Lyric Rivera - NeuroDivergent Rebel - refusing assimilation into neurotypical society Sticky post

NeuroDivergent Consulting

Do you have a group, team, or organization that is looking for training and educational around Autistic and NeuroDivergent inclusion in your workplace?

Do your organizational policies and procedures unintentionally discriminate against Autistic and/or NeuroDivergent People? Would you know if your policies were harmful to people with invisible differences? Continue reading NeuroDivergent Consulting

A purple book cover with the words Workplace NeuroDiversity Rising in the top middle, in a bold blocky font. Above that is the icon of a brain above white texts that reads Lyric Rivera NeuroDivergent rebel above an off-white box that includes text that reads neuroDiversity = all brains neurodivergent and NeuroTypical working together and supporting each other - and a pale teal and purple box at the bottom with dark purple text that reads “rethinking Workplace policy and culture to include people with diverse brains, and create workplaces where NeuroDivergent (and NeuroTypical) team members shine Sticky post

Workplace NeuroDiversity Rising – Start Making Immediate Changes to the World Around You

Workplace NeuroDiversity Rising is intended to be a tool that can help ANYONE who wants to make the world, or the spaces around them more inclusive for NeuroDivergent (and all) People, in organizations, communities, schools, and beyond. Continue reading Workplace NeuroDiversity Rising – Start Making Immediate Changes to the World Around You

Lyric Rivera - NeuroDivergent Rebel Asks: Has anyone ever tried to punish the NeuroDivergence out of you?

Have You Ever Been Punished (or Scolded) for Your NeuroDivergence?

Recently, I asked my NeuroDivergent readers if anyone has “ever tried to “punish” the NeuroDivergence out of” them (while being reasonably sure I knew the answer to my question).

Overwhelming comments came pouring in on various platforms, with stories from my readers telling how they had been harmed by people around them (who insisted on unfair and unrealistic expectations of NeuroTypicality).

I knew there would be Autistic People and ADHDers who had been punished for our NeuroTypes because many of my readers are my age (or older), and when we were growing up, punishment was the standard of care for kids who struggled to fall in line.

What surprised me was how many people with other NeuroTypes were also punished for things beyond their control. Continue reading Have You Ever Been Punished (or Scolded) for Your NeuroDivergence?

When I didn't know I was NeuroDivergent, I used to feel like a failed NeuroTypical Person (because the expectations for me to be a "good" NeuroTypical seemed impossibly out of reach).

I Used to Hate Myself When I Thought I was NeuroTypical

When I didn’t know I was NeuroDivergent, I used to feel like a failed NeuroTypical Person (because the expectations for me to be a “good” NeuroTypical seemed impossibly out of reach).

“Why can’t I just _______ ?” – Do something NeuroTypicals find simple.

“Why do they hate me? Why do they think I’m weird?”

“If I could only ______.” – Insert some activity that NeuroTypicals don’t struggle with.

“What’s WRONG with me? Why am I such a failure?” Continue reading I Used to Hate Myself When I Thought I was NeuroTypical

Fight, flight, freeze, and fawn are primal (Acute) stress responses that protect us from danger. This primal response dates back to our ancestors, who would have faced more immediate risks than we face today. Though these are common human experiences, these responses have been given different labels when they happen to Autistic People.

Stress Responses and Autism: Fight: Meltdown, Flight: Elope/Bolt, Freeze: Shutdown, Fawn: Camouflage/Mask

Fight, flight, freeze, and fawn are primal (Acute) stress responses that protect us from danger. This primal response dates back to our ancestors, who would have faced more immediate risks than we face today. Though these are common human experiences, these responses have been given different labels when they happen to Autistic People.
Continue reading Stress Responses and Autism: Fight: Meltdown, Flight: Elope/Bolt, Freeze: Shutdown, Fawn: Camouflage/Mask

Autistic People may struggle to express our love (and many other emotions) in ways non-autistics expect us to. Autistic Love is Different - That Doesn't Make it Wrong! #ActuallyAutistic #AskingAutistics - what is YOUR experience of love like? How do YOU express your love and affection for those you care about?

#ActuallyAutistic #AskingAutistics – what is YOUR experience of love like? How do YOU express your love and affection for those you care about?

Autistic People may struggle to express our love (and many other emotions) in ways non-autistics expect us to. Autistic Love is Different – That Doesn’t Make it Wrong! Continue reading #ActuallyAutistic #AskingAutistics – what is YOUR experience of love like? How do YOU express your love and affection for those you care about?

Because our needs can change throughout our lifetimes (and even daily), the trick is finding balance by learning what different types of stimuli can help us in the various situations and environments we find ourselves in.

The First Environment was Overstimulating, The Second Environment was Understimulating, but the Last Environment was Just Right

Because our needs can change throughout our lifetimes (and even daily), the trick is finding balance by learning what different types of stimuli can help us in the various situations and environments we find ourselves in. Continue reading The First Environment was Overstimulating, The Second Environment was Understimulating, but the Last Environment was Just Right