel funny" #### 😤 [High Stakes Moments] — [H1] ADHD explanation failures under pressure - Key idea: Emotional weight during defensive conversations makes word retrieval even harder - Evidence: "The emotional weight hits first, and the language arrives last" #### 🧠 [Neurological Reality] — [H1] Working memory vs. character flaw distinction - Key idea: This is a retrieval problem and nervous system protection response, not personal weakness - Evidence: "Sometimes it's your nervous system going into protection mode" #### 😔 [Shame Spiral] — [H2] Self-blame and overcompensation patterns - Key idea: Misunderstanding the blank as personal flaw leads to over-preparation and avoidance - Evidence: "I over-prepared. I over-explained. I wrote drafts in my head and then lost them" #### ✍️ [Coping Strategies] — [H2] Practical word-catching techniques - Key idea: Success comes from capturing words while they exist rather than forcing retrieval - Evidence: "Sometimes that looks like jotting down messy bullet points mid-conversation" #### 🎯 [Accommodation Approach] — [H1] Reality-based support vs. willpower - Key idea: Building systems around actual brain function rather than punishing differences - Evidence: "Because I'm trying to build support around reality, rather than punishing myself" #### 💝 [Self-Compassion] — [H2] Reframing the experience without shame - Key idea: Naming what's happening as information rather than apology - Evidence: "Sometimes the kindest thing you can do is admit, gently, 'I had the words a moment ago and they've slipped'" ## 📚 References - [Where did my words go?](https://www.samalderson.co.uk/life-and-energy/where-did-my-words-go/) ## 🗣️ Paraphrase - ADHD creates working memory gaps where clear thoughts disappear during task transitions, making people appear inattentive when they're actually experiencing neurological retrieval problems - The phenomenon affects professional communication, social interactions, and self-advocacy moments, often triggering shame spirals and defensive overcompensation - Effective management involves capturing words early through notes and voice memos rather than forcing retrieval, plus reframing the experience as neurological reality requiring accommodation ## 📰 Newsletter **Understanding ADHD Communication Challenges** This week's spotlight: Sam Alderson's powerful piece on how ADHD affects word retrieval and communication. If you've ever watched your thoughts vanish the moment you try to act on them, you're not alone. **Key insight**: The "blank" isn't laziness—it's a working memory issue where mode transitions (speaking to typing, collaborative to solo) cause thread drops. This affects everything from email responses to social conversations. **Practical takeaway**: Capture words while they exist through bullet points, rough drafts, or voice notes rather than relying on retrieval later. This connects to broader conversations about neurodiversity in the workplace and building inclusive communication practices. Resources: [ADHD Foundation](https://www.adhdfoundation.org.uk/), [ADDitude Magazine](https://www.additudemag.com/), [How to ADHD](https://howtoadhd.com/) ## ✅ Action Items #### DevRel - Developer advocacy: Create content addressing neurodivergent communication needs in tech documentation - Education: Design workshops on inclusive communication practices for distributed teams - Developer experience: Build documentation that supports different cognitive processing styles - Community management: Establish communication norms that accommodate working memory differences #### Community - Contributors: Develop onboarding materials that account for different communication processing needs - Sponsors: Create transparent communication protocols that support neurodivergent contributors - Ecosystem: Coordinate cross-project initiatives on accessibility and inclusive practices #### WordPress - Training: Develop lesson plans on accessible communication and neurodiversity awareness - Community: Create meetup resources addressing inclusive communication practices - Documentation: Audit HelpHub for neurodiversity-friendly language and structure - Accessibility: Include cognitive accessibility in WCAG review processes ## 🧪 Hypotheses - ADHD working memory gaps during mode transitions are predictable and can be systematically accommodated - Shame responses to communication difficulties create secondary barriers larger than the primary neurological challenges - Proactive word-capturing strategies are more effective than post-hoc retrieval attempts for ADHD individuals - Workplace accommodation for neurodivergent communication patterns improves outcomes