Quirky Infinity logo Empowering neurodivergent people through understanding and conversation

More Than Quirky

Empowering neurodivergent people through understanding and conversation

More Than Quirky logo with Infinity symbol blending with the Q

Quirky Infinity logo Empowering neurodivergent people through understanding and conversation

Opinion

Doing Hard Things: Ready to Fall

There is often an instinct in play to protect our neurodivergent kids from failing. There are enough unavoidable hurdles in their lives to feel like it’s fair, or a good decision, to knowingly launch them towards another one. Particularly one that looks too big, or looks a lot like one that has tripped them previously. But all people – neurodivergent and neurotypical – learn from challenging themselves to do hard things. Sometimes these changes and[…]

Opinion: Conformity Sucks

Neurotypical or neurodivergent, we are all different. There are fashion trends, bestselling books, blockbuster films, and songs that get frequent airplay, which bind many together with similarities. But largely what makes many society so similar is conformity. Humans like the feeling of fitting in, belonging, and being accepted. As a result many don’t rock the boat. When they go to work they wear clothes that are similar to what the other people in the office[…]

Opinion: Lewis Capaldi, Showing Us How It’s Done

DISCLAIMER: I am a strong advocate for identity-first neuroaffirming language, however I have received conflicting responses as to whether this is a preferred option for the Tourette’s community. As such, I am following the advice of the majority – and those who appear to have the most informed opinion – and using person-first language throughout this article. Should this be inappropriate, incorrect, and/or offensive, please do not hesitate to let me know; and to confirm[…]

Questioning your own neurotype

“Take a good hard look at yourself,” is generally a fairly brutal, critical phrase. In the world of parenting neurodivergent children, it’s simply excellent advice. How many aspects of your child’s behaviour or experience had you thought was perfectly normal because it’s what you do? What your parents did. Your siblings. Your spouse. How many times has a family member or close friends dismissed your child’s confirmation by saying, “That’s not ADHD! Everyone does that.[…]

We Are All Learning: Welcoming Sia

There was a year, around a decade and a half ago, in which my friend and I saw live music most weeks. We saw Sia – either on a stage at festivals like Homebake, or in her own solo gigs – around half a dozen times that year. And while it wasn’t a factor worth mentioning, I always assumed she was neurodivergent. Stimming, atypical social interactions (which we all loved), hyperfixations on glow-in-the-dark paint and[…]

Opinion: Regarding the Sydney Morning Herald’s front page: May 20, 2023.

EDIT: It’s encouraging to see that the digital version of the article has already steered the headline and opening paragraphs away from focusing on autism rates, instead discussing the recently released statistics about the number of Australian children on the NDIS. There are, however, still a number of loaded implications and poorly phrased quotes throughout, that I hope will be addressed in time. There are days when it feels like neuroaffirming behaviours and society’s understand[…]

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