Building an inclusive Tomorrow.

I help people and organizations bridge the gap between human behavior, technology innovation, and disability equity. Whether we’re exploring the ethics of AI-powered assistive technology, designing a neuroaffirming workplace, or coaching 1:1, my goal is the same: creating a world where everyone can thrive authentically as themselves.

BIOGRAPHY

The Intersection of Research, Practice, and Lived Experience

I am Dr. Julie Eshleman, a researcher, clinician, and advocate dedicated to building a world where inclusion isn't a checkbox, but a foundational infrastructure. My work is defined by the belief that for inclusion to be sustainable, we must align the tools we use, the systems we inhabit, and the authentic ways we move through the world.

My perspective is shaped by three distinct roles: I am a PhD-level researcher focusing on the future of AI-powered assistive technology, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with over a decade of clinical experience, and an autistic woman who navigates these very systems daily.

From the Classroom to the Lab:
A Systems-Level Journey

My career began in the classroom as a Special Education Teacher and later as a Behavior Education Coordinator. These early years provided me with an "on-the-ground" understanding of how educational systems succeed—and where they fail—disabled learners. I saw firsthand that inclusion is often hampered by rigid environments rather than individual ability.

This realization drove me to broaden my impact. I spent years in clinical and leadership roles at institutions like the Marcus Autism Center and Ambitious About Autism, where I specialized in supporting neurodivergent individuals through complex transitions. Whether I was coaching teachers in "turnaround" schools or managing transdisciplinary teams in higher education, my focus remained on neuroaffirming support: helping people gain the skills to navigate their environments without being forced to mask their authentic selves.

The Three Strands of My Work

I offer three complementary services that span systems of the future, systems of the present, and individual experience.

Inclusive Technology &
AI Research

The Offering: I provide deep-dive mixed-methods research and policy analysis at the intersection of disability and emerging tech. This service focuses on how AI and assistive technologies—from large-scale workplace systems to personal tools—can be harnessed to promote equity rather than reinforce exclusion. I help bridge the gap between technical development and the lived experience of the disability community.

Who This Is For: Tech Developers & Policy Makers looking to ensure their AI or software products are truly accessible and neuroaffirming. Research Institutions & Think Tanks seeking a PhD-level researcher with a dual lens of professional expertise and lived disability experience. Foundations & Advocacy Groups needing data-driven insights to influence disability-inclusive technology policy.

Media & Speaking Availability

I am available for writing guest blogs, speaking engagements (live and virtual, internationally), and podcast interviews. If you're seeking an autistic researcher and clinician to bring an insider-expert lens to your audience, I’d be honored to collaborate.

Neuroaffirming Organizational Strategy

The Offering: I help organizations move beyond "compliance" to create a cultural and physical infrastructure where neurodivergent talent can thrive. Using a Behavioral Systems Analysis approach, I identify the environmental and systemic barriers within your workplace. My goal is to shift the burden of adaptation from the employee to the system, designing spaces and processes that support diverse cognitive styles as a standard, not an afterthought.

Who This Is For: HR Leaders & DEI Directors who want to move past awareness and into the implementation of functional, neuroaffirming workplace systems. Business Owners & Executives looking to optimize their physical or digital workspaces to better support neurodivergent staff and increase retention. Startups & Design Firms wanting to build inclusive organizational habits from the ground up.

Authentic Navigation & Coaching

The Offering: I provide 1:1 support designed to help you navigate a world that was not built for your success—without requiring you to lose your authentic self in the process. My approach blends Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) with executive coaching and behavioral science. We focus on identifying your core values, managing your executive load, and building the functional skills necessary to achieve your professional goals on your own terms.

Who This Is For: Neurodivergent Professionals looking for a coach who understands the "insider" experience of autism and ADHD and provides actionable, shame-free strategies for career success. Individuals in Career Transitions who need to develop new executive functioning systems for a more demanding role. Allies & Support Systems seeking a neuroaffirming framework to better support the neurodivergent people in their professional or personal lives.

PROFESSIONAL FOUNDATION

Advancing Equity through Technology and Policy

Today, as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Georgia Tech and a Georgia LEND Fellow, I have moved my focus to the digital and systemic frontier. My current research examines the benefits and risks of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Assistive Technology (AT) for the disability community. I believe technology should be an equalizer, not a barrier. My work ensures that as we build the "next generation" of tools, we do so with the disability community—not just for them.

My 'Why': Authentic Navigation

I don’t believe in "fixing" people; I believe in designing better systems. My approach integrates:

Mixed Methods Research: Using data to map the impacts of policy and technology on equity.
Behavioral Science (ABA & ACT): Applying psychological flexibility and functional skills to help individuals and organizations thrive.
Lived Experience: Bringing the "insider's lens" of an autistic professional to every project, ensuring that neurodiversity is respected and celebrated.

Outside of my research and consulting, I serve as a Trustee for the Lightyear Foundation, advocating for accessible STEM education. Whether I am in a lab at Georgia Tech, consulting for a global organization, or working 1:1 with a client, my mission is to create a future where everyone has the tools and the space to be authentically themselves.