Author: Lyric Holmans

Lyric, an autistic self-advocate from Texas, runs the the internationally recognized neurodiversity lifestyle blog Neurodivergent Rebel. Neurodivergent Rebel opened their blog in 2016 as a way to introduce people unfamiliar with autism to neurodiversity. Lyric's blog, which is sometimes released in written format and also via YouTube video, explores the ideology of neurodiversity and the creative expressions of Autistic people. Holmans’ blog pushes for acceptance of neurological differences and respect for the autonomy of neurodivergent people. Holmans is also known as the pioneer of the #askingautistics hashtag, which is often accompanied by a short question about everyday Autistic experiences. This simple hashtag connects neurodivergent people who would not otherwise have a reason to engage with each other to foster understanding of the Autistic experience.
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I See Autistic & NeuroDivergent People Who Don’t KNOW their Minds Work Differently

Lyric Holmans

There are people out there in the world today who do not know that they are NeuroDivergent, and may never know in their lifetimes. Not knowing that our brains work differently from that of a lot of other people on this planet, can have impacts on us, on our mental health, and our sense of self-worth; when we constantly compare ourselves to others around us, whose brains do not work as ours do. Continue reading I See Autistic & NeuroDivergent People Who Don’t KNOW their Minds Work Differently

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My Autistic Experience of the Human Communication Spectrum

Lyric Holmans

Not knowing that I was Autistic for the first 29 years of my life, meant that I had a lot of miscommunications with other people, because I did not understand the differences in Autistic and non-Autistic communication, or the differences in human communication, and how my communications were often being misinterpreted by the people around me; and also how I was constantly misinterpreting what other people were trying to communicate with me, because I didn’t understand communication differences, and I assumed that everyone communicated like me. When you do this, it’s really hard to decode other people’s intentions. Continue reading My Autistic Experience of the Human Communication Spectrum

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Autistic & NeuroDivergent Academic Exclusion & Oppression

Lyric Holmans

For Autistic People, many of us are excluded from the right to having a proper education, whether that is because we are put into these “special autism schools” that keep us out of general education, or we are excluded from education in other ways.

I spent time in general education, special education, and even gifted and talented educator. None of my needs were accommodated in these classes, they were not tailored to my individual learning needs, and the school system was very traumatizing for me. I feel lucky I survived it.

Continue reading Autistic & NeuroDivergent Academic Exclusion & Oppression

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The Exclusion & Dehumanization of Autistic & NeuroDivergent People

Lyric Holmans

The problem with autism is that people, in society, don’t really see Autistic People as, fully human, complete beings. We are seen as a lesser ,second-class tier, of human. We are seen as broken, defective, NeuroTypicals, that need to try harder to fit ourselves into the NeuroTypical mold, or that we have somehow failed, because we do not fit into the NeuroTypical mold. Continue reading The Exclusion & Dehumanization of Autistic & NeuroDivergent People

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We Don’t Have a Definition for Autistic Success Because We Only Talk About Autistic Struggles & Pain

Lyric Holmans

Autistic people are so defined, especially by the medical industry, by our struggles, pains, deficits, and the hard parts in life. Often the joys, positive experiences, in our skills are completely ignored.

We don’t even, really, have a good understanding of what Autistic success looks like, because, by definition, Autistic People are often described by our failures. Continue reading We Don’t Have a Definition for Autistic Success Because We Only Talk About Autistic Struggles & Pain

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Shame Kills – Autism, NeuroDivergence, Pride, & Shame

Lyric Holmans

Shame is defined as a painful emotion caused by consciousness of guilt, shortcoming, or perceived impropriety. That is one definition talking about how shame is experienced from the inside.

However, I want to talk more about having shame that is put on you from society and people around you; shame that is unjustified, that many NeuroDivergent, LGBTQIA, and other marginalized people may feel, and the impact that shame has on those of us who are in those groups.
Continue reading Shame Kills – Autism, NeuroDivergence, Pride, & Shame

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I Am Autistic & Don’t Like Autism Awareness Month

Lyric Holmans

As an Autistic Person on the internet, I really dread April. That is because I am Autistic all year round. I am out there talking about autism all year round.

All of a sudden, in April, there is this flood of non-Autistic People suddenly talking about autism from an outsider’s perspective. In April, there are a lot of people who want you to “be aware of autism” so they can sell you something.

They want to sell you services and therapies and things, because if they scare you, that autism is horrible, they can prey on that fear. Continue reading I Am Autistic & Don’t Like Autism Awareness Month

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Autistic Pride Is NOT Just about the Good Parts of Being NeuroDivergent

Lyric Holmans

I wanted to talk about Autistic Pride, as I talk about each and every year. I talk about it every year, because it is so important for Autistic People to be able to feel pride in ourselves, especially when society, often, tells us that we are defective, broken, and that our ways of doing things: interacting with, engaging with, and experiencing the world, are wrong; and that we should strive to cover up the NeuroDivergent parts of ourselves. Continue reading Autistic Pride Is NOT Just about the Good Parts of Being NeuroDivergent

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Treating Autistic & NeuroDivergent People Equitably PT 2: Society Must Change

Lyric Holmans

Part one of this series, was talking about the need for NeuroDivergent People to be able to live an authentic NeuroDivergent lifestyle.

This week it is part two talking about ethical treatment of Autistic and NeuroDivergent humans, not medical treatment. We’re talking about the treatment we receive from society.

Part two, diving in deeper, I want to talk about the need from society to accept us, and allow us to be ourselves and live openly and authentically; because, the reality is, though we need what I talked about in part one of this series, it’s not always safe for us to be open. It can make us vulnerable, to have people realize that our minds work differently.
Continue reading Treating Autistic & NeuroDivergent People Equitably PT 2: Society Must Change

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Treating Autistic & NeuroDivergent People Equitably: PT 1 The Need for a NeuroDivergent Lifestyle

Lyric Holmans

I want to talk to you a bit today about treatment for Autistic and NeuroDivergent people… and when I say “treatment”, I want to be very clear, I am not talking about medical treatment. I’m talking about kind, and fair, just treatment of NeuroDivergent People.

As I said, this is not medical treatment. This is how we need to be treated by society and those around us, and what we need in order to live successful, fulfilled, happy, and authentic NeuroDivergent lives. Continue reading Treating Autistic & NeuroDivergent People Equitably: PT 1 The Need for a NeuroDivergent Lifestyle