#happy neurodivergent pride day

[whatthefoucault]

When everything is too much, Ed gets under blankets.

“Do you want to talk about it?” asked Stede. Ed shook his head. “Do you want to be alone?” Ed shook his head again. “Is this okay?” Stede tentatively rested a hand on Ed’s knee. Ed nodded. They sat quietly together for a while, and when he felt a bit better, Ed sipped his seven sugar tea.

[staycatcher]

I’m still recovering from last week when me and my manager were just talking about our special interests and he goes “oh do you like Kate Bush?” And I go “I’ve not heard majority of her stuff but everything I’ve tried I’ve loved!:)” and he goes “okay well I was just asking cuz if you like her you’ll love Tori Amos, all my other lesbian friends love the both of them😀” all I could do was say “oh yeah, i bet haha”

[genderqueerdykes]

happy first day of pride month 2024; please remember this month to hold your fellow queers up as high as you can, and to let them speak as loud as they need to. we are watching violent spikes in transphobia and trans panic this year as more and more bills and laws are proposed to make it difficult or impossible for trans people to medically or socially transition in the United States. we are seeing an all time high in trans panic in general- i have witnessed it personally in my own city, people freaking out about even the slightest gender non conformity. gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual and other queer folks are fighting for their rights in places like Russia and Africa. queerphobia is at a peak right now

no more petty arguing about who has it better or worse- we are upholding the entire queer community this year. your brothers, sisters and siblings with identities you don't understand need space this year. boygirls, lesboys, gaybians, fagdykes, bisexual gays and lesbians, transmasc and male lesbians, transfem and female gays all need space. intersex people need space. all trans folks, trans women, trans men, non binary people, genderfluid people, bigender and multigender people, xenogender people, and people with the weirdest genders you've ever seen need a platform to speak. nonhuman queers, disabled queers, neurodivergent queers need space. people of color with cultural identities like two-spirit folk need space. bisexuals and pansexuals have to lift each other up high and scream for each others rights. aromantics, asexuals, agender people and other aspec folks need to be heard.

now more than ever we need to unite and make our community stronger than ever. we need each other right now. let's be here for each other. even if we don't fully understand one another, it doesn't matter. we're siblings, family, whatever you'd like to call it- we are part of the same beautiful rainbow and it's time to act like it. i appreciate every member of my queer family, let's take care of each other this Pride. we owe it to each other.

[aptericia]

Not proud to be here.

--

Ok, here goes draft like 5 of this fucking post. I spent 4 hours tossing and turning in bed last night thinking about this, and then this morning I found a tumblr post that really helped me understand what I was trying to say.

The post talks about how aromantic "advocates" claim that "aros don't take up resources, so there's no reason not to include them!" And if that's actually what people believe, I think I can finally articulate why it is that I feel so alienated in queer spaces.

It's because aspecs in general aren't "welcomed" by much of the queer community. We're tolerated. We perhaps get the luxury of not being contradicted on our own identities, or not being specifically kicked out of LGBTQ-only spaces, but that's the whole point: what we get out of the queer "community" is people NOT doing things, not actually doing things FOR us. And that, frankly, is not enough. We deserve conversations about us. We deserve to have others consider our feelings, even when making lighthearted jokes. We deserve varied, respectful representation in media. We deserve the active deconstruction of amatonormativity in society. We deserve to have space made for us, rather than at most being told we should "go take up more space!" ourselves.

Of course, the reality is that my being aspec is a personal matter that does not inherently affect anyone else. But the same can be said for literally any queer identity. Your being gay doesn't say anything about me, so of course I shouldn't hurt you for it, but why should I help you either? Because your happiness and comfort are important. The same goes for aspecs.

And most of the time, I don't even need anyone to make space for or expend resources on me; I can live fine in everyday, non-queer-specific places without mentioning my identity at all. But it's the queer community that claims it will make that space for me, doesn't, and then acts defensive and morally pure if I call out the hypocrisy because "we're queer too, you can't erase our identities to advocate for yours!!!!"

Again, this post isn't about specifics. I have queer friends who are incredibly thoughtful and supportive about my identity, just as I have non-queer friends who are. I find more solidarity in aspec-only communities, as well as trans/genderqueer ones, although there are still many exceptions. This post is also not about amatonormative ideology, which is extremely common from queer and non-queer people alike. This post is about the reason I've felt so betrayed by the queer community.

--

On a personal note, I remember being so excited when I started identifying as aromantic (and later asexual). Fitting myself into labels has been a lifelong struggle for me; to this day I still can't confidently say if I'm White or PoC, neurotypical or neurodivergent, abled or disabled, cisgender or not cisgender. I continue to struggle making friends because I don't fall into social cliques. To discover that I officially, certainly, was LGBTQ+ lifted a huge weight off my shoulders. And now I'm just so sad to find that despite that, I'm still stuck in the middle. I didn't get rewarded with a community. I still feel alienated from both queer and non-queer people. I know it was silly to get my hopes up when there's such vast diversity in both groups, but it really was a disappointment. Going to my first Pride parade last year was really the moment where I realized this.

