Tag: Autism

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Photo of Autism, Identity, and Me A Practical Workbook to Empower Autistic Adults by Rebecca Duffus and Lyric Rivera - www.routledge.com/9781041284567

My 20-Year Mystery Illness Was Solved by an Autism Diagnosis – The Headaches And Other Sicknesses That Vanished When I Learned I Was Autistic

Lyric Holmans

It would have been great if a resource had existed back then to walk me through that self-discovery process. However, in those days there wasn’t anything (at least not that I could find) to help me with that process. That’s why I am so excited about the book Rebecca Duffus and I are collaborating on, which releases on November 13, 2026 (it has BEAUTIFUL illustrations by the talented Carrie Schneider). Continue reading My 20-Year Mystery Illness Was Solved by an Autism Diagnosis – The Headaches And Other Sicknesses That Vanished When I Learned I Was Autistic

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How Financial Privilege Impacts Our Support Needs as Neurodivergent People

Lyric Holmans

Same Neurotype, Different Reality: Financial Privilege and Neurodivergent Support Needs – How Having Money Changes the Neurodivergent Experience Over the years, I’ve had the immense privilege of meeting many Neurodivergent people worldwide, with a wide range of skills, needs, abilities, backgrounds, and Neurotypes. I’ve also met many who are in extreme poverty, as well as some who’ve managed to find themselves financially privileged (either because they come from wealth or because they were fortunate enough to have skills that capitalism rewards heavily). These two groups of Neurodivergent people (those with wealth and those struggling to get by) move through the … Continue reading How Financial Privilege Impacts Our Support Needs as Neurodivergent People

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Sex, Stimming, and Safety – Libido, Lube, and Latex: An Autistic Guide to Intimacy, Desire, Sensory Needs, and Consent

Lyric Holmans

Something you may or may not know about me is that I used to work at an adult retail store, and it was one of my favorite jobs.

My specialty was helping people find the tools they needed to pleasure themselves and one another (toys, lube, items for safe sex, and media for visual and mental stimulation)… okay, it was a porn store. Still, my focus and specialty was helping people in the adult toy section.

I loved helping people with their intimate needs, finding tools, toys, and solutions that worked for them based on their interests and desires, and, in some cases, offering a little coaching on how they could reach their first “Big-O“ (if that was something they wanted to do).

In those days, sex was one of my main special interests, and even though it’s been a few years, I still am very passionate about sex.

So… Let’s talk about sex, BABY! Continue reading Sex, Stimming, and Safety – Libido, Lube, and Latex: An Autistic Guide to Intimacy, Desire, Sensory Needs, and Consent

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A white mask on a white background. A pale hand with red fingernails makes its way up to the mask, placing the pointer finger over the mask’s lips, as if to say “shhh”.

How Being an Autistic Person (with Interpersonal Trauma) Has Impacted My Relationships Over The Years

Lyric Holmans

I wanted to share my experience of being Autistic and how my neurotype has shaped my relationships with other people. However, I have a problem because, in addition to being Autistic, I have also experienced years of interpersonal trauma (due to not knowing I was Autistic for most of my life), which makes it difficult for me to separate which parts of my experiences with others are tied to “Autism” and which parts are because of interpersonal trauma. Continue reading How Being an Autistic Person (with Interpersonal Trauma) Has Impacted My Relationships Over The Years

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The Autistic Burnout and Facing Backlash When We Step Back from The Traditional Workplace

Lyric Holmans

Ten years ago, when I was newly diagnosed as Autistic, I was both mentally and physically unwell.

I had burned out (or had been burned out) by an exploitative employer who treated me and my needs as a problem.

According to my employer at the time, my needs were “unreasonable” because they were things “everyone in the company would like, and it wouldn’t be fair to show me special treatment.”

I wanted to respond that “If everyone wants what I am asking for, then maybe your whole system sucks” (but, being newly identified, I hadn’t found the confidence to do so yet)… so I kept my frustration to myself and quietly started looking for a new job. Continue reading The Autistic Burnout and Facing Backlash When We Step Back from The Traditional Workplace

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I Was Named in a Manosphere Hit Piece for “Gentrifying Autism”. The “Gentrification of Autism” Is a Myth. The Policing Is Real.

Lyric Holmans

Asking Neurodivergent People: Have you ever been accused of “faking” your Neurodivergence?

This summer, I was named in a blog post by some random manosphere dude (along with several others) as someone who, in their opinion, has been “responsible for the gentrification of Autism, ADHD, and other disabilities,” and, according to this man, we are “pretending to be Neurodivergent for clout” and as a way to “excuse our own mediocrity,” and “anti-social,” and other so-called “bad behaviors” that this stranger claims to see in us.

When it happened, one month ago today, I mostly ignored it, but I am deciding to speak up now, because recently, I’ve seen multiple similar pieces dragging other Autistic and ADHD adults using very similar language popping up all over the internet… and I am noticing some patterns. Continue reading I Was Named in a Manosphere Hit Piece for “Gentrifying Autism”. The “Gentrification of Autism” Is a Myth. The Policing Is Real.

Children & Families, Coworkers, Dyspraxia, Masking / Passing, Relationships / Bullies / Friendships, Substack
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If School Felt Like a Prison, You Might Be Neurodivergent – The Hidden Curriculum That Punishes Neurodivergent Kids

Lyric Holmans

Growing up, school was one of the worst experiences of my life, for many reasons.
Unfortunately, though some Neurodivergent young people love and enjoy their school years, for many of us who are Neurodivergent, school can be very difficult because it is often the first system we’re pushed into that is not designed in a way that supports our needs (pressuring us to conform to neuro-normative ideals and norms that may be out of reach for us, especially if we don’t have our basic needs met).

That’s why struggling in school, for many of us, can be one of the first signs that we might be Neurodivergent. Continue reading If School Felt Like a Prison, You Might Be Neurodivergent – The Hidden Curriculum That Punishes Neurodivergent Kids

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A white mask on a white background. A pale hand with red fingernails makes its way up to the mask, placing the pointer finger over the mask’s lips, as if to say “shhh”.

Fawning + Autistic Masking: When Autistic Masking Becomes Fawning and Why We Hide Ourselves Despite the Cost

Lyric Holmans

Autistic masking (also known as camouflaging) is when an Autistic person consciously or subconsciously masks their Autistic traits to blend in with non-autistic people. When we do this, it is not to be manipulative or deceptive. It is a survival skill and can also be tied to trauma responses (such as fawning). More on fawning in a moment. Continue reading Fawning + Autistic Masking: When Autistic Masking Becomes Fawning and Why We Hide Ourselves Despite the Cost