neuro-positivity

[neuro-positivity]

Hi everyone, I hope all my fellow neurodivergent people are doing okay in this crazy world!

I got to take part in an interview for an app being developed that's aiming to provide individualized tools for improving well-being and cognitive skills for neurodivergent children and young people. (And they used identity first language in the interview I participated in, woo!)

It's called MindOpp and the pilot for the final stage of development will be starting soon, so if you're interested in getting involved too, feel free to sign up here!

(I always love to see something for autistic people that actually asks autistic people what's good for them! I hope that this can become something really helpful. :))

[neuro-positivity]

Just sharing incase anybody has some spare cash and feels like helping out this lovely person! Assessments can be so expensive!

hello 👋 i don’t have a lot of followers so pls reblog if you can.

[ full details here | previous post i made ]

i’m jo and i live in the philippines where neurodiversity is unheard of and mental health is taboo. it took me 10 years of feeling lost and invalidated by psychiatrists, employers and family members to even get the referral for a formal assessment.

now i’m finally waitlisted for an ADOS-2 assessment and i’m grateful.

but it costs 15,303php or $300 and i cannot afford it alone.

please help me finally get the proper support. any amount helps and it would mean my whole life to me.

https://gogetfunding.com/help-a-disabled-filipino-get-their-autism-assessment-and-the-proper-support

[neuro-positivity]

Here's a very interesting study on hyperfocus for my fellow autistic adults, if you're interested in taking part!

Here's what they say about it:

Hello everyone,

My name is Rachel Nicholson (she/her) and I am a current PsyD student working towards my doctorate in clinical psychology. Part of my graduate training is to conduct a dissertation project and I have chosen to focus mine on the subjective experiences of hyperfocus in autistic adults. The purpose of this study is to shed a light on the autistic perspective specifically related to hyperfocus as much research on autism has excluded the community’s input all together. Those interested in participating will be asked to complete an anonymous online survey, which will take approximately 15 minutes. You must be 18 years or older to participate in this study as we are focusing on the experiences of autistic adults.

If you are interested in participating, please complete the survey via this link:

Thank you in advance for all of your help with my project and please reach out to myself (rnicholson@mail.immaculata.edu) or my dissertation chair, Dr. Ashley Higgins (ahiggins@immaculata.edu) if you have any questions!

[neuro-positivity]

A very interesting looking study for my fellow autistic uni students to take part in if anybody is interested! :)

Participants Needed: Autistic People's Experiences During The Pandemic and Returning to Face-To-Face Teaching.

Inclusion Psychologists Ltd are currently working on a project exploring how UK university students are coping with Covid-19.

This is part of a wider project exploring how Autistic people are experiencing the pandemic at university and returning to face-to-face teaching.

To participate, you must be a current UK university student, either undergraduate or postgraduate.

Participation should take approximately 15-20 minutes and can be completed on any device.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email amber@sixstagesframework.com or drshungu@inclusionpsychologists.com.

You can access the study by clicking the link below - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScC08tdJW3y1K-odCEgZVCBbZ1rsBRcx_4SAhPplgLOWPCIZA/viewform

[neuro-positivity]

As an autistic adult I am so often caught between perceived capability and the support offered to me.

If I can act like other people, then I am expected to hold down a full time job, buy groceries and make a living.

If I show that I am struggling and show my autistic traits, I am offered fewer opportunities and people treat me as if I am not capable of the things that I would like to do.

We are constantly caught in a world where it is so hard to be comfortable in ourselves while living a life that doesn't lead to burnout. So if you have autistic people in your life whether friends, work colleagues, children, etc, remember to ask what they want to do in life. Offer opportunities based on what they say about themselves, promote them for who they say they want to be and what they feel comfortable doing.

Try not to take take away opportunities from non-verbal or higher-support autistics and try not to suppress the support needs of autistics who are able to present themselves as more neurotypical.

Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk! Here's to a world where autistic people can live their best lives. (p.s. I think we're getting closer.)

[neuro-positivity]

KIM RHODES MY BELOVED!!!!!!!

[neuro-positivity]

I identify as aromantic-asexual because I have such a hard time connecting and understanding people. Does autism play a role in romantic and sexual orientation?

Asexuality is known as being more common within the autistic community, so you're far from alone here. As far as I'm aware, there's no research on why this is. Though some people tie it to sensory issues or in the difference in how we relate to people. The latter could also apply to being aromantic, and so this could certainly be a possible aspect to why we also see quite a few aromantic autistic people. :)

At the end of the day, we need a whole lot more research in this area. But your sexuality and romantic orientation is completely valid, whether caused by neurodiversity or other aspects of being a human. :)

[neuro-positivity]

What does “The Spectrum” mean? Do some people have “more Autism” than others?

I covered these topics in a comic to help explain the extremely individual and incomparable nature of the autism spectrum!

Instagram // Twitter

[neuro-positivity]

Love this!! After diagnosis is often a time of learning to give ourselves permission to look after our needs after such a long time of neglecting them.

A lot of people talk about autistic traits becoming heightened after a person figures out and/or is diagnosed with ASD.

And yes, this can happen due to realizing that it’s okay to stim and to be a little more open about expressing your needs and identifying what your autistic traits are - not to mention when autism becomes a special interest. ^^

I think that a big part of the appearance of increased visibility of autistic traits is that finally after all this time (speaking for late-diagnosed or late-self dx’d autistic people), you have language to describe and identify your autistic traits.