[femmetransman]

Shana Tova! Here are picks of my Rosh Hashana outfit and matching nails.

Vid of my nails has no sound.

Shirt and skirt with pockets from @nerdykeppie.

Also, huge shoutout to Kinetic Color Foundry for these fidget rings that are saving me these High Holy Days. These are made by one neurodivergent person with a 3D printer who could use a lot more love.

I ordered this Star of David design years ago through the custom form if anyone is interested (she also has an etsy but it's better to order through her site if you can):

Close-up pics of nails and more details under cut.

I normally buy a new dress for Rosh Hashana but wasn't able to this year. Day-of I realized that I hadn't worn this outfit yet so I was able to say Shecheheyanu over some amazing clothes designed by a queer Jew.

This outfit also helped inspire these fun Trans Octopus Rosh Hashana nails. I only had one octopus design which I repeated, and I used a koi fish to emulate the eel and create some texture. Super happy with how they turned out. I may do it again in the future if I get a stamping plate with more sea animal designs.

Here they are on a backdrop of the NK skirt.

And here they are on my little design board. I like taking pics on here because it's easy to arrange in a way that the words are readable. :)

Base polish is One Coat Black from Holo Taco. Octopus design and stamping polishes from Maniology, koi fish from random Amazon set, Hebrew stamping plate was from Etsy and was the only one so no link to share unfortunately.

[saturnniidae]

More dragon rider disability headcanons for disability pride month!

(Ones specifically abt Hiccup are here)

Ruffnut has hypermobile EDS (when the twins were doing some bit that was basically Guinness book of world records she said smth abt 'worlds stretchiest skin' and my mom made a joke and said 'ruff has eds!' And it stuck)

A joke Ruffnut loves to make is saying Tuff is so insufferable she should just run away to join a circus and become a contortionist. She thinks it's the funniest thing ever

Hiccup also has some weird hypermobility stuff going on, when Ruff learns this she calls him a fellow circus freak (affectionate) and offers to let him come with her when she runs away. The response she got was "I'd rather stick my hand in Fenrir's mouth."

Tuff is visually impaired in his right eye from a childhood injury (another joke taken seriously)

All the riders are neurodivergent!

Snotlout has a frequently irregular heartbeat as well as memory issues due to how many times he's been struck by lightning. His whole book he wrote in that one episode isn't the only writing he does, he keeps a notebook to help keep track of minor things he might forget.

Astrid tries to make Hiccup breakfast in bed when he's having bad pain days and is too tired to do it himself. She almost burns the house down every time, so Toothless will go and get the other riders to help out while Astrid is kicked out of the kitchen and sent back to bed

Hiccup can be really fucking mean sometimes! Usually it's intentional bc he's in a bad mood and wants to be left alone. If it's seemingly unprovoked though, the others know it as a sign he's likely in pain and needs to be left alone (he still insists on getting work done but usually Toothless annoys him into resting)

Astrid has aches in her leg from when she got shot with that arrow, it being poisoned with dragon root did something to mess up the healing process so its worse than other old injuries (Dragon root isn't poisonous to humans but still having it in your blood stream isn't a good idea). She's also very mean when she's in pain, especially because it ruins her schedule since she can't train. Eventually her and Hiccup come to an agreement when they're having bad pain days they'll meet up in one of their huts and just. Sit together enjoying the others comforting presence but rarely talking

This is because Hiccup and Astrid both hate being in pain in front of people, they both share that almost extreme fear of vulnerability and the best they can do is take comfort in each other

Hiccup and Fishlegs are hyperfixation buddies! Fishlegs is the only one who doesn't get mad (it's just fond exasperation) when Hiccup wakes him up in the middle of the night to infodump, they just bounce off each other talking about dragons until woah suddenly the sun is rising and that is when Fishlegs gets upset because he values his sleep

All the riders have burn scars of varying severity. They literally work with dragons there's no way they wouldn't. And they all deal with their pain in different ways, but are unwavering supportive of each other when they can be

I've said it before and I'll say it again, a lot of characters should be disabled.

I know, cartoon logic and all, but the things that happen to these guys are things that should affect them for the rest of their lives. And watching characters struggle with permanent change like that, the realization you can never go back to how things were, and eventually healing and learning that's okay! You can still find happiness and be happy and it doesn't make your pain any less valid! It's so important to me and that's obviously reflected in my interpretations of my favorite characters lmao

[bennythespaceman1984]

Happy disability pride month!

Let's remember that not all disabilities leave you with a cool robot arm like mine. And while we're at it, being an amputee isn't all fun!

Sometimes it's hard to be proud of your disabilities. Sometimes you want to hide them from the people around you.

But that doesn't mean you don't deserve recognition, love, and respect. Especially if they're "gross".

I'll be transparent — I'm really struggling with my mental and physical health. It's hard for someone so happy and bubbly like me to go through tough times! But here's what I can say: The effort is there, I'm just really tired. And I don't think I need to hide that from anyone.

