A purple book cover with a rainbow flower in the middle. At the top it reads Rebecca Duffus and Lyric Rivera in lavender and pale teal text. Below that, on top of the rainbow flower, it reads "Autism, Identity and Me" in a bold white font and below that it reads "A Practical Workbook to Empower Autistic Adults"

It took me 10 years to figure out my Autistic needs. We built a shortcut – Autism, Identity and Me: A Practical Workbook to Empower Adults, the Autism workbook I needed.

Ten years ago, I walked out of my diagnostician’s office with a label and a list of memoirs about other people’s lives. No one told me how to figure out mine… Continue reading It took me 10 years to figure out my Autistic needs. We built a shortcut – Autism, Identity and Me: A Practical Workbook to Empower Adults, the Autism workbook I needed.

Workplace Neurodiversity Rising (a purple book with a pink brain on the cover) and Neurodivergent Rebel's The Weight of Normal (A pale teal book with a pink brain on the cover)

The Dream I Almost Gave Up On – Young Me Thought My Life Wasn’t Interesting Enough to Write About. I Was Wrong.

Growing up, I struggled a lot in school. Academics weren’t my strengths, with one exception – reading and writing.

From my earliest school days, and even before I started school, I was in love with books and dreamed one day I might write them. However, I wasn’t sure if I’d ever achieve this goal. Continue reading The Dream I Almost Gave Up On – Young Me Thought My Life Wasn’t Interesting Enough to Write About. I Was Wrong.

Cover of the book 'Autism, Identity and Me: A Practical Workbook to Empower Adults' by Rebecca Duffus and Lyric Rivera, featuring a colorful floral design. The book is available for pre-order and will ship in November 2026.

Why I Dreaded This Task… and Why I’m Grateful I Did It – Over 13 Hours, 390 Pages, and One Very Stiff Back: A Copyediting Saga

I really think we have something VERY special with the Autism, Identity and Me Adult Workbook (not that the children’s workbooks or my other projects weren’t also special), because I could only have dreamed of having a workbook LIKE THIS ten years ago (when I was newly diagnosed as Autistic). Continue reading Why I Dreaded This Task… and Why I’m Grateful I Did It – Over 13 Hours, 390 Pages, and One Very Stiff Back: A Copyediting Saga

Workplace Neurodiversity Rising and Neurodivergent Rebel’s: The Weight of Normal are both HALF PRICE this week (3/1-3/7) on Smashwords!

Workplace Neurodiversity Rising and Neurodivergent Rebel’s: The Weight of Normal are both HALF PRICE this week (3/1-3/7) on Smashwords! Continue reading Workplace Neurodiversity Rising and Neurodivergent Rebel’s: The Weight of Normal are both HALF PRICE this week (3/1-3/7) on Smashwords!

Lyric Rivera poses in their RV, holding up their latest book, NeuroDivergent Rebel’s The Weight of Normal. Lyric is wearing a black tank too with the words “Refusing assimilation into NeuroTypical society” and blue jeans, and they are smiling at the camera.

“You’re Too Smart to Be Acting This Way” & The Lifelong Harm of Neuronormative Expectations: What My ‘Gifted’ Label Actually Cost Me – A Late-Diagnosed Autistic Perspective

My life with late-identified autism, healing from masking and forced assimilation, and learning about the neurodiversity paradigm, after being diagnosed Autistic at the age of 29.
Continue reading “You’re Too Smart to Be Acting This Way” & The Lifelong Harm of Neuronormative Expectations: What My ‘Gifted’ Label Actually Cost Me – A Late-Diagnosed Autistic Perspective

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Autism, Identity and Me – A Practical Workbook to Empower Autistic Children and Young People Aged 10+ By Rebecca Duffus & Lyric Rivera

Two books, one goal: Supporting Autistic young people in affirming their Autistic Identities and learning about themselves. Continue reading Autism, Identity and Me – A Practical Workbook to Empower Autistic Children and Young People Aged 10+ By Rebecca Duffus & Lyric Rivera

NeuroDivergent Rebel’s 2021 NeuroDiversity Book List

Recently, while visiting our local libraries and book stores, I realized there is a need for more access to NeuroDiversity centered literature.

Rather than to just give over a list of my favorite books (don’t worry, some of those are included too), I asked our community on various platforms what books other NeuroDivergent People have found helpful. Continue reading NeuroDivergent Rebel’s 2021 NeuroDiversity Book List

A Long Love of Reading

I remember the teacher’s anger when I didn’t read my paragraph. I remember reading the words in my mind, screaming the words in my head, then begging the words to come out of my mouth. Nothing. I knew the words but couldn’t say them. I remember being sent out of class for refusing to participate in the activity and I remember being ashamed. Continue reading A Long Love of Reading