neurodiversity Archives - More Than Quirky

Celebrating Neurodivergent Strengths

March 18, 2024

As neurodivergence is frequently viewed using the medical model of disability, focus is primarily on problems. Impairments, inabilities, difficulties. Meltdowns, learning differences, problematic stims. However, as perception moves more and more towards the social model of disability, so too can the focus not only on the fact the majority of supposed disability is due to society, but that there are benefits. Many neurodivergent traits are strengths, both to the individual, and within a neuronormative society.[…]

Language and Terminology

February 29, 2024

An element of becoming part of the neurodivergent community is recognising how rubbish society is, in general, at using appropriate language and terminology. Using neurodivergent and neurodiverse interchangeably. Tending to use person-first language. Confusing “support needs” with “severity”. Most of the time it is not done with malice. Often the mistakes are even made with active good intentions – in most disability fields, person-first language is preferred, for example. I made many of these errors[…]

Q&A: How Do I Teach My Child To Act Like Other Kids?

August 15, 2023

Q. We are very lucky that my son (autistic age 7) has been invited to most of the birthday parties for his classmates even the ones that are a small group instead of the whole class. But for me it’s really upsetting because when we’re there it’s really obvious how different he is to his classmates. They try to include him but a lot of the time he doesn’t join in like everyone else or[…]

Questioning your own neurotype

June 19, 2023

“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.[…]

Q&A: Do I Get My Child Assessed or Not?

May 26, 2023

Q. My son’s daycare have suggested we might want to get him assessed for autism. The things they have pointed out I agree with but thought it was age appropriate. He is our only child so we don’t have anything else to compare to at home. I have been reading a lot about it online and can see what the daycare staff are talking about. I am also thinking my husband and I are probably[…]

Fawning: The danger of people-pleasing

May 22, 2023

One reason many autistic children fly under the radar – and why many of us don’t even recognise our neurodivergence for what it is until adulthood – is because of one of the 7 standard responses: fawning. It is also a significant contributor to the Coke bottle effect, and burn out. What is Fawning Fawning, put simply, is using people-pleasing (consciously or otherwise) in avoid conflict, and earn the approval of others. It often appears[…]