Sometimes the most I can do is work on a little side project for an hour, and then I only have energy to lay around for the rest of the day. It sucks, but I'm prioritizing what makes me the most happy right now!

Let's also remember that autism and other forms of neurodivergence are disabilities. It's hard to navigate life, and it's hard to do basic things sometimes. That should be recognized! We're putting in twice the effort every day! It's draining!

So, happy disability pride month, and I hope everyone who's struggling feels heard. Feel free to add on!

[savethegrishaverse]

Disability and neurodiversity in the Grishaverse

With Disability Pride Month, let’s explore the Grishaverse's disability representation. Leigh Bardugo’s experience as a disabled author gives her a unique perspective in writing disabled characters, resulting in an intersectional cast that includes characters with physical disabilities and neurodivergences.

Kaz Brekker relies on a mobility aid—his infamous crow's head cane—due to a leg injury he sustained as a teenager that left him with a limp and chronic pain. Mobility aid users are usually portrayed as older, meaning Kaz, as a younger character who uses a cane, brings much-needed representation.

Wylan Van Eck has severe dyslexia. As he describes it, letters get mixed up, unlike music, numbers or equations. However, he excels in math, science, music and art. While there are many types of dyslexia, with differing severity, Wylan’s struggles resonate deeply with many dyslexic fans.

Bardugo also confirmed writing Jesper Fahey as having ADHD symptoms. His energetic nature makes him restless and impulsive, potentially contributing to his gambling addiction. He often spins or fidgets with his revolvers and rings, which can be interpreted as stimming. Fans with ADHD can relate to Jesper’s trouble focusing and constant need for stimulation.

Genya Safin suffers from monocular vision due to injuries from a Nichevo'ya attack and wears an eye patch. Her inclusion brings awareness to different types of visual impairments.

David Kostyk is a brilliant scientist and inventor but has trouble navigating social situations, is often quiet and prefers to keep to himself. He has difficulty maintaining eye contact when overwhelmed and expressing his feelings. David is interpreted as neurodivergent by many fans, which provides further representation to the series.

Two characters with prosthetic limbs are Adrik Zhabin and the Darkling. Adrik has a prosthetic arm due to an attack by the Darkling’s Nichevo'ya. Ironically, the Darkling lost his hand as well and now uses a prosthetic. Having two characters like this helps normalize limb differences.

Leigh Bardugo took great care to include neurodivergent and disabled characters in her stories, without them being defined solely by it. They go on adventures, fall in love, make mistakes, save the day—and just happen not to be neurotypical and/or able-bodied.

Because of this, the Grishaverse has some of the best disability representation in the fantasy genre. Not only does this kind of positive representation help similar fans feel seen, it also helps to destigmatize differences, showing we are all human. Happy Disability Pride Month!

[snazzynacho]

Dad!Diego Hargreeves headcanons

Pt1/?

I might write a full length fic of this, I’ll see how I feel. I’m still new to writing for Diego/tua btw.

Warnings: mention of adoption/fostering. SFW obviously 🤷🏻‍♀️

Masterlist.

Read on ao3

LOOK AT HOW CUTE THIS IS^

So it’s already established that he is a Girl Dad™ which is the most canon thing they ever did for season 4 LMAO

If you already have a kid from a previous relationship, he’d love them just as equally

Def insisted on growing a moustache as soon as you found out you were pregnant so he’d be dad ready™

This man constantly wanted a decent father figure, as all the other siblings wanted

But especially Diego, considering his stutter and all :(

So he’d love them so much and would do anything for them

This is his life motto fr:

I also think he’d be willing to go to therapy before you have kids so he can be the best father he can be

Would 100% insist on attending every single baby/pregnancy class

I also see him willing to be open for adoption/foster care <3 He’d love to be a good father figure to children who need one 🥺

Also if he met you after he had kids he’d be so cautious to introduce his kids to you

He’d want to make sure you’d be a good and willing parent

If his child ever had a stutter or anything similar (including neurodivergence) he’d want nothing but the best for them and would constantly tell them how much he loves them <3

He’s just so supportive <3

Like if they want to draw? he’s there to help them colour in (and would try to buy the best type of crayons/pens)

If they want a bedtime story read? He’d do it in a heartbeat 🥺

He just would be so happy to do anything with them

Def would step up and change nappies/diapers

He’d be complaining about it the whole time but deep down he’d want to help

He’s INSANELY protective

Like he just worries all the time

This can lead to him being overbearing

But it’s never because he’s strict. He just wants to protect them and if he sees he’s actually doing the opposite of making them feel protected and supported, he’d tone it down (after a word from you of course)

Road trip dad™ (baby shark trauma)

Finds fun ways to get the kids to eat their veggies

He prides himself on being able to “fight” the imaginary monster under the kid’s beds

He’s like *superman pose* “don’t worry kids, dad is on the rescue!”

