Megan Wood on Medical Accountability, Neurodivergence & Chronic Illness Advocacy

In this powerful episode of The Deep Dive Podcast, we sit down with Megan Wood — a public servant, advocate, and neurodivergent woman who has transformed personal adversity into systemic advocacy. From years of misdiagnosis and dismissed symptoms to a life-changing AuDHD diagnosis in 2024 and a series of surgeries in 2025, Megan’s health journey is one of perseverance, clarity, and purpose. Now thriving with the right supports, Megan uses her lived experience to push for early diagnosis, trauma-informed care, and accountability in both healthcare and workplace systems. We explore the emotional toll of being “undiagnosed and misunderstood,” the power of naming your truth, and the overlap between neurodivergence, chronic illness, and gendered medical neglect. Megan is now a confident public speaker, policy co-designer, and passionate voice for others navigating similar journeys.

Follow Megan on Instagram: @megan.ann.w

TRANSCRIPT:-

00:00:00:05 - 00:00:29:21 Speaker 1 What began in June 2024 as a space to amplify autistic and neurodivergent voices, has grown into something far bigger a platform for raw, honest conversations about neurodivergent disability, burnout, inclusion, mental health, and how identity shaped the way we move through the world. From the start, our mission is being clear to go beyond the headlines, beyond stereotypes, and explore the real lived experiences that often go unheard.

00:00:29:23 - 00:00:53:22 Speaker 1 Over the past year, we've spoke with parents, professionals, educators, advocates, and everyday people all united by commitment to building a more inclusive and accessible world. But what's mattered most is that the community, those of you who listen, share and reminders finally, someone gets it. Thank you for being here. This is just the beginning.

00:00:54:02 - 00:01:23:08 Speaker 2 Looking for authentic conversations that go beneath the surface. Tune in now to the Deep Dive podcast. Visit us at Deep Dive a unit that's deep dive a unit and follow us across your favorite platforms. YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Facebook. Just search at the Deep Dive AEW. Join us as we dive deep into stories of neurodivergent lived experience and creating a more inclusive world.

00:01:23:10 - 00:01:34:02 Speaker 2 The deep dive podcast. Conversations that matter. Stories that connect. This is the Deep Dive podcast, and here is your host, Michael Coles.

00:01:34:04 - 00:02:10:21 Speaker 1 Megan Woods is a passionate advocate and public servant, dedicated to fair access, workplace rights and systemic reform. Her journey is deeply shaped by lived experience. As a teenager, she faced a severe cardiac condition and for over 15 years, undiagnosed illnesses like head spots and endometriosis, added to her challenges. Misdiagnosis and medical dismissal does delight the right care. Until recent surgeries and accurate diagnosis gave her back both her functionality and quality of life.

00:02:10:22 - 00:02:44:22 Speaker 1 In 2020, for me, Megan was formally diagnosed with autism and ADHD. This turning point came for clarity, self-understanding, and a stronger drive to advocate for others. Today, she managed chronic. She manages chronic illnesses with resilience while using her voice to push for early diagnosis, trauma informed care, and medical accountability. She speaks at forums, contributes to research and Kai designs inclusive policy championing equity for young women and neurodivergent individuals.

00:02:44:23 - 00:02:47:05 Speaker 1 Megan would work home to the deep dive.

00:02:47:07 - 00:02:49:14 Speaker 3 Thank you so much for having me, Michael.

00:02:49:16 - 00:03:00:17 Speaker 1 So has your lived experience with chronic illness and disability shaped you understanding of neurodivergent? And how have those intersect state intersected in your journey?

00:03:00:19 - 00:03:29:24 Speaker 3 So I've lived with chronic illness from a young age. So that really shaped sort of how I experienced and interpreted the world. Over time, I began to recognize patterns in executive function, sensory sensitivity, and cognitive fatigue that align with neurodivergent traits. I've got first degree relatives as well who have been diagnosed as neurodivergent. So, that would have been an indicator for me as well.

00:03:29:24 - 00:03:54:04 Speaker 3 And I think the challenge for me in that case was that they were male relatives. And often times, boys get diagnosed and picked up for those things more so than women do. Especially growing up in the 90s and early 2000, a lot of things probably got missed in my case. I realized as I got older that chronic illness and neurodivergent overlap in a big way.

00:03:54:06 - 00:04:29:14 Speaker 3 And they both affect energy, communication and obviously your ability to participate in work and society. And having that intersection of both of them sort of helped me understand the