# Woman hospitalized after traditional jobs failed her neurodivergent brain

> Ella Thompson, 23, says traditional work systems left her hospitalized, now she leads a movement for neurodivergent workers.
- Title: Woman hospitalized after traditional jobs failed her…
- Summary: Ella Thompson, 23, says traditional work systems left her hospitalized, now she leads a movement for neurodivergent workers. Ella Thompson, 23, a…
- Keywords: ella thompson, good girls club, auhd, neurodivergent, autism, adhd, workplace accommodations, neurodivergent employment, suicide risk, bureau of labor statistics, Woman, hospitalized
- Source: Newsweek — https://newsweek.com/woman-hospitalized-trying-to-fit-a-working-world-not-built-for-her-neurodivergent-brain-now-shes-speaking-out-12438971
- Published: 2026-09-18T13:46:43+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: ella thompson, good girls club, auhd, neurodivergent, autism, adhd, workplace accommodations, neurodivergent employment, suicide risk, uk, us, bureau of labor statistics
## Ella Thompson's struggle
Ella Thompson, 23, a neurodivergent woman, stopped working after two months due to tearful meltdowns from traditional job demands.

> I was struggling with anorexia rooted in not accepting or accommodating my autism
## Hospitalization after master's program
Thompson began a forensic psychology master's program in 2024 but was hospitalized after it pushed her past breaking point.

> That's where my 'Good Girls Don't Get Diagnosed' movement began
## Good Girls Club movement
Thompson founded Good Girls Club, an online community for late-diagnosed women with autism and ADHD.

> I'm autistic and refuse to work traditional 9-5 jobs
## Workplace challenges for neurodivergent people
Open-plan offices, fluorescent lighting, and constant background noise exhaust neurodivergent workers beyond motivation or capability.

> Open-plan offices, fluorescent lighting, and constant background noise are exhausting in a way that has nothing to do with motivation or capability
## Workplace socializing as second job
Workplace socializing and teamwork expectations create an invisible second job for neurodivergent workers.

> Workplace culture leans on teamwork, on socializing with colleagues
## Neurodivergent employment statistics
In the U.S., 85 percent of autistic adults are unemployed, and 46 percent work below their capability level.

> up to 85 percent of autistic adults are unemployed
## Suicide risk for neurodivergent people
In the U.K., 11 percent of suicides involve people with autism despite them making up only 1 percent of the population.

> 11 percent of suicides in the country involve people with autism
## Key takeaway

Ella Thompson, 23, a neurodivergent woman hospitalized after failing to hold jobs, founded Good Girls Club to advocate for workplace accommodations for autistic and ADHD individuals.