The kids would ask how he’s so good at fighting the monster and he’d be so careful not to tell them anything about his vigilante days😭

Like the kids do not need to be traumatised or scared of their own dad💀

When the kid(s) are slightly older (like almost 1) and they start to move around more he insists on baby proofing EVERYTHING

He’s buying all these over-priced equipment which you two really do not need and makes your credit card be in minus

He lets them wear his mask but he’s so protective of it

Like he only lets them wear it once in a while and if he’s watching them the whole time to make sure they don’t damage it

I’d say he’s quite iffy about letting them play with his knives and daggers

He definitely would wait until they’re older to teach them how to use them

I see him being a stay at home dad

Maybe you both try to make it work (like in the show) but ultimately your family works best if he’s a stay at home dad

He’d learn to be so patient with them when helping with homework <3

Especially considering he knows what struggling with something is like (his stutter) <3

Omg he loves sports days so much

He’d be cheering so loud

“THAT’S MY BOY/GIRL!”

And when it’s the parents turn to join in, NO ONE is more determined to win than he is

He’d secretly enjoy when his kid puts makeup on him

In fact I think he’d grow to love it so much to the point he’d be excited when your kid asks to put makeup on him

He even asks first sometimes

He’d put on high heels and the whole look too (💅💁🏻‍♀️this pose and everything)

When they start school, he’d be taking SO MANY PICTURES

Sentimental king

He just wants to have pictures of so many happy memories of his family

Instead of the few ones he grew up with (those pics of the umbrella academy in the newspapers don’t count bc let’s face it, those aren’t proper family photos bc they were just for press) </3

You both definitely have a big photo album

Maybe he even makes it into a scrapbook (that is so cute)

And makes it a family bonding moment where everyone gets to design their own page

He’d love cooking/baking with his kids and you

(Why is me writing all this making me emotional omg)

Maybe I’ll make a part 2 if I think of anymore ideas.

If u enjoyed this check out my tua blog @nacho-hargreeves and maybe I’ll post more Diego content here (we are starving).

Reblogs are appreciated 🫶

[olderthannetfic]

https://www.tumblr.com/olderthannetfic/756016587973279744/httpswwwtumblrcomolderthannetfic755410324078

Honestly, while I'd be nicer about it, I agree flags are kind of cringe, or at least how seriously people take them is. It's really stupid seeing people treat flags like they're a really big deal. Other than the two rainbow flags, no one even recognizes most of them. Plus you only see them in people's icons online most of time so like... look away? Scroll? Curate your experience? It's not hard.

Also like above anon, I also definitely knew some people in college whose every outfit for a semester or two included pins and pride patches. It was definitely to get other people to know they were queer so they could talk about being queer. But they were always really new to knowing they were queer and they sort of... moved on sounds wrong because they're still queer, but they stopped doing that and stopped being all, "Have you heard about this sapphic movie?" "There's a bi character in this!" every conversation and went back to having more interests.

Meanwhile, I don't get why we're plastering them on everything in the first place. Like, should I be feeling affirmed or uplifted by pride shoelaces or pride socks or something? Is the pride pin supposed to make me feel happier, like how crystal mommies think rose quartz makes you happy? Are these colors here to do some color theory psychology thing? Because whatever I was supposed to get out of them, I've never gotten. I'm 32, 33 pretty soon, and I've never gotten this. I remember pins being a thing people were into in college, but even then I didn't get it. (And before anyone goes, "they're supposed to make you feel safer with your fellow queers and in the queer community", having been raped by a guy from the queer student club when I was in college because he 'knew' aroace black men didn't really exist and I must just be gay and in denial and he could fix me and, that, uh. That's not where my brain goes. Shit people can have any pin on their jacket, it's not a magic talisman that removes evil.)

I mask a lot as a neurodivergent person and I've always had to mask when I don't like something other people are hyped about because they get along with you better if you do. But whenever I see people on my dash oohing and aahing over pins or shoelaces or bracelets or hats I just reblog out of wanting to support the queer creators of whatever it is. I don't feel anything when I look at flag merch. It doesn't evoke anything in me. I know better than to say it doesn't because then you're suffering from internalized queerphobia or whatever but it's just... nothing, to me.

--

I haven't had any pins in decades and thought the rainbow ring necklaces were tacky back in the day, but honestly.

I own a sweatshirt from some botanical garden I supported once. And a college shirt. No sports team gear since I hate sports, but that wouldn't be weird either.

College students are frequently annoying about their new identities or political affiliations, but you are also being ridiculous. Humans like markers of identity of many types, including logos on clothing. This is just more of that.

[gor3sigil]

About being a freak, queer, trans etc.

In all the years I've spent going back and forth with my gender, being sure one day and unsure the next about how I wanted to present, if I wanted to be more fem or masc, if I wanted to be neither of them, there's one thing that I never wished: I never wished to be born cis.

There's something so magical in being trans. To me it's like a never ending childlike wonder of myself and others. I see my body as a white canvas I can do anything with and as a playground for me to explore and find secrets at every turn. It's shedding so many times that I had hundreds of silhouettes and I'm not even 30. It's seeing the most deepest and honest smiles when you hang out with your peers, and they're fully themselves and you are fully yourself even if it's just for one moment.

