Leave a review! Liz is a speech and language therapist. Christine is a former chartered accountant. Both were diagnosed with narcolepsy type 1 — and both have had to fight, again and again, for accommodations they were legally entitled to. In this episode, Liz and Christine sit down for an honest career chat: the university meeting where Liz was told she'd never qualify as a therapist, Christine being denied a split exam sitting and then set up to fail four exams in four days, the "breadcrumb" accommodations that never quite add up to equal footing, and the burnout that comes from constantly having to prove a disability is real. They close with why they're both now choosing to build careers on their own terms instead of waiting for workplaces to catch up. Meet the Guests Liz is a sociable, creative and empathetic person who loves meeting new people and diving into their stories. Her passion for advocating for others with needs or differences, and the skills she’s developed as a therapist, mean that she has many strengths as a narcolepsy advocate. She also has a lot of experience advocating for herself in the workplace. After meeting Kerly at a narcolepsy conference and being one of the first guests on the podcast, she quickly realized she’d love to be a cohost and get more involved in the narcolepsy community. A year and a half later, Liz has interviewed many guests on the podcast and has really benefited from meeting a variety of people with narcolepsy- feeling supported and less alone. Liz is excited to see where the future takes her and to continue on her advocacy journey. Christine is a passionate narcolepsy advocate dedicated to raising awareness, supporting early diagnosis, and helping others feel less alone in their journey. After navigating her own path to understanding life with narcolepsy, she began sharing her experiences through her blog and creative projects, aiming to bridge the gap between medical facts and real-life experiences. With a warm, open style, Christine uses her platforms — including her vlog series and written resources — to demystify narcolepsy, highlight its impact on daily life, and inspire others to seek answers when something feels “off.” She believes that sharing honest stories can spark understanding, reduce stigma, and lead to faster, more accurate diagnoses. When she’s not advocating, Christine enjoys creating calming stationery, exploring nature, and finding beauty in the small, quiet moments of life. Chapters 00:00 Welcome to the Podcast 01:06 Career Impact Overview 01:21 Liz's Diagnosis and Starting University 02:31 University Discrimination Story 04:28 Fighting for Adjustments 07:02 Knowing Your Rights 09:13 Christine's Uni and Exam Barriers 11:52 Workplace Culture and Buzzwords 15:09 Christine's Career Pivot Research 17:51 Liz's First Job and Napping Setup 21:55 Exam Accommodations and Fairness 27:01 Later Jobs, Burnout, and Managers 30:13 Workplace Scrutiny and Anxiety 32:19 Managing Symptoms at Work 33:46 Motivation, Naps, and Mindset 35:34 Job Search and Self-Employment 38:41 Why Diagnosis Fails So Many 40:02 Quitting the London Job 45:22 Burnout to Flexibility 53:10 Trust and Adjustments 57:32 Resources and Sign-Off Resources Mentioned Calibre Disability Leadership Course (NHS) · Go Succeed · Invest NI · Catalyst (Northern Ireland business hubs) · The Equality Act Links Website & support group: www.napsforlife.com Share your story: narcolepsynavigators@gmail.com Support the show Subscribe for more inspiring episodes, share to raise awareness, and join the conversation by sharing your experiences. Follow and support Narcolepsy Navigators: www.napsforlife.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/narcolepsynavigatorspodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Narcolepsy-Navigators/61558638497300/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/narcolepsy-navigators-podcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@narcolepsynavigators Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@NarcolepsyNavigatorsPodcast ***If you find these symptoms relatable, please seek medical advice.***
