The Blog
Speaking the Truth About Autism, Gender, and Suicide: My UN Experience
Autistic girls, women, and gender-diverse individuals face significant challenges due to systemic biases, gendered expectations, and a lack of understanding about how autism presents beyond the male-centric model. These barriers lead to widespread underdiagnosis, masking, social exclusion, and limited access to gender-affirming and neuro-affirming care, all of which contribute to high rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidality. Addressing these issues requires systemic change in healthcare, education, employment, and policy to ensure that autistic individuals, regardless of gender, receive the recognition, support, and accommodations they need to thrive.
Neurodivergent Parenting: Breaking the Cycle of Shame and Ableism
Neurodivergent parents are breaking the cycle of shame and ableism by rejecting the harmful parenting practices they experienced and raising their children with acceptance, validation, and autonomy. Instead of forcing their children to mask, suppress their natural behaviors, or conform to neurotypical expectations, they are creating environments where neurodivergent children are supported in ways that honor their needs. This shift not only helps children thrive but also allows parents to heal from their own past experiences, fostering a new generation where neurodivergence is embraced rather than erased.
Sensory Processing Isn’t Just About Sensory Sensitivities—It’s About Sensory Joy, Too
Sensory processing differences are often discussed in terms of challenges, but for many neurodivergent individuals, they also bring deep sensory joy—whether through textures, sounds, movement, or nature. The intense pleasure of certain sensory experiences, like the feel of soft fabrics, the rhythm of music, or the grounding presence of nature, is just as real as sensory sensitivities, yet it is often overlooked. Recognizing and embracing sensory joy allows neurodivergent people to fully engage with their environment, self-regulate, and experience the world in ways that are meaningful, fulfilling, and uniquely their own.
How Hyperfocus and Burnout Exist on the Same Spectrum
Hyperfocus, a common experience for autistic and ADHD individuals, allows for deep concentration and bursts of productivity but often leads to burnout when unmanaged. Because hyperfocus does not come with built-in regulation, many neurodivergent people push themselves past their limits, leading to exhaustion, shutdowns, and difficulty sustaining long-term productivity. Understanding that hyperfocus and burnout exist on the same spectrum can help neurodivergent individuals develop strategies to balance deep engagement with necessary rest, allowing for a more sustainable and fulfilling approach to work and creativity.
Why Many Neurodivergent People Are Drawn to Speculative Fiction and Fantasy Worlds
Speculative fiction and fantasy resonate deeply with neurodivergent individuals because these genres offer alternative ways of existing, exploring identity, and imagining a world beyond rigid societal norms. Many autistic and ADHD readers connect with characters who process the world differently, struggle with conventional expectations, or find strength in their uniqueness, reflecting their own lived experiences. These stories provide both escapism and validation, showing that difference is not a flaw but a source of power, and that belonging can be found in the spaces where individuality is embraced.
The Emotional Cost of Being ‘High-Functioning’: The Reality Behind the Label
The label “high-functioning” is often misleading and harmful, as it erases the real struggles neurodivergent individuals face while pressuring them to perform at neurotypical standards. Many autistic and ADHD individuals are denied support and accommodations because they appear to be managing, even though masking and overcompensating lead to exhaustion, burnout, and self-doubt. True inclusion requires moving beyond functioning labels and recognizing that all neurodivergent people—regardless of outward appearance—deserve understanding, support, and the freedom to exist as they are.
How to Stop Masking (When You’ve Done It Your Whole Life)
Masking is a survival mechanism many neurodivergent individuals adopt to navigate a world that often demands conformity, but over time, it leads to exhaustion, burnout, and a loss of self-identity. Unmasking is a gradual process of self-discovery that involves recognizing masking behaviors, creating safe spaces to exist authentically, and reconnecting with suppressed traits and interests. While the journey is deeply personal and may come with challenges, it ultimately allows neurodivergent individuals to embrace their true selves with self-compassion and without apology.
5 Steps to Make Virtual Meetings More Inclusive
Virtual meetings can be overwhelming for neurodivergent individuals, but intentional adjustments can create more inclusive and accessible spaces. Providing clear communication ahead of time, embracing "come as you are" policies, and prioritizing sensory and cognitive accessibility help participants feel safe and supported. By balancing structure with flexibility and actively seeking feedback, meeting organizers can foster virtual environments where all participants can engage in ways that work best for them.
Parental Estrangement and Autistic Adults: Understanding the Why and What Comes Next
Parental estrangement among autistic adults is often the result of years of unmet needs, invalidation, and the pressure to mask or conform to neurotypical expectations. Many autistic individuals reach a breaking point where continued relationships with family members feel harmful, leading them to make the difficult decision to go no-contact as an act of self-preservation. While some relationships can be repaired through genuine understanding and respect, others require separation for the sake of well-being, highlighting the need for greater societal recognition of autistic experiences and family dynamics.
How to Recover from Years of Internalized Ableism as a Neurodivergent Person
Internalized ableism develops from societal messages that frame neurodivergence as a problem rather than a natural variation, leading many neurodivergent individuals to mask, doubt themselves, and struggle with feelings of inadequacy. Undoing these beliefs requires unlearning harmful narratives, embracing neurodivergent strengths, setting boundaries, and allowing space for grief. Healing is an ongoing process that involves self-compassion, community support, and creating a life that honors neurodivergent needs rather than suppressing them.