Being trans is being more naked than ever. My understanding of my own flesh at its core like I'm dissecting it once a year is so whole and complete. Noticing the patterns, the intricate map of my skin, how it grows and stretch with every change even well before HRT as I was practicing new poses and expressions and clothes.

I don't see myself as a flower, I see myself as a whole garden, with bees and critters everywhere, bursting with life in the warmth of the sun under a sky as blue as the cleanest seas.

Regarding the way others see me, mind you, I always was, and I mean ALWAYS, all my life, seen as a freak.

Try to picture this, even tnough you maybe can because this is the story of a whole bunch of us: growing up as a goth, queer and undiagnosed autistic girl, in a little shitty town, the last child of a family of disabled and neurodivergent folks that everyone saw as a family of, well, freaks. The teachers at school knew your brother who was bullied, and your sister who always caused troubles. They don’t know which of these paths you’re going to take but they sure as hell don’t like you. And the only other queer kids you know are a couple of girls who’d chugg down vodka before class in middle school because they were not accepted at home and bullied during recess.

My first queer relationship, also in middle school, was the typical “I loved her to the moon and back but she only wanted to experiment” and it tore down my soul. It took me years to recover from this. I think that, apart from my longest relationship to date, I never put that much of myself into someone I loved. But she was just goofing around and I mean, fair, we were kids, but man did it hurt. I resented her for years after. Now I just hope she’s happy and doing the job she always dreamed of doing.

Anyways, all that to say that I was used to being seen as an outcast. I hated that for years and tried and tried again and again to fit in. It doesn’t work. Because this in not the answer. Remember when I said that my family members were always all disabled ? My father espacially was physically disabled (and probably also autistic but undiagnosed), and he’s still to this day one of the most ableist person I’ve ever met. He knew his kids weren’t “normal”. He fought tooth and nails for us to fit in. Because that’s how he survived. But despite it all, it never worked. Because you can’t force your way into society’s standards.

I never felt more free than when I just gave up trying to. If I was going to be seen as weird anyways, might as well go all the way. Dress as I please, date who I wanted (another story for another time but it didn’t go as planned), enjoy the shit I enjoyed, unapologetically. And guess what ? It stopped the bullying. Because I gained confidence in myself and most of all, pride. I grew proud of being an outcast, so much so that people just started to be like “well, they’re like that anyways” and left me the fuck alone.

I’m rambling lmao but I think it’s important to be aware that nobody will live your life for you. Being your weird self, it’s so hard, butn so rewarding. More rewarding than anything. You’ll start making new relationships based on you TRUE self, you’ll go all the way for your passions, and trust me, you’ll be more free than anyone who bent themselves to fit in the mold and still need to painfully stretch their limbs everyday to keep the act on.

I know that sometimes it’s something you have to do to survive, and that’s perfectly okay. But don’t forget to keep your true self close and to let them out from time to time, okay ? Water down your inner garden. That’s the only way you will truly live.

[tiny-merkitty]

too much

ⓘ i do not consent to k!nk interaction! any nsfw account that likes, reblogs, or in any way interacts with this post or my blog will be blocked and reported.

| Matt's intern gets overwhelmed at work.

| tags/prefaces: sfw age regression fic, matt is aware reader is a regressor, purely platonic/found family, matt is a father figure, from matt's pov, gn reader, overwhelmed/slight meltdown, neurodivergent reader but i dont think i could write a neurotypical if i tried

it'd been a long day, a long day where you had been growing more and more agitated.

Matt could tell as soon as you walked in, the way you huffed when you assumed he couldn't hear it, the jumbled whine stuck in your throat when the files he'd given you didn't stack together as neatly as you would've liked. his brows creased whenever he had to listen to your heart rate tug itself between rapid and sluggish.

the tips of his calloused fingers traced over the same three punctuated dots on whatever document detailing the latest case he'd been given, a hasty translation. most of the indentations were confusing or off. he didn't really care about the poor accommodations from his client at the moment, though—— his fingers went over the word 'and' about fifteen times before his mind had actually processed it, he was too focused on the sound of his intern shakily jamming a pod of something into the half-dead keruig Karen had gotten for their depressing kitchenette. it was a sweet thought at the time.

he made sure to politely inform her to avoid the $30 facebook marketplace listings afterwards, though.

an annoyed groan punctuated with a salty scent filled the small space, Matt's footsteps nearly silent as he made his way to the doorframe— his thumbs ghosted over the handle of his cane, his brows furrowed in a concerned expression as you tried not to cry over some coffee not going to plan.

“everything alright, kid?”

Matt asked quietly, his voice holding the same cadence of a worried teacher.

you didn't answer, though the familiar sound of muscles tensing around your face followed by fabric rustling at your hands told him you'd simply frowned and begun to fidget. his mind wandered to a different explanation, his own mouth turning into a frown at the thought.

