Empowering neurodivergent people through understanding and conversation
Empowering neurodivergent people through understanding and conversation
When people speak of the true spirit of generosity, they talk about selflessness and the act of giving without expecting anything in return. That’s the moral high ground, right? It’s what we teach our kids. It’s what we praise and aspire to. So why is it that so many adults harshly judge children who open gifts at Christmas or on birthdays, and don’t respond in a particular way? Why are neurodivergent kids with traits such[…]
“Autistic female risk of being sexually assaulted is between two and three times as much than non-autistic females and about four times as much than autistic males.” – National Women’s Safety Alliance, Submission on the National Autism Strategy Today is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. This day exists to raise awareness of the scale and nature of violence perpetrated against women around the world, including rape, domestic violence, restrictions, and[…]
There are two important things to remember when it comes to Christmas lunch and neurodivergent kids. Firstly, it is a social construct, not a necessity. Secondly, you and your neurodivergent child do not owe conformity to anyone. Not even the people you love most. In fact, especially not the people you love most. If your child finds eating Christmas lunch at a family gathering difficult, that is okay. If this situation remains difficult, that is[…]
Developing a sense of security can prevent or repair so much of what people feel is difficult about neurodivergence. There are a number of traits of neurodivergencies that are tough – for the neurodivergent person, and sometimes for the people around them too. But so many of the trickier aspects of many neurodivergences are not traits of the neurotype itself, but an expression of distress. We have talked about this so many times in articles[…]
For even the most neuroaffirming family unit, Christmas celebrations with extended family can be incredibly difficult for families with neurodivergent members. Some find this is down to the lack of accommodations. For others it is due to blatant judgement. Some children are dysregulated by particular family members. Parents can be frustrated by their usually-regulated child having a “bad day” in the presence of so many family members. Obviously these potential “bad days” are absolutely understandable,[…]
Trigger warning: mentions of suicide. Movember began in Australia in 2003, when two men were talking in a pub in Melbourne. The first year was simply a challenge to see if they could convince other friends to grow a moustache. 30 Mo Bros grew their facial hair; it was not a fundraising exercise. A year later it involved almost 480 people, and raised around $54,000. Within 10 years they’d raised over $685 million for men’s[…]