Before, you might’ve mentioned how you are just overwhelmed by the room being too loud and busy with people and the smell of everyone’s different deodorants/body sprays and it’s too bright - and so you thought it was normal and just happening because there was so much going on. As opposed to now, having the language and the understanding of yourself to say, “Wow, I’m really over-stimmed right now,” and realize you need to leave to a quieter, lower external-stimulation environment and perhaps use some stimming or coping/calming techniques to help ward off a breakdown/meltdown/shutdown or anxiety/panic attack.

Just by knowing and recognizing that you’re autistic provides you with a whole arsenal of language and coping skills and communication resources to help you express your needs, concerns, autistic traits, and yourself. You learn new scripting options that makes your autistic self more visible by how you explain what you’re feeling and going through.

[neuro-positivity]

WHAT TO DO IF YOUR FRIEND OFTEN GOES NONVERBAL

So, as someone who is selectively mute/prone to shutdowns, people don’t often know what to do when I go nonverbal, and it’s not like they can ask, so I’ll give some tips!

Ask them what you should do while they’re nonverbal before they go nonverbal.

Keep in mind that for some people, nonverbal means they simply can’t talk but can still communicate through writing, texting, nodding, etc. But, for some, it means they cannot communicate at all (and this can change based on the type of episode as well). If this happens, just be patient, and be somewhat still. If you talk, try to talk softly.

Some people like to listen to others talk when they’re nonverbal, and some don’t. Talk to you’re friend when they’re verbal so you can find out which is best for them.

If you’re out and about, make sure that you make it obvious that if you have to talk for them (i.e. order food for them, thank the bus driver, tell someone they can’t speak, etc.), that it really isn’t a bother.

DO NOT RIDICULE THEM. Do not make fun of them, do not get visibly frustrated, do not get angry, do not try to force them to talk. This will only make things worse.

Being nonverbal is different for everyone; if you know your friend is known to go nonverbal, ask them what you should do in that situation. For some people it’s not a big deal, but for some people it is. Ironically, you have to communicate with them (while they can, of course) to find out what is best.

[neuro-positivity]

Humming is so calming and underrated!

this is a positivity post for everybody who verbal stims!! whether you are verbal or not, if you hum or sing or make words or other sounds, all verbal stims are good!! and i’m proud of you for making them!! doubly so if they are “loud” or “disruptive” or otherwise seen as undesirable. you deserve a place to make all the noise you want!

[neuro-positivity]

This ADHD and Autism Venn Diagram was requested even more highly than the ADHD and PTSD diagram, and I finally got round to making it…

[neuro-positivity]

Do you have any advice for dealing with the struggles change can bring? Some context- the flavor of the toothpaste I've been using for 10+ years has been changed and I'm still having trouble adjusting.

This type of change is so hard because there's just no avoiding the change in this certain thing so I really hear what you're going through here.

What I would recommend here is really focusing on all the things in your routine (if you keep one) that you do around the time of brushing your teeth that are still the same.

For example if you're brushing your teeth and feeling anxiety due to the change try thinking, "After this I'm watching that show I always watch." etc.

If this doesn't sound like your thing, maybe try a comforting activity whilst brushing your teeth, even just holding a comfort object or something to fidget with that you can focus on.

Remember to be patient and compassionate with yourself, change just takes us more time to adjust to and that's okay. :) I wish you the best of luck with your toothpaste adjustment!

[neuro-positivity]

Do you hate looking at people’s eyes when you’re talking to them but once they look away you get fascinated by their eye color and can just stare at them until they look directly back at you and it starts hurting again or is that just me?

Haha, yes I can certainly relate to this! I don't personally find eye contact painful, more uncomfortable and too intense or personal. But when people look away for a moment I feel I have a chance to connect with them more. :)

Lots of people in the autistic community will precisely relate to this though!

[neuro-positivity]

Hey, I strongly believe that I have SPD but I'm a minor and I'm going to need to tell my mam at some point about this. She is an absolutely lovely person and is accepting of everything but I'm really worried this is going to be hard for her to accept. I made a Microsoft Word document full of SPD websites. I really just don't want a big conversation about it either because I know she'll probably try and talk through it and it'll just be a big, uncomfortable thing. What should I do?

I think that I would suggest simply being open with her about the fact that you don't want a big conversation about it. :)

You could phrase it something like this, "Hey Mam, I don't want to go too deeply into this just yet, but I think that I might have sensory processing disorder and I just wanted you to know so that ____."

You could perhaps mention to her that it's not at all dangerous, but just that you struggle with certain things and may need some extra understanding or support in those areas. It could be helpful to let her know more specifically what you struggle with and anything you'd like her to do (or not do!) to help you out.

It sounds like you've done a lot of research and that this is very important for you, so I wish you the best of luck! :)

[neuro-positivity]

This is a question from me, a person with autism . Can it be possible you can have ADD and autism ?

Yes, and it's actually more likely!

[neuro-positivity]

ADHD behavior can be full of contradictions. I often see people give reasons as to why someone else can't have it and almost every time that reason either doesn't contradict ADHD, or can be even more of a sign for it.