Matt never saw your regression as something to be shamed—— the opposite, actually. no, he'd gone out of his way to stock the office up with hot cocoa packets and rainbow marshmallows (at least, the cashier told him they were rainbow. her heartbeat at the time didn't help his confidence on the matter.), he'd even gotten a little plush to keep on the office's couch.

still, having to watch you feel so upset never made him happy.

his hand carefully extended, feeling for the accursed coffee machine and gently fixing the top shut, his mouth curving into a line when he felt you sway a bit closer to him in the process.

his free hand reached around your shoulder, allowing you to rest against the worn fabric of his suit jacket. a quick smile from him as he listened to your heartbeat calm in his presence. he couldn't help the small swell of pride knowing he was doing something right to try and help ease your emotions.

“I should ask Karen to replace this soon. I think it has a vendetta.”

Matt chuckled quietly, a soft smile pulling at his lips as he reached up into the cabinet above the counter, feeling around for mugs and letting his hands trace over the ceramic. none of them had any features he could discern by touch, aside from a mug you'd attempted to put braille on in puffy paint, and another with three-dimensional fish scales across the front.

“nod when I get to the one you want?” he suggested with a head tilt as his hand went from one mug to the next, listening for your cue to stop.

he gave a soft giggle when his hand rested on a mug sitting somewhere near the top left row, followed by your hand tugging at his sleeve.

“this one, sweetheart?”

he took the sound of your hair brushing up and down as you giving a nod, moving the mug to the base of the machine and feeling for the indented labels over the buttons, turning it on the listening to the creaky sound of water boiling and hot chocolate dispensing out.

his hand idly traced up and down your left shoulder, absently counting each seam and thread along your shirt as the creaky noises came to a quick halt.

“careful, it's hot.”

he murmured, opting to hold the base of the mug as he handed it to you, waiting a moment to be sure you were holding onto it tight.

“now, we don't have any whipped cream—— but I'm told these marshmallows are shaped like rabbits...”

Matt's voice came out with a smile, his words enunciated with some suspense to try and make you happy, you exhaled a bit out of your nose, so he took that as a win.

he placed a few into the mug and let you hold onto his forearm as he walked you back into his office, sitting beside you on the hand-me-down sofa—— he chose not to ask Foggy where he'd gotten it, but most signs pointed to side of the road. nothing a gallon of lysol couldn't fix, he guessed. the springs prorested beneath the two of you, your head falling onto his shoulder almost instinctively, he was quick to bundle you in a blanket he'd left folded on the arm, exhaling a long breath as he listened to yours beginning to even out, the smell of sugary chocolate and printer paper filling his nose.

“s‘ has cats on it..”

his brows raised when you spoke, it'd been a little bit since you'd said anything today. anything of your own volition, at least.

“the mug?” he asked carefully, his own eyes beginning to droop, you were a welcome warmth against him, your own sleepiness felt contagious.

you gave a nod, felt against the crook of his neck as you sipped from the newly learned cat mug.

“that's nice, angel. are you tired?”

the question was rhetorical, more or less. he knew you were, his hand was already prepping to catch the half-full mug and set it on his desk in the event of you getting too lethargic to hold it up properly.

you nodded again, Matt gave a smile, tucking the blanket up just under your neck, your legs bunched up on the pleather couch.

“I think my client will understand if we take a nap,” his thumb traced over your brow, lulling your eyes shut. “just rest, the case will still be there in the morning.” Matt's voice was a mumble, drifting into soothing murmurs and eventual silence once he was sure you were fully asleep, his free hand underneath the mug, carefully removing it from your limp fingers and placing it on the nearest surface.

he gently laid on his back, letting you bundle up and rest your head on his chest, he didn't mind the cramped space on the couch. you were comfortable and at ease, that was all that mattered to him for the time being.

[hauntedtrait]

i love you disabled people who need mobility aids, i love you disabled people who don’t, i love you disabled people who can’t get out of bed some days, i love you disabled people who are intellectually disabled, i love you disabled people who are neurodivergent, i love you disabled people who are chronically ill, i love you disabled people who are terminally ill, i love you disabled people with limb differences, i love you disabled people who use prosthetics, i love you disabled people who don’t use prosthetics, i love you disabled people who are so very tired, i love you disabled people who are proud to be disabled and i love you disabled people who can’t find it in them yet to feel pride this month. i love you disabled people ❤️

disability pride month is so important, and i hope everyone can one day reach the point of being proud of themselves. it’s okay to be upset about being disabled, it’s understandable to struggle, disability and illness are some of the toughest things to deal with every single day. but still, we can be proud in the face of adversity, proud of how far we come and how we’ve survived, proud to stand against ableism, even if we are so, so tired.

it’s also a good time for abled bodied people to sit down and listen to us and learn from us and WORK to be allies and support us.

anyways, happy disability pride month to my fellow disabled and chronically ill babes ❤️ i love you and you deserve a treat

[stpansy]

what’s up with Patrick’s fashion evolution this past year? And his aura?? It seems like he’s finally completely comfortable with himself.