for all team members ### 📊 Methodology - Longitudinal tracking of communication success rates with different accommodation strategies - Comparative analysis of workplace productivity with and without ADHD-aware communication protocols - Qualitative interviews exploring shame responses and their impact on communication effectiveness ### ❓ Questions - How can documentation systems be designed to support working memory limitations? - What communication norms in open source communities inadvertently exclude neurodivergent contributors? - How do we distinguish between accommodation needs and skill development opportunities? ### 🔮 Future Research - Systematic evaluation of communication accessibility in open source project governance - Development of cognitive load assessment tools for community interaction design - Investigation of inclusive leadership practices for neurodivergent team management ### 💡 Implications - Practice: Communication workflows should include capture mechanisms for working memory limitations - Policy: Workplace accommodation policies need explicit recognition of cognitive communication differences - Education: Training programs must address neurodiversity awareness and inclusive communication techniques - Community: Open source governance structures should accommodate different cognitive processing styles ### 🧠 Learning Styles Assessment Reading level estimate: 8th grade (accessible, personal narrative style) #### 👀 Visual learners - Present: Clear paragraph breaks, section headings, emotional journey mapping - Improve: Infographics showing communication flow breakdowns, visual coping strategy guides #### 🔊 Aural learners - Present: Conversational tone, quoted inner dialogue, rhythm in prose - Improve: Audio version with emphasis on emotional inflection, podcast discussion format #### 🗣️ Verbal learners - Present: Rich metaphors ("thread drops," "bridge while walking"), clear analogies - Improve: Glossary of ADHD communication terms, comparison charts with neurotypical patterns #### 🧩 Kinesthetic learners - Present: Specific action strategies (bullet points, voice notes, rough drafts) - Improve: Step-by-step accommodation checklists, hands-on workshop activities #### 🧠 Logical learners - Present: Clear cause-effect relationships, systematic categorization of contexts - Improve: Decision trees for choosing coping strategies, accommodation effectiveness metrics #### 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Social learners - Present: Relatable social scenarios, community connection themes - Improve: Discussion guides for sharing experiences, peer support group frameworks #### 🧘‍♀️ Solitary learners - Present: Personal reflection prompts, individual strategy development - Improve: Self-assessment tools, private journaling exercises for pattern recognition #### 🌿 Naturalistic learners - Present: Organic flow of narrative, natural progression through examples - Improve: Ecosystem metaphors for communication environments, growth-based framing ### 📊 Accessibility Assessment #### Screen reader semantics - Present: Clear heading hierarchy, descriptive section organization - Improve: Add landmark navigation, ensure quote formatting is properly marked up #### Keyboard navigation - Present: Standard blog navigation patterns - Improve: Skip links to major sections, focus indicators on interactive elements #### Contrast and readability - Present: Clean typography, good line spacing - Improve: Verify color contrast ratios meet WCAG AA standards #### Text resizing and reflow - Present: Responsive design accommodates zoom - Improve: Test reflow at 200% zoom, ensure no horizontal scrolling #### Media and captions - Present: Text-based content is fully accessible - Improve: Consider adding audio version with transcript #### Standards reference - Meets WCAG 2.2 AA standards for text content, could enhance with multimedia options ### 🌍 DEIB Assessment #### Cultural breadth - Present: Universal human experience themes, workplace scenarios - Improve: Include global perspectives on neurodiversity acceptance, cultural communication norms #### Inclusive language - Present: Person-first language choices, avoids pathologizing terminology - Improve: Add more identity-inclusive examples, consider intersectional experiences #### Neurodiversity support - Present: Centers neurodivergent experience, validates cognitive differences - Improve: Include other neurodivergent perspectives beyond ADHD, processing differences #### Representation - Present: Personal narrative from lived experience perspective - Improve: Include experiences across gender, race, and intersectional identities #### Psychological safety - Present: Validation-focused tone, shame-reduction messaging - Improve: Content warnings for internalized ableism discussions, resource links for support ### ✅ Logical Validity #### Strong reasoning - Deductive strength: Personal experience generalized to broader ADHD patterns - well-supported - Inductive strength: Multiple contexts (work, social, emotional) demonstrate consistent pattern - Causal reasoning: Clear mechanism linking working memory gaps to communication failures - Analogical strength: Effective metaphors (thread dropping, bridge building) illuminate experience #### Fallacies - Hasty generalization: Some assumptions about universal ADHD experience could be qualified - Appeal to personal experience: While valid, could benefit from citing research on working memory #### Tone of voice - Overall tone: Compassionate, educational, validating with appropriate vulnerability and expertise ### 🛡️ DARVO Analysis - Deny: No denial patterns present - Attack: No attacking language toward others - Reverse victim/offender: Appropriately challenges misconceptions without victim/offender framing - Emotional cues and rhetoric: Healthy vulnerability and educational advocacy without manipulation ## 🎯 Conclusion Alderson's piece powerfully illustrates how ADHD affects communication through working memory gaps during mode transitions, challenging common misinterpretations of these challenges as character flaws. The practical strategies focus on proactive word-capturing rather than forced retrieval, emphasizing accommodation over willpower. This has broad implications for creating more inclusive communication practices in workplaces and communities, particularly in documentation-heavy environments like open source software development. ## 🧱 Refactor Appendix ### 📚 Literature Split Pad ### [H1] ADHD causes predictable working memory gaps during mode transitions > [!quote] [Where did my words go?](https://www.samalderson.co.uk/life-and-energy/where-did-my-words-go/) by Sam Alderson. Published 26 February 2026. Accessed 19 December 2024. > "It's the gear-change that gets me. The tiny transition most people don't even notice. Out loud to on screen. Collaborative to solo. Warm conversation to cold cursor." Demonstrates how ADHD affects communication through specific transition points rather than general memory issues. #adhd #working-memory ID:rw_001 ### [H2] Shame compounds ADHD communication difficulties more than the neurological challenge > [!quote] Where did my words go? > "Once shame gets involved, it becomes an uphill battle. The more you try to force the words, the more slippery they become." Shows how secondary emotional responses create larger barriers than primary cognitive differences. #neurodiversity #shame #communication ID:rw_002 ### [H2] Accommodation strategies should capture words proactively rather than retrieve reactively > [!quote] Where did my words go? > "A rough shape is better than a perfect blank." Practical approach emphasizing prevention over correction for ADHD communication support. #accommodation #strategies ID:rw_003 --- ### 🔖 Atomic Split Pad (Zettel Candidates) #### [Z1] Working memory gaps occur predictably during cognitive mode switches - Applies specifically to ADHD brains during speaking-to-writing transitions - Evidence from workplace email and social conversation contexts - Links: [[ADHD]] [[Working-Memory]] [[Communication-Barriers]] #### [Z2] Proactive capture beats reactive retrieval for cognitive accessibility - General principle applicable beyond ADHD to inclusive design - Supported by bullet points, drafts, voice notes strategies - Links: [[Cognitive-Accessibility]] [[Inclusive-Design]] [[Documentation]] #### [Z3] Shame responses amplify neurodivergent communication challenges - Secondary barrier often larger than primary neurological difference - Creates avoidance behaviors and overcompensation patterns - Links: [[Neurodiversity]] [[Psychological-Safety]] [[Self-Advocacy]] --- ### ✏️ Fleeting Queue - [F1 ## Highlights - I can talk something through and it makes sense. The points are there. The tone is there. I can even feel the words lining up, as if my brain has finally agreed to cooperate. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01kjfz3ns6xgg9f5k94pn4a9ks)) - Tags: 👻 ai highlighted - I’ve learned a whole set of social behaviours to cover this. Laughing. Stalling. Asking a question I already know the answer to. Saying, “I’m so sorry, my brain’s gone blank,” like a joke, even when it doesn’t feel funny. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01kjfz3nshrpjx88pysv9kjjm3)) - Tags: 👻 ai highlighted