In this episode of the Dyslexia Explored Podcast, hosts Darius Namdaran and Jo Lee speak with Dr. Tara Williams, a chemistry professor in California and former Sussex PhD graduate, about how executive function often drives difficulties when students transition from high school to university. Williams describes the social and practical upheaval of moving away from home, the need to self-advocate for accommodations, and how unstructured time, shifting deadlines, and planning demands can overwhelm neurodiverse students. They define executive functioning as planning, organization, and time management, discuss accommodations such as extra exam time, quiet rooms, note takers, and flexible grading for spelling-heavy subjects, and emphasize early preparation, body doubling, reading and note-taking habits, and building supportive relationships with faculty and campus services. Williams also shares her consulting work, forthcoming book, and contact details.
This podcast is sponsored by ivvi. Visual Notes for Visual Thinkers.
- Get ivvi notes now: https://www.ivvi.app/
Links:
- Ivvi: https://www.ivvi.app/
- what is dyslexia: https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/dyslexia/about-dyslexia/what-is-dyslexia
- Dr Tara Social Media Links:
- Website: https://innovativecollegiateconsultants.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-williams-phd/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iccedservices#
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/your_innovative_consultants
- Dr Tara Notable Guest Interviews:
- Parenting Teens: Advice Redefined for Today's Complex World: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/136-college-transition-hacks-for-parents-of/id1720826175?i=1000743905277
- Inclusive Education Project (IEP) Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/helping-students-learn-executive-functioning-skills/id1307157016?i=1000682986383
- Executive Function podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/executive-function-brain-trainer-podcast/id1588400094
- Previous Episode with Janet Scott: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/71-ebola-and-coronavirus-doctor-discusses-her/id1387645599?i=1000478151331
- Previous Episode with Kerry Pace: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/80-dyspraxia-nursing-and-online-tutoring-with-kerry-pace/id1387645599?i=1000488468841
- Executive Function: https://goodsensorylearning.com/blogs/news/tagged/executive-functioning
- Working Memory: https://goodsensorylearning.com/blogs/news/tagged/working-memory
- BETT Show: https://www.bettshow.com/
- British Dyslexia Association: https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk
Interested in being a guest? Email us at [email protected]


