What’s inside The Adapt Deck
Each deck has 20 cards built around eight everyday themes. Each theme pairs an illustrated scene with a plain-English card that explains what’s happening and what to do differently. The eight themes cover the moments where things most often get lost in translation: how instructions land, how time is experienced, how emotions and moods show up, and what happens when urgency, reassurance or perceived rejection come into play. Available in three editions: Workplace, Family and Relationships.
Who’s behind The Adapt Deck
Gemma Stevens - Founder
I’ve spent my life surrounded by brilliant neurodivergent minds: in my family, in my relationship and in the workplace. And for a long time, I was trying to help in the wrong way.
Like many parents, I’d collected plenty of tips, and almost all of them were about changing the neurodivergent person. What actually changed things was the opposite: truly understanding their perspective, rather than trying to fix it.
That idea sits at the heart of my work. For nearly two decades, I’ve worked in events, partnerships and engagement across corporate, government, not-for-profit and community sectors, designing experiences that make people feel seen, heard and welcomed. Along the way, I noticed how rarely workplaces, or anyone, help people understand the neurodivergent people beside them.
The Adapt Deck is my answer. It isn’t a quick fix or an impulse buy. It’s a bespoke resource, beautifully illustrated and designed and printed in Australia, made to be kept, returned to and shared.
Different view. Same scene.
Katherine Appleby - Illustrator
From the start, I wanted The Adapt Deck to feel warm, human and familiar, so I commissioned Canberra-based illustrator Katherine Appleby to create bespoke watercolour illustrations for every scenario.
Katherine works in intricate detail. Her illustrations have appeared in magazines and children’s books, on greeting cards and products, and in a stamp commission for Australia Post. For The Adapt Deck, she’s bringing everyday Australian moments to life so people can see themselves in each card.
Rebecca Alexander - Clinical Psychologist · BPsych (Hons), MProfPsych, MCPA
Every card in The Adapt Deck is being reviewed by Rebecca Alexander, a clinical psychologist and Psychology Board–approved supervisor. Rebecca founded and leads Calma Health Psychology, where her work spans therapy, assessment and training the next generation of psychologists.
She has co-designed ADHD programs for parents of neurodivergent children and for people who are newly diagnosed. She is a board director of the Australasian ADHD Professionals Association (AADPA) and a former committee member of the Australian Psychological Society’s Rural and Remote Psychology Interest Group.
Her review makes sure each insight is accurate, respectful and grounded in current understanding of neurodivergence, while staying in plain language anyone can use.