Author: Lyric Holmans

Lyric Rivera, the creator of Neurodivergent Rebel and founder of Neurodivergent Consulting, is a late-identified Autistic and ADHD adult. Lyric is best known for their blog, NeuroDivergent Rebel, and for the best-selling business ethics book, Workplace Neurodiversity Rising (which was praised in Forbes as “an excellent ‘how to manual’ based on lived Experience and professional competence.”) Other titles Lyric has worked on include the popular children's workbook Autism, Identity, and Me (adult version coming soon), and Neurodivergent Rebel's The Weight of Normal (released this past fall). The philosophy of Neurodivergent Consulting is to support the creation of accessible workplaces and other spaces (via universal design) that enable Neurodivergent (and all) people to fully realize their unique talents and fresh perspectives through care and support of the whole person. This allows us to bring our full selves to the spaces we enter. Lyric is also known as the creator of the #AskingAutistics hashtag, which often features a short question about everyday autistic experiences. This simple hashtag connects neurodiverse people who would not otherwise have a reason to engage with each other to create a better understanding of the Autistic experience.
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‘Ditch the ear defenders: head equips autistic girls for real life‘ with the subtitle “Sarah Wild, who leads Britain’s only autistic girls’ school, says mainstream teachers should make fewer adjustments and tell children it’s OK to feel uncomfortable“ has been making the rounds recently. - with an emoji of Lyric and the word “NO!” in the bottom corner.

Why Do We Celebrate Teachers Who Refuse to Make Adjustments for Disabled Kids?

Lyric Holmans

Sensory distress is not behavioral; it is neurological.

We wouldn’t ask non-autistic children to sit on a chair made of razor blades all day, to teach them that “it’s OK to feel uncomfortable”….

Still, with Autistic people, there is a toxic attitude that “the world isn’t sensory friendly.” This paints us as the problem, instead of challenging the systemic flaws and barriers that make life for Autistic people more difficult.

These “adjustments” that Sarah Wild is so against are disability supports, accommodations that Autistic people need to thrive and be our best selves, that are legally protected in many parts of the world. Continue reading Why Do We Celebrate Teachers Who Refuse to Make Adjustments for Disabled Kids?

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A black and white photo of two disabled children in strait jackets, chained to a radiator in a room with dirty walls and floors.

No, there aren’t suddenly ‘more Autistic people’ or ADHDers. We’ve always been here.

Lyric Holmans

It never fails, multiple times a week, when I share my experience of being Autistic or ADHD, some ignorant waffle feels the need to pop into my comments section with some sort of nonsense such as (but in no way limited to) “You’re not Autistic“ (or ADHD), “Everyone’s Autistic/ADHD or Neurodivergent these days“, “It’s all the chemicals in the food/air/water or the vaccines“. There is also the classic “We didn’t have so many people who are Autistic or ADHD in my day…. and none of it is true.

Just because you didn’t, personally, know any Neurodivergent people when you were growing up, it doesn’t mean we didn’t exist. Continue reading No, there aren’t suddenly ‘more Autistic people’ or ADHDers. We’ve always been here.

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The original green and black puzzle piece logo

Welcome to ‘Autism Month’ and Why, as an Actual Autistic Person, I am NOT a Fan of Having a ‘Month for Autism’

Lyric Holmans

If you’re new to this blog or Autism month, you might be asking yourself, “What’s so bad about having a month to honor Autistic people? Isn’t awareness a good thing?” Which, in itself, brings up one of my biggest frustrations with this ‘special month for autism’: Continue reading Welcome to ‘Autism Month’ and Why, as an Actual Autistic Person, I am NOT a Fan of Having a ‘Month for Autism’

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“Dear Ms. [REDACTED],We have decided that we wish to defer testing [DEAD NAME] for learning disabilities at this time. We wish to pursue other options just now. We are considering private testing and tutoring as we research their possible problems. Thank you for calling this to our attention. We will get back to you soon.”

Autistic & Creeping Up on 40, Birthday Reflections Around Being 1 of Many Missed Generations of Autistic People

Lyric Holmans

Thoughts on late diagnosis, growing up undiagnosed, changes to the definitions and descriptions of Autistic people in the DSM since the 1980s, and how being identified late in life can be lifesaving. Continue reading Autistic & Creeping Up on 40, Birthday Reflections Around Being 1 of Many Missed Generations of Autistic People

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I am Autistic - Neurodivergent Rebel

I AM Autistic – Please Don’t Ever Call Me a ‘Person with Autism’

Lyric Holmans

Why, to me, “Autistic person” and “person with Autism” are two VERY different phrases, and why I never want to be called a “person with Autism” – please note this is just my PERSONAL preference. Over the years, I’ve often … Continue reading I AM Autistic – Please Don’t Ever Call Me a ‘Person with Autism’

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Paw-prints our vet took when we lost our eldest dog this past Friday.

Easier Than People: An Autistic Adult on the Connection to and the Wisdom of Animals and Why I Speak “Animal” Body-language More Fluently Than “Human”

Lyric Holmans

Beyond Small Talk: Lessons in Connection from the Animal World and a Different Frequency – On Autism, Animals, and Authentic Connection Continue reading Easier Than People: An Autistic Adult on the Connection to and the Wisdom of Animals and Why I Speak “Animal” Body-language More Fluently Than “Human”

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An article titled 'Uta Frith: why I no longer think autism is a spectrum,' featuring a digital illustration of a character expressing dismay, alongside a red 'X' mark over the title.

An Autistic Response to: Uta Frith’s “Why I no longer think autism is a spectrum.”

Lyric Holmans

“The autism spectrum has widened to the point of collapse, affecting how teachers should support autistic pupils in the classroom,” researcher Uta Frith tells Helen Amass in a recent interview, and my response as a late-diagnosed Autistic adult. Continue reading An Autistic Response to: Uta Frith’s “Why I no longer think autism is a spectrum.”