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Do I reject that D in ADHD? Oct 23, 2020

Yesterday I was interviewed by a wonderful woman who creates spaces that are inclusive for neurodivergent kids.

I was asked a really great question.

After mentioning that within my positive autistic identity framework, I NEVER use the abbreviation "ASD" or refer to an autistic person as an "ASD...

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We Know our Kin Oct 19, 2020

"I wonder when *insert public figure or professional who works in the autism field* will work out that they're autistic" is a sentence often typed and spoken inside of the autistic community.

We know our kin.

We often know before you do.

Autistic people, neurodivergent people have an energy about...

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Why do those of us with a PDA Autistic Profile Antagonise Others? Oct 15, 2020

Why do those of us with a PDA autistic profile antagonise others?

To restore balance.

When our threat response is activated and perceives a compromise to our autonomy, the resulting expression or behaviour will LOOK LIKE a grasping for control elsewhere.

PDA is pervasive. It is mostly beyond our...

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Being Autistic PDA and in Business - I'm just gonna be ME Oct 13, 2020

Ahhh being autistic PDA and in business, hey.

It's bloody hard work.

I'm not talking about the challenges that come with being autistic, ADHD and PDA and running a business either.

I'm talking about the weird concept of me being my brand.

My PDA expression involves a serious intrinsic, inherent,...

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How We Found a Way to Take Care of ALL of Our Needs Oct 07, 2020

Before the youngest two of our four girls were old enough to go to school, my husband and I had a system.

It took us years to work out.

After many tears, sweat, rage, calling each other an arsehole at 2am.

We're autistic amongst other neurodivergences and we had no clue back then.

Most of our days...

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Often an Autistic Person's 'Habit' is actually a Solution Oct 05, 2020

TW: Toileting and autism (All pieces that I write on autistic people also apply to autistic adults, however I will often use the term "autistic children" based on the number of families here seeking information and support).
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When our autistic children appear as though they have formed "habits"...

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Neurodiversity is for Everyone. That's the Point. Oct 02, 2020

Every single time a person responds to the concept of positive autistic identity with comments such as:

"That's all well and good, but how about the autistic children who are *insert various behaviours and expressions along with communicative differences that society would slap on the label of...

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Let's Talk about Theory of Mind Sep 30, 2020

Can we talk about theory of mind?

Theory of mind is the ability to attribute mental states such as beliefs, intents, desires, emotions and knowledge, among others, to oneself and to others. Theory of mind is necessary to understand that others have beliefs, desires, intentions, and perspectives...

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Why not try joining your Children in some Mischief? Sep 28, 2020

When our children make promises and don't keep them, it's because they can't.

Often they'll really mean it when they say it, they'll really try, they'll really want to keep that promise.

But they can't.

Rather than punishing them or becoming angry, it's interesting to see what comes of giggling with...

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ADHD and ME Sep 25, 2020

A few weeks back, I wrote a post on how I'd tried a couple of options for ADHD meds and they hadn't worked out.

I found myself sleeping on the couch with zero motivation and personality along with a shut down of my impulsivity.

I hated it.

I couldn't connect with my "centre" and couldn't find...

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A Plethora of Therapies isn't always the Answer Sep 24, 2020

Dear families,

If your child has been identified as autistic, I want you to know that they do not instantly require a plethora of therapies.

Our children may not even require any therapies at all.

Autism is a neurobiological divergence.

We are on our own timeline of development.

Those horror stories...

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Your Voice is Powerful Sep 21, 2020

The beauty of being a PDAer and not adhering to or aligning with social hierarchies allows me to see people and situations for exactly what they are.

One year, on the first day of school, one of our girls came home excited. She said she'd had a wonderful day and couldn't wait to go back.

She was in...

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