Sounding the Alarm: Battling the ABA Epidemic: ABAers Target ADHD and Kids Who Started School Late During COVID

These results are not limited to people who’ve experienced formal modification programs (because compliance-based programs permeate our society and many of its systems as a whole).
Continue reading Sounding the Alarm: Battling the ABA Epidemic: ABAers Target ADHD and Kids Who Started School Late During COVID

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?