Empowering neurodivergent people through understanding and conversation
Empowering neurodivergent people through understanding and conversation
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[…]
Q. My daughter is 12 and will be starting high school next year. She was diagnosed with autism when she was 6 but has got through primary school without any support other than her teachers helping her through some fights with friends and not sticking to one peer group. This term she seems to be[…]
Some neurodivergent children can be very particular about routines, the position of items, which clothing items should be worn together, and other non-sensory specifics. (Sensory needs are a separate issue). These things can appear inconsequential to other people, and may be considered indicative of OCD. A number of young neurodivergent people are even diagnosed as[…]
I’ve got a happy tailI’ve got a happy tailHappy tail, happy tailI’ve got a happy tail. – Tumpty, Tilly & Friends, CBeebies When it comes to neurodivergent children’s negative reflexive behaviours, Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) is frequently mentioned. It is the dysphoric emotional (and sometimes physiological) response to rejection, real or perceived. This can include[…]
Clinical anxiety is a disorder independent of neurotypes such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and apraxia of speech. However, anxiety is frequently experienced by neurodivergent people; approximately half of autistic people experience clinical levels of anxiety. This is not just a simple case of worrying about things. Clinical anxiety is persistent, intrusive, and frequently includes physiological[…]
Parenting a neurodivergent child can be exhausting and upsetting. I feel it’s okay to say this, because I am both that parent, but also that child. There is no judgement, nor any guilt, loaded into that statement. Parenting any child can be exhausting and upsetting, but yes, realistically, there are probably likely to be more[…]