smth i have always loved about patrick is that he goes through these periods where he finds a style that he likes/is comfortable in and sticks with it for anywhere from months to years. neurodivergent king i see you. and real ones know that patrick has been slaying since pre-hiatus--thinking so fondly of his funky sneakers + all over patterned hoodies era circa ioh/folie--but i agree that he looks particularly good in the clothes he gravitates towards right now! i adore when he's more visibly punk. patrick stump battle jacket debut 2024 you changed my life forever fr

and yeah i know what you mean about his aura and how he just seems so confident and self-assured these days. it's definitely been building since srar era but something about tour/2ourdust... he came back from their little break with such a palpably strong belief in the art they were making, and then that just skyrocketed over the past year as the audience reception to their entire catalogue was overwhelmingly positive, which we know because he and pete have both talked about it. but i think with patrick specifically, even beyond his obvious confidence/pride in fob itself, he has level of confidence in himself as a performer that eclipses what we've seen from him before. he just seems SO happy. it's so lovely to witness and he couldn't deserve it more! even like. just thinking back to his very affected soul punk persona where he was going through the motions but clearly miserable compared to how he was strutting and growling and beaming at riot fest the other night. having fun on stage (and serving unfathomable levels of cunt while doing it) seems to come so much easier to him now because he's brimming with joy over what he's doing. and so so so much love for who he's doing it with :') obv i don't know patrick or the details of his personal life but he does seem to be completely comfortable with who is and how he's living and it's so lovely.

also i mean. he's a bear now and he's hot as fuck. i hope to god somebody is telling him how hot he is every day and that he believes them because it's insane that he just walks around on this earth looking like that

[its-murderous-business]

An Introduction to Nonverbal Learning Disorder

Happy disability pride month! I am celebrating by trying to educate people about my learning disorder, because it is one of the least known learning disabilities and deserves more recognition.

What is Nonverbal Learning Disorder?

Nonverbal Learning Disorder (also called Non-Verbal Learning Disability and other variations on the same name), often shortened to NLD or NVLD, is not a new concept, but the idea of it as its own diagnosis is relatively recent. A common misconception upon hearing the name is that people with NVLD are non-verbal, but this is not the case. The name essentially refers to the fact that people with this disability are affected in almost every area except verbal and language skills, where they often excel.

What areas can NVLD effect?

NVLD can take a lot of forms, and not everyone with it will be affected in every area, and other areas are also able to be affected this is just a general list:

- exceptional skills in the areas of comprehension (understanding) and production (ability to utilize) of verbal language. Basically, we are really good at reading, writing, speech, spelling, and have large vocabularies.

- difficulties with visual spatial processing skills. Fun fact, NVLD was briefly called Visual Spatial Processing Disorder! Visual spatial processing is a term that describes the process of seeing things and then understanding how they relate to one another in space.

- difficulties with understanding non-verbal forms of communication such as tone, facial expressions, gestures, metaphors and exaggerations, and (sometimes) context.

- difficulties with math, including arithmetic, fractions, geometry, telling time, pattern recognition, and much more. This can be very similar to dyscalculia.

- difficulties socializing (often presents similar to the social difficulties faced by autistic people)

- other miscellaneous neurodivergent traits such as hyperfixations, difficulty regulating emotions, distress when faced with change, sensory overload, motor skill and coordination deficits, attention deficits, and executive dysfunction

How does that affect people with NVLD on the day to day?

Let’s use me as the example. I love to talk to people but I often run into issues because I take things very literally, struggle to read social cues, and can have trouble connecting with others. Growing up I was always in advanced English and literature classes, but was in special education for math due to my extreme difficulties with it. I have a lot of trouble dealing with last minute changes in my plans and loud noises bother me A Lot.

I struggle greatly with visual spatial processing skills, specifically for me that can manifest as not knowing where my body is in space (causing me to bump into things a lot), difficulty navigating maps, struggles with knowing left from right, a complete inability to use the knowledge of how an object looks from one angle to visualize how it would look from another angle, and many other things.

NVLD can present in a number of different ways and affect different parts of peoples lives. I have multiple neurodivergent comorbidities which can make it difficult to tease the exact symptoms apart from one another, but there are plenty of articles online where people discuss their own experiences if you look for them.

Is NVLD in the DSM/an official diagnosis?

ehhhhh it’s complicated. NVLD is not currently it’s own differentiated diagnosis within the DSM-5, however it can be diagnosed (as it is with me) under the DSM-5 as Specific Learning Disorder with Impairment in Mathematics which serves as a sort of catch all for any learning disability that affects math or areas other than reading/writing.

NVLD as its own diagnosis is a relatively new idea, as historically it’s been lumped within other diagnoses (typically autism, adhd, or specific learning disability). However over the last 15 years and especially the last 5 years, there has been a significant increase in academic literature and acknowledgement of NVLD as its own distinct diagnosis. Columbia University has been conducting research on the disorder alongside the NVLD Project, which is the only organization that exclusively does advocacy, education, and research around NVLD. These groups are doing a lot of work to attempt to get NVLD classified as its own diagnosis in future editions of the DSM.

