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.