Celebrating Neurodiverse Minds
Building on the Strengths of Neurodiversity
- Parenting is hard. Almost all of us (parents) experience the pressure of stakes higher than we ever imagined. Emotions deeper than we've ever known.
- And pressure that is ridiculous - as though anyone ever did this job "the right way". Dudes, it doesn't exist. Each child - each parent! - is so different that there is NO "right way". We are all doing our best. If a guide could be written, it would have been.
- Lacking a guide, every parent benefits from an unbiased ear and some outside experience. Some people are fortunate enough to have that person in their life, but most of us are not.
That has always been my gift. As a(n undiagnosed) neurodivergent GenX kid, my primary special interest (SpIn) was people. I have come to believe that we are all doing the best we can and that most of the time, people just need a fresh set of eyes to get closer to where they want to be.
Support for Caregivers
- When I became a mom and stepmom, I started to understand my brain through the diagnoses of my stepkids and kids. There could have been no better way to learn: all five of my kids are amazing in my eyes, so I had to admit that my neurodivergence could be amazing too. I also learned as a neurodivergent queer person how challenging it can be to access systems of support as an adult.
- I became a student and an advocate, driven to learn how to support my family and do everything I could to push the world towards being a place where they could thrive and offer their amazing gifts. I found additional insight caring for parents, siblings, friends, and my partner: brain tumor, cancer, learning disabiities, cardiac challenges, sleep disorders (SO MANY SLEEP DISORDERS!), TBI, gender dysphoria, dementia, mental health challenges, grief, addiction. I can't say I'm thankful for every experience, but I weathered them and stood by my family and friends in a way I am proud of.
- Through my advocacy and drive to learn, I connected with amazing educators and other advocates who helped me find a place in academics and speaking. Hoping to bring more inclusion of neurodiverse perspectives to future research and reduce loss of neurodivergent gifts, I turned to writing, speaking, and coaching. Reach out for coaching or support, to collaborate on research, or learn more about the upcoming textbook, 'Beautifully Autistic: a Strengths-Based Guide to Autism.'