How common is NVLD? What causes it?

NVLD is uncommonly diagnosed due to lack of official DSM recognition, misidentification as other neurodiverse conditions, and lack of awareness of NVLD from neuropsych evaluators. However one study from earlier this year estimated that between 1-8% of children have NVLD depending on what diagnostic criteria is used.

There has been some early evidence that NVLD is the result of dysfunction in the right hemisphere of the brain or more specifically the inability of the right hemisphere of the brain to effectively communicate to the left hemisphere.

Why are you telling me all of this?

The majority of people do not know that NVLD exists, and as such those of us with this condition often get left out of neurodivergent and disability communities. I would like to be included in advocacy and understood by the community since we all face very similar challenges! I really encourage y’all to learn more about Non-Verbal Learning Disability

Here are some links to learn more!

From the Child Mind Institute

Psychology Today article

From ADDitude Magazine

Article from Very Well Mind

Medical News Today article

Learning Disorder Association of America article

From Learning Disability Association of Ontario

And of course the aforementioned NVLD Project website!

[clown-prince-of-gay]

Happy Pride everyone~~

I drew me and my lovely boyfriend @king-of-vertigo, (I love you honeybee~), We are being gay and transing all your children. Watch out or you're next.

Anyways. Happy Pride to those who celebrate. (And especially happy pride slay queen girlypop month to those who don't) Under the cut I'll have each flag and an explanation of what it means to me~

Likes and reblogs appreciated!! Do not repost!

I would like to preface this with: I am not an expert in all of these identities (despite being a part of them) and my connection to them is hugely shaped by my own experience and interpretation of each label. My only hope with all this is to hopefully make someone feel less alone, (because my god i spent a long time finding some of these labels-)

Aceflux

Aceflux us defined as a person with a fluctuating feeing of sexual attraction to others, I sort of think of it like a dial being turned up and down based on the moment. (there are also romantic and aroace versions of the label I beleive, along with another variation of the flag with a purple/red gradient striping.)

In my own experience that results in differing kinds of days, some where I feel really strong attraction, others where I feel little to none. Sometimes it changes day to day, sometimes its the same for weeks, or it changes throughout the day based on context.

This label was one that took me. An entirely too long time to find. and this is one that feels. right. because I had very flexible and changing feelings and attraction, I knew I could place myself somewhere on the ace spectrum, but not exactly where because it wasn't consistent at all (wowee i wonder why that is because its not like thats the whole thing lmao) and I ended up cycling through so many aspec labels. This is one that I can feel comfortable in, and I'm hoping others resonate with it as well.

Queer

Queer is an umbrella term and very ambiguous identity that can essentially encompass anyone that identifies with it.

So- my sexuality is. incredibly nuanced and complicated when it comes to describing who I find myself romantically, aesthetically, or platonically attracted to (I know there are so many other ways to be attracted to someone, those are just the simplest for me to explain). For example: I can (when allowed by my silly demiromantic ass) be romantically attracted to men and masc (or even non aligned) presenting and identifying people, and I in fact, have a lovely boyfriend whom I love a lot! And as for femme aligned people its more interesting because I don't feel particularly romantically about them, but I can experience aesthetic, or platonic forms of attraction, and Queer is simply a label that I connect with that has the space to encompass all of that.

Demiromantic

Demiromantic is a label that essentially encompasses the idea that an individual doesn't feel romantic attraction to another unless they have an emotional or platonic bond with that person. (there is also an ace and an aroace version, which I think is super neat)

Demiromantic is a label that I personally connect with, be that because I'm naturally incredibly slow to make connections, or maybe connected to the fact that I'm very neurodivergent, (although thats a post for another day-) and feeling comfortable being and feeling romantic about someone is already incredibly rare, and I feel like I need a connection to someone personally until I can feel romantically (I say that like I control when I feel romantic. Its kinda. I dunno I can't control it. this label is just one I felt encompassed it. which is the point.)

Transgender

Transgender is an umbrella term in which someone doesnt connect or identify with the assigned gender given at birth. (I'm very sure I have made it no secret that I am transmasc. We love the transes here)

However. no matter how many labels I find to express and explain my gender being 'masculine' (with several different question marks. I'm a boy in the same way orange soda is the same as a regular orange. same sorta spirit. completely different executions.) above all. I am still trans. and I will always be trans. that's who I am <33

My gender is. an interesting topic. In the way that I have not yet found a label to describe it other than being transmasc. which I know as different to being a trans 'man' in the fact that I didnt transition to be a 'man', not binarily being a man. I bounce between being androgynous and being masculine, but in a way where labels like demigendered/demiboy or boyflux (other labels I've considered) don't seem to fit. because it is in a way where some days I feel more or less masculine to completely genderless. (If anyone can think of a label that fits that- I would love to hear it. I haven't even gotten into My pronoun search. maybe a seperate post on that later.)