Andrew Lambert - My Story
ADHD and autism have shaped my life, my work, and why I built ADHDaptive.
Why I do this work
I’m Andrew.
I was diagnosed with ADHD and autism in 2023, at the age of 50.
Before that, I spent most of my life trying to understand why things that seemed straightforward for other people felt harder for me. I could think clearly, solve complex problems, and do well in my work. But staying on track, managing expectations, and keeping up with the pace of everyday life often felt like a constant effort.
Over time, I adapted. I masked, I overworked, and I pushed through. From the outside, that worked. I built a career and did well in it. But underneath, it came at a cost, and I was often running on empty.
The diagnosis did not change who I was, but it gave me an explanation. It helped me understand what had been happening all along.
Powered by ADHD.
Turning point
Once I understood what was going on, it became difficult to ignore it.
I started to see how much energy I had been spending just trying to function in environments that were not designed with people like me in mind. I realised I did not want to continue working in a way that required that level of constant effort.
After 25 years in IT, I made the decision to step away. Not because I could not do the work, but because I did not want to keep doing it at that cost.
I retrained as a coach and created ADHDaptive. Part of that decision was about helping other people avoid the same experience. Part of it was recognising that there has to be a more realistic way of working than simply expecting people to try harder.
What matters to me
Most of the people I work with are not lacking ability. They are capable, thoughtful, and often very good at what they do.
What they struggle with is consistency. Plans drift, energy drops, and tasks that seem small can be difficult to start or return to. Over time, that can affect confidence and how people see themselves.
The focus of coaching is not to fix that. It is to understand what is actually happening and to work with it rather than against it.
- Clarity where expectations are vague
- Simple systems that are easy to return to
- Ways of working that fit energy and attention
- Space to think without constant pressure
When those things are in place, life tends to feel more manageable. Not perfect, but more workable.
What I bring
I bring both lived experience and professional experience.
I understand what it is like to live with ADHD and autism, and the impact that can have on work, relationships, and daily life. I also bring years of experience working in complex roles where expectations are high and often unclear.
That combination means the support I offer is practical. It is not theoretical or generic. It is grounded in real situations and focused on things that can actually be used day to day.
ADHDaptive is built on lived experience. Powered by ADHD.
Making support affordable
One of the things I became aware of quickly is that support is often out of reach for the people who need it most.
I try to keep things as simple and accessible as possible. That includes helping people access Access to Work funding, which can cover coaching and workplace support.
Many people are not aware that this exists, or assume they would not qualify. In many cases, they do.