Category: Substack

Children & Families, Masking / Passing, SubstackLeave a comment
‘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?

Children & Families, Masking / Passing, SubstackLeave a comment
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.

LGBTQIA+, SubstackLeave a comment
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’

Children & Families, Relationships / Bullies / Friendships, Substack1 Comment
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’

Substack1 Comment
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”

SubstackLeave a comment

My Autistic Truth: My Real Voice Isn’t the One That Comes Out of My Mouth – The Accessibility of Typing: One Autistic Person’s Experience

Lyric Holmans

Hyperlexia, Handwriting Pain, and Finding Freedom in a Word Document – Typing vs. Handwriting: An Autistic Perspective on Fine Motor Skills and Working Memory #MyAutisticTruth Continue reading My Autistic Truth: My Real Voice Isn’t the One That Comes Out of My Mouth – The Accessibility of Typing: One Autistic Person’s Experience

SubstackLeave a comment

ADHD and Me – Is It Trauma, Autism, ADHD, or… All of the Above?: Years After Being Diagnosed, THIS YEAR I’m Finally Unpacking My ADHD Identity

Lyric Holmans

I Almost Convinced Myself I Wasn’t ADHD. Then a Deadline Proved Me Wrong. What Does a Healed, Untraumatized ADHDer Look Like? I’m determined to find out.
Continue reading ADHD and Me – Is It Trauma, Autism, ADHD, or… All of the Above?: Years After Being Diagnosed, THIS YEAR I’m Finally Unpacking My ADHD Identity