Why So Many Autistic Women Were in Gifted Programs—And What That Means
Many late-diagnosed autistic women look back on their childhoods and recognize that being labeled as gifted was often a way their autism was overlooked. Instead of being identified as neurodivergent, their intelligence and deep interests were praised, while their struggles with social interactions, sensory sensitivities, and executive function were ignored. This pattern reveals systemic failures in autism recognition, highlighting the need for better understanding, support, and accommodations for neurodivergent children who are both gifted and autistic.
Is “Professionalism” Just Another Word for Neurotypical Compliance?
Professionalism is often framed as a neutral standard, but in reality, it enforces neurotypical norms that exclude neurodivergent professionals from fully participating in the workplace. Expectations around eye contact, small talk, rigid schedules, and networking reward those who naturally conform while penalizing those who communicate or work differently, leading to masking, burnout, and limited career advancement. To create a truly inclusive workforce, professionalism must be redefined to prioritize competence, ethical behavior, and flexibility over arbitrary social expectations that reinforce exclusion.
The Problem with “Fit”: How Hiring Bias Excludes Neurodivergent Professionals
Many hiring decisions are based on the subjective idea of "cultural fit," which often excludes neurodivergent professionals who do not conform to traditional workplace social norms. Unspoken biases in hiring processes favor neurotypical communication styles, leading to the rejection of highly skilled autistic and ADHD candidates simply because they do not present in expected ways during interviews. To create truly inclusive workplaces, companies must move beyond the vague notion of fit and instead focus on structured, accessible hiring practices that recognize and value neurodivergent strengths.
How to Manage Executive Dysfunction When You Have Too Much to Do
Executive dysfunction can make even the simplest tasks feel overwhelming, but breaking tasks into smaller steps, externalizing time management, and reducing decision fatigue can help make them more manageable. Creating a supportive environment, using strategies like body doubling, and implementing immediate rewards can help with task initiation and motivation. Most importantly, managing executive dysfunction is about working with your brain rather than against it, allowing for self-compassion, rest, and sustainable progress.
Understanding the Tragic Reality of Suicide in Autistic Individuals: Call to Action and Resources List
Fish in a Tree's recent exploration of autistic suicide highlights alarming statistics, including the fact that autistic individuals are nine times more likely to attempt suicide, with even higher risks among autistic LGBTQIA+ individuals and those diagnosed late in life. Undiagnosed and unsupported autistic individuals, particularly in gender-diverse communities, face increased mental health challenges due to a lack of understanding and resources. We advocate for timely diagnosis, neuro-affirming mental health services, and inclusive crisis support to address this urgent issue and create a safer, more supportive world for the autistic community.
Why Many Autistic & ADHD People Feel Safer in Online Communities
Online communities provide autistic and ADHD people with a safer, more accessible space for socializing by allowing for flexible communication, sensory autonomy, and interactions based on shared interests rather than neurotypical social norms. These spaces offer the freedom to unmask, engage at one’s own pace, and connect with a global network of like-minded individuals, fostering self-acceptance and genuine relationships. Rather than being an escape, online communities demonstrate what true accessibility and inclusion can look like, proving that when environments are designed with neurodivergent needs in mind, people can fully thrive.
How to Recover from Years of Internalized Ableism as a Neurodivergent Person
Recovering from internalized ableism as a neurodivergent person requires unlearning societal messages that frame neurodivergence as a flaw, embracing one's natural traits without guilt, and recognizing personal strengths beyond neurotypical standards. This process involves setting boundaries, unmasking in safe spaces, reframing self-perception, and seeking validation through neurodivergent community and support. Healing is not linear, but through self-compassion and intentional change, neurodivergent individuals can move toward a more authentic and fulfilling life.
Navigating Neurodivergence in Grad School: A Survival Guide
Graduate school presents unique challenges for neurodivergent students, including difficulties with time management, executive function, social expectations, and sensory regulation. By implementing personalized strategies such as structured scheduling, alternative networking methods, advocating for accommodations, and prioritizing mental health, neurodivergent students can navigate academia in a way that supports both their success and well-being. Thriving in grad school requires working with neurodivergence rather than against it, creating a sustainable academic experience that aligns with individual strengths and needs.
The Economic Cost of Ignoring Neurodivergent People in the Workforce
The exclusion of neurodivergent individuals from the workforce results in significant economic losses, as businesses miss out on their unique talents while governments bear the financial burden of unemployment and underemployment. Traditional workplace structures and hiring processes fail to accommodate neurodivergent workers, leading to high turnover rates, lost innovation, and decreased overall productivity. Creating inclusive work environments through accessible hiring, workplace accommodations, and systemic change would not only support neurodivergent individuals but also drive economic growth and business success.
Why ADHD is Overlooked in Black Women – and What We Can Do About It
ADHD is frequently overlooked in Black women due to racial and gender biases in healthcare and education, as well as cultural expectations that emphasize resilience over seeking support. Many Black women go undiagnosed, often misinterpreting their struggles with executive dysfunction, inattentiveness, and emotional regulation as personal failings rather than symptoms of ADHD. Addressing this issue requires greater awareness, equitable healthcare, culturally competent mental health support, and systemic changes in education to ensure that Black women receive the recognition and resources they need to thrive.