The Blog
Designing for Neurodivergent Joy: Rethinking Access and Inclusion in Theme Parks and Entertainment Spaces
This resource, for industry professionals, parents, and park/event visitors, brings together a series of in-depth articles that examine the barriers neurodivergent individuals and families face in theme parks and entertainment spaces, from sensory overload and executive dysfunction to inflexible design and incomplete accommodations. It offers visionary alternatives rooted in lived experience, proposing practical and systemic changes that prioritize regulation, autonomy, and access to joy. Together, these writings call for a shift from performative inclusion to intentionally crafted environments where neurodivergent people are centered, supported, and truly welcomed.
Neurodivergent Access and Inclusion: A Resource Series for Conference Planners
This resource series offers in-depth guidance for conference organizers on creating events that are truly accessible and affirming for neurodivergent attendees. It explores the importance of sensory regulation, flexible scheduling, and holistic design that centers neurodivergent needs across every stage of the attendee experience. Grounded in the social model of disability and neurodiversity-affirming practice, these articles challenge performative inclusion and advocate for systemic, meaningful change.
When You’re the First Neurodivergent Person You’ve Ever Known
This article explores the emotional journey of discovering you're neurodivergent later in life, especially when you grew up without language, validation, or community for your differences. It examines the deep loneliness, internalized shame, and self-doubt that can result from being the first neurodivergent person you’ve ever known, and the complex process of healing that follows. Through reflection, grief, and connection, late-identified autistic and ADHD adults can begin to reclaim their stories and rebuild lives rooted in self-trust and belonging.
What Is ‘Body Doubling’ & Why Does It Help Neurodivergent People?
Body doubling is a supportive practice where another person is present—either physically or virtually—while you complete a task, helping ease executive function challenges common in neurodivergent people. It offers gentle structure, reduces shame, and creates a sense of shared momentum that can make starting and sustaining tasks more manageable. Rather than being a productivity hack, body doubling is a neuro-affirming strategy rooted in connection, co-regulation, and the understanding that we don’t have to do hard things alone.
What Is Autistic Inertia? Understanding One of Autism’s Most Misunderstood Experiences
Autistic inertia refers to the difficulty many autistic people experience when starting, stopping, or transitioning between tasks, even when they want to. It can feel like being stuck in place—unable to begin something important or unable to disengage from a flow state—often leading to shame, overwhelm, and misunderstanding. Recognizing inertia as a valid neurodivergent experience helps us approach it with compassion, create supportive strategies, and reduce the emotional toll it can take on daily life.
Why ‘Radical Acceptance’ Might Be the Key to Thriving as a Neurodivergent Adult
Radical acceptance invites neurodivergent adults to stop fighting against who we are and instead embrace our brains, needs, and experiences without judgment. It offers a path to healing by challenging internalized ableism, redefining success, and allowing rest, authenticity, and self-trust. Through this practice, we can begin to build lives that reflect our true selves and create space where we can thrive rather than simply survive.
“But You Don’t Seem Autistic”: Breaking Stereotypes & Misconceptions About Autistic Women (3/24/25 Keynote Address at Stockton University)
This article features the full text of Bridgette Hamstead’s keynote address, “But You Don’t Seem Autistic”: Breaking Stereotypes & Misconceptions About Autistic Women, delivered at Stockton University’s Neurodiversity Education and Celebration Day. It explores the harmful effects of outdated autism stereotypes, the emotional toll of masking, and the often invisible struggles of late-diagnosed autistic women and nonbinary individuals. The keynote calls for greater recognition, representation, and belief in autistic experiences—especially those that don’t fit traditional expectations.
The Invisible Autistic Elders: What We Can Learn from Late-Diagnosed Seniors
Many autistic elders have lived their entire lives without knowing they were autistic, often enduring decades of misunderstanding, misdiagnosis, and internalized shame. A late diagnosis can bring both relief and grief, offering clarity while highlighting years of unmet needs and lost support. By listening to their stories and advocating for age-inclusive recognition and care, we can learn from their resilience and ensure that no one feels too late to belong.
Sensory Trauma: Understanding the Lasting Impact of Sensory Overload
Sensory trauma occurs when repeated or intense sensory overload overwhelms the nervous system, leaving lasting emotional, physical, and psychological impacts on neurodivergent individuals. These experiences, often dismissed or misunderstood by others, can lead to heightened sensitivity, avoidance behaviors, and difficulty trusting one's own needs. Healing from sensory trauma involves creating safe environments, validating sensory responses, and building a life that honors and protects our sensory experiences with compassion and care.
Autistic Burnout Recovery 2.0: Beyond Rest—What’s Next?
Autistic burnout recovery goes far beyond rest; it involves rebuilding a life that honors our neurodivergent needs, energy limits, and authentic selves. Recovery requires examining the systems, environments, and expectations that led to burnout in the first place, while gently reintroducing structure, connection, and joy. With support, self-compassion, and a shift toward sustainable living, we can move beyond mere survival and begin to thrive in ways that feel aligned and restorative.
