Joan's Story

When Joan Catahan received an autism diagnosis last December at age 40, she didn’t know where to begin.

“I started doing a ton of research,” she says. “Things finally started to make sense. Why I struggled with certain things and felt a bit behind.”

 Learning more gave Joan the confidence to seek tools that would help her overcome the things she felt had been holding her back. A Google search led her to Come As You Are (CAYA) and the READY Workshop, a 12-week program designed to help neurodivergent adults build confidence, job skills, and a sense of community.

“Starting the workshop was a big step,” Joan admits. “I’d been isolated, no job, not seeing friends. The READY Workshop gave me somewhere to go every week, something I could count on. It kick-started my brain again.”

What began as a tentative try at re-engaging turned into a turning point: the structure, skill-building, and supportive faces in the room helped her rebuild momentum.

Learning the skills, and the self-advocacy, to thrive

Like many late-diagnosed adults, Joan didn’t initially see herself in the common depictions of autism.

“I only knew the stereotypes,” she says. “Once I learned about autism in women and late diagnosis, things clicked.”

That clarity made the READY Workshop curriculum even more meaningful, especially the week on accommodations and advocacy.

“I didn’t know how to ask for help at work, or that I even could,” Joan explains. “That session was eye-opening: you don’t have to struggle through something alone. There are supports your employer can provide, and it’s okay to ask for them.”

For Joan, understanding her rights and rehearsing the language to request accommodations turned workplace worries into actionable steps.

Other practical pieces, such as a resume refresh, interview prep, and a guided rethink of “What do I want to do next,” helped her move from stuck to starting.

“I was extremely scared of the whole job-hunting process,” she says. “The READY Workshop made it manageable.”

Community changes everything

Caya understands that skill matter, but so does building a sense of belonging in a community you trust.

“I met wonderful people,” Joan says about the READY Workshop. “Jenn and Rhonda have been amazing, so kind and supportive. I feel comfortable reaching out with questions. And I made real friends from attending the Workshop.”

That sense of community kept her coming back for summer refreshers, too. A session on “finding your dream job” helped her answer more honestly the second time around.

“I understood myself better,” she says. “The results confirmed I was on the right path.”

Another workshop on workplace interactions offered concrete, repeatable scripts, tools Joan is already using.

From the neuroinclusive job fair to a new role

After finishing the READY Workshop, Joan attended CAYA’s first Neuroinclusive Community Job Fair. There, she connected with Dogtopia, one of the employers at the job fair who was interested in hiring new employees.

“I felt comfortable talking with them,” she shares, beaming. “One year ago, I wouldn’t have been ready to even apply. READY prepared me.”

When it came time for Dogtopia to review applicants for a new position, Joan stood out to the Dogtopia team due to her excellent chat with them at the Caya Job Fair.

Rachel Sutelan, Co-Owner of the Dogtopia Norfolk location, says, “Joan truly impressed us with her interview skills, confidence, and ability to express her interests. It’s clear that CAYA does an excellent job preparing its clients to feel ‘job-ready’ and confident as they enter the workforce.”

Dogtopia hired Joan, and she’s thrilled to be on a new career path in a workplace that welcomed her.

What advice would she give to anyone considering the READY Workshop or attending the Caya job fair?

“Do it! If you have the time and resources, you’re going to learn a lot, have fun, meet cool people, and get real help with everything that makes work complicated,” she says.

Why programs like READY matter

Joan’s story reflects a broader shift in understanding neurodiversity, especially for women and late-diagnosed adults. The spectrum is truly wide, and the supports that help people thrive are a large part of the READY Workshop: predictable environments, clear expectations, opportunities to practice, and communities that understand them.

CAYA’s READY Workshop brings those elements together in one place, alongside coaching on self-advocacy and employment essentials.

“I can see the change in myself,” Joan says. “It’s important to me that CAYA keeps going. I want to volunteer and help others overcome the same hurdles.”