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Late Diagnosis Club: How Dale Missed His Autism Diagnosis Despite Working in Special Education

Ep. 33
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In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Dale Pickles — host of Sendcast and Managing Director of B Squared — for a wide-ranging conversation on late diagnosis, education systems, and what it really means to support neurodivergent people.


Dale shares how he grew up surrounded by special education — yet still missed his own Autism and ADHD. It wasn’t until 2023, prompted by supporting his daughter through her diagnosis journey, that everything finally clicked.


This is a conversation about understanding yourself, supporting the next generation, and rethinking systems that weren’t built for neurodivergent minds.


🪑 Attendees

Chair: Dr Angela Kingdon — Author, community-builder, and Autistic advocate

Guest: Dale Pickles — SEND specialist, podcast host, and Managing Director of B Squared

You: The Listener!


🗒️ Meeting Agenda

  • Opening remarks from the Chair
  • Member introduction: Family neurodivergence and missed recognition
  • Learning social rules and masking
  • Late diagnosis through parenting
  • Navigating the UK diagnosis system
  • Education system challenges and executive function in schools
  • SEND reform and needs-led support
  • AI and neurodivergent support tools
  • Key learnings
  • Club announcements


🧾 Minutes from the Meeting


1️⃣ Opening Remarks

Angela introduces Dale Pickles and reflects on how someone can grow up immersed in special education and still miss their own neurodivergence.


2️⃣ Member Introduction: Dale’s Story

Dale grew up in a family deeply connected to special education, yet his own Autism and ADHD were not identified.

Although he recognised he was different, he didn’t feel he met diagnostic criteria. Instead, he developed ways to adapt, learning social rules, structuring his environment, and building a life that worked for him.

His path to diagnosis came later, prompted by supporting his daughter through her own challenges and recognition.


3️⃣ Discussion Highlights

  • Missed in plain sight: Growing up around SEND without recognising himself
  • Family neurodivergence: Traits present across generations
  • Long-term relationships: Building connections through learned skills
  • Diagnosis trigger: Supporting his daughter through school struggles
  • Self-accommodation: Designing life to reduce friction
  • Labels vs reality: Diagnosis doesn’t define ability
  • Fail-first system: Support often comes only after crisis
  • SEND reform: Moving toward needs-led support
  • Early intervention: Preventing long-term harm
  • Executive function gap: A missing focus in schools
  • AI support: Tools for communication, reflection, and preparation
  • Environmental impact: Needs to change depending on context


4️⃣ Key Learnings

  • You can build a life that works without knowing why it works.
  • Late diagnosis often comes through supporting others.
  • Self-accommodation is a powerful but often invisible skill.
  • Diagnosis is personal and not always necessary for everyone.
  • Education systems often require failure before support.
  • Early support can prevent long-term harm and trauma.
  • Executive function is a key area often overlooked in schools.


📌 Notice Board


📣 Club Announcements

🎧 The Late Diagnosis Club is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

💬 Join our online meetups and community at latediagnosis.club.

📌 Check the LDC Notice Board for Member Contributions

💜 There is a small charge — but no one is turned away for lack of funds.


🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com

🌐 Visit www.autisticculturepodcast.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @autisticculturepodcast

🎙️ Executive Producers: Amy Burns, Anamaria B Call, Andrew Banner, Anna Goodson, Ashley Apelzin, Audrea Volker, Ben Coulson, Brian Churcek, Cappy Hamper, Carley Biblin, Charlene Deva, Chloe Cross, Clay Duhigg, Clayton Oliver, Danny Dunn, Daria Brown, David Garrido, Emily Burgess, Eric Crane, Erik Stenerud, Fiona Baker, Grace Norman, Helen Shaddock, Jaimie Collins, Jason Killian, Jen Unruh, Jennifer Carpenter, Julia Tretter, Kathie Watson-Gray, Kenneth Knowles, Kira Cotter, Kristine Lang, Kyle Raney, Llew P Williams, Laura Alvarado, Laura De Vito, Laura Provonsha, Lily George, Nelly Darmi, Nigel Rogers, Rachel Miller, Tim Scott, Tyler Kunz, Victoria Steed, Yanina Wood.


🎧 Producers: AJ Knight, Bobby Simon, Da Kovac, Eleanor Collins, Emily Griffiths, Hannah Hughes, Jennifer Kemp, Jonas Fløde, Kate F, Katie N Benitez, Kendra Murphy, Lisa Dennys, Logan Wall, Louise Lomas, Melissa Nance, Nicola Owen, Rebecka Johansson, Sam Morris, Sarah Hannah Morris.

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