Accessibility Advocate for
Disabilities of the Mind
Demystifying Mental Health
at Work & Play
Click a Title to Jump to Details
Presentation Topics
.. knowledgeable, genuine, humorous, and engaging!
Kristin was a pleasure to have on our mental health panel. Her passion for helping people in their mental health journey shone through!
Joe Teo
CEO, HeyOrca
Looking for a Panel of Workplace Experts?
Visit WorkplaceNeurodiversity.com for Kristin's collaboration with invisible disabilities expert Jason Reid and psychologist Marjorie Aunos.
Changing Mindsets on Disabilities of the Mind:
Embracing Mental Illness & Neurodiversity in the Workplace
Nearly 50% of all mid-career professionals have, or have had, a mental illness; yet the majority aren’t comfortable disclosing this to their employer, fearing judgement, exclusion, and even job loss as a result. While those of us navigating mental- or neuro-diversity face significant daily challenges and obstacles, we have so much to offer today’s workforce if permitted to flourish around those barriers.
How can employees best communicate their unique needs while respecting their health privacy boundaries; and how can managers proactively support the diverse requirements of their talented team to sustainably encourage both productivity and morale?
Does the classic stigma against mental illness still hold power over our career trajectories, or is it truly all in our head?
With more than two decades of experience living (and thriving) with both physical and mental disabilities, former-CMO and business-owner Kristin Light reveals tangible impact in today’s professional workforce by bringing genuine perspective, conscientious guidance, and a much-needed dose of levity to this delicate conversation.
FORMAT:
LENGTH:
SLIDES:
Presentation/Keynote
60 minutes
Available & Optional
KEYWORDS:
Invisible Disabilities; Mental Health; Mental Illness; Mood Disorders; Neuroatypical; Neurodivergent; Workplace Accommodations; Acceptance; Productivity; Inclusivity; Forward-Thinking; Leadership
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Attendees will gain a broader understanding of the unique scope of challenges faced by professionals coping with mental illness and/or neurodiversity, with specific strategies for embracing these particulars and supporting their employees and colleagues with trust, respect, and creative innovation.
Feeling 'Off' About Being Always 'On':
Escaping Toxic Positivity in Public-Facing Professions
Despite a current abundance of 'authenticity' clickbait, rates of professional burnout continue to rise; with the pressure to maintain an unsustainably positive public persona remaining ironically persistent.
How can we sidestep this mistakenly-lauded 'good vibes only' quest and protect our mental health – without sacrificing our reputations or career growth?
Former CMO and stage arts professional Kristin Light addresses this popularity paradox using candidly inspirational (and often hilarious) stories from her own personal and professional journey.
FORMAT:
LENGTH:
SLIDES:
Presentation/Keynote
60 minutes
Available & Optional
KEYWORDS:
Authenticity; Public Relations; Public Facing; Career Pressure; Media; Acceptance; Productivity; Mental Health; Leadership
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Attendees will gain tools and techniques to recognize the signs of performance burnout in both themselves and their colleagues; steps to reduce and repair the toll already taken; and strategies to avoid this downward spiral in the future.
Inclusive Invitations for Equitable Events:
Promoting Accessibility for Guests with Invisible Disabilities
“This event is fully accessible.” – This much-lauded phrase is undoubtedly a welcome addition to event marketing, however most planners are shocked to learn that the accessibility it infers only covers about 4% of guests with disabilities; namely those using wheelchairs or other visible mobility aids. The other 96% with chronic medical conditions live with invisible disabilities; including physical, mental, and neurological challenges.
With 1 in 10 falling into this latter category, they represent an enormous population of untapped potential event attendees that planners and promoters may be inadvertently excluding.
Kristin Light, event marketing veteran and invisible disabilities advocate, shares the tangible tweaks and subtle changes we can all make to improve the inclusiveness and accessibility of our live events for folks with invisible disabilities, thus welcoming the other 96% to the party!
FORMAT:
LENGTH:
SLIDES:
Presentation/Keynote
60 minutes
Available & Optional
KEYWORDS:
Invisible Disabilities; Accessibility; Mental Health; Mental Illness; Mood Disorders; Neurodivergent; Accommodations; Acceptance; Inclusivity; Leadership; Event Planning; Event Marketing
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Attendees will gain a broader understanding of the unique scope of challenges faced by adults living with invisible disabilities; steps to address these challenges in event design; and subtle marketing tweaks to improve accessibility and inclusivity during the pre-event sales process.