What ‘Spoons’ Actually Mean & How to Manage Your Energy
The concept of “spoons” offers a powerful metaphor for understanding the limited energy many neurodivergent people have to manage daily tasks, social interactions, and sensory demands. Managing spoons requires deep self-awareness, intentional planning, and the courage to set boundaries in a world that often dismisses invisible disabilities. By honoring our energy limits, seeking supportive environments, and releasing internalized shame around rest, we can build more sustainable and authentic lives.
When the Algorithm Flags Neurodivergence: A Conversation on Digital Ableism
Bridgette Hamstead shares her personal experience of having her LinkedIn account suspended due to algorithmic moderation systems misinterpreting her frequent, in-depth posts—an example of what is known as algorithmic ableism. This form of digital discrimination disproportionately affects neurodivergent users, whose natural communication styles often differ from neurotypical norms and are wrongly flagged as spam or unprofessional. Hamstead calls for inclusive platform design that values neurodivergent expression and demands a shift in how digital spaces recognize and accommodate diverse ways of communicating.
Rethinking the ‘Autistic Social Skills Deficit’ Narrative: New Research & Perspectives
The idea that autistic people have a social skills deficit is rooted in outdated and neurotypical-centered perspectives that fail to recognize the validity of autistic communication styles. Instead of forcing autistic individuals to conform to neurotypical norms, a more neuro-affirming approach acknowledges that autistic socialization is different, not deficient, and thrives in environments that accommodate diverse ways of connecting. By fostering mutual understanding, reducing masking pressure, and creating inclusive social spaces, we can challenge the deficit narrative and support autistic people in forming meaningful, authentic relationships on their own terms.
The Rise of ‘Late-Stage Capitalism’ & Its Impact on Neurodivergent Well-Being
Late-stage capitalism creates significant barriers for neurodivergent individuals by prioritizing relentless productivity, financial privilege, and rigid social norms that disregard diverse ways of thinking and working. Employment discrimination, rising living costs, inaccessible healthcare, and the expectation to monetize every aspect of life make it increasingly difficult for neurodivergent people to achieve stability and well-being. To create a more inclusive and sustainable society, we must challenge capitalist definitions of productivity, advocate for flexible and supportive workplaces, and push for systemic changes that prioritize accessibility and community support over profit.
Is ‘Low Support Needs’ Autism a Myth? Why Every Autistic Person Needs Support
The concept of “low support needs” autism is misleading because it assumes that some autistic individuals require little to no assistance, when in reality, all autistic people have unique and valid support needs that may not always be visible. Many autistic individuals mask their struggles, experience fluctuating challenges, and face barriers to accommodations simply because they appear independent in certain areas. A more neuro-affirming approach acknowledges that support should be based on individual needs rather than external perceptions, ensuring that all autistic people receive the understanding and accommodations necessary to thrive.
Why Is There a Backlash Against the Neurodiversity Movement?
The backlash against the neurodiversity movement comes from various sources, including medical professionals, parents, traditional autism organizations, and broader societal resistance to change. Many critics feel that the movement downplays the challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals with high support needs, challenges established medical and therapeutic approaches, and threatens economic and social norms that prioritize conformity. Despite opposition, the neurodiversity movement continues to grow, advocating for systemic change, increased accommodations, and a more inclusive society where all neurodivergent people are valued and supported.
Unpacking ‘Internalized Ableism’ in Neurodivergent Adults
Internalized ableism in autistic adults develops from years of societal pressure to conform to neurotypical norms, leading to feelings of shame, guilt, and self-doubt about natural autistic traits. Many struggle with masking, burnout, and the belief that they must push through challenges without support, often blaming themselves rather than recognizing the systemic barriers that create these difficulties. Overcoming internalized ableism involves unlearning these harmful messages, embracing self-acceptance, and recognizing that autistic ways of thinking, communicating, and existing are valid and deserving of respect.
Unmasking: Why It’s Harder Than It Sounds & What to Expect
Unmasking as a neurodivergent person is a complex and often challenging process, requiring us to unlearn years of societal conditioning while navigating uncertainty, emotional shifts, and potential social consequences. While it can be liberating to embrace our true selves, it also comes with risks, including misunderstandings from others, workplace difficulties, and the struggle to recognize our own authentic identity after years of masking. By approaching unmasking with patience, self-compassion, and support from neurodivergent communities, we can create a more sustainable and fulfilling way of existing in the world.
Creating a Life Around Your Special Interests
Special interests are a fundamental part of how many neurodivergent people engage with the world, providing joy, structure, and a sense of purpose. Rather than suppressing these passions to fit societal expectations, we can create fulfilling lives by integrating them into our careers, social connections, and daily routines. Embracing special interests without guilt or pressure to monetize them allows us to build meaningful experiences that align with our natural ways of thinking, learning, and expressing ourselves.
The Joy of Info-Dumping: Why Sharing Our Passions Should Be Celebrated
Info-dumping is a joyful and meaningful way for neurodivergent people to share their passions, but it is often misunderstood as excessive or socially inappropriate. Rather than being a flaw, info-dumping is a valid form of communication that allows for deep connection, self-expression, and the exchange of valuable knowledge. Embracing and normalizing info-dumping can help create more inclusive spaces where neurodivergent individuals feel heard, respected, and free to engage with the world in a way that feels natural to them.