neurodiversity is Good Actually. just want to say that

Trump is calling autism “out of control” No… Autism stigma is out of control Ableism is out of control Inaccessibility to basic healthcare and support is out of control

To every autistic person feeling burnt out right now… You don’t have to “earn” rest You don’t need a reason to take care of yourself It’s ok to have boundaries and to stop pushing yourself so hard Your mind and body will thank you for it ❤️ #AutismAdvocacy #DisabilityJustice

Parallel play = one of my favourite autistic joys Just being in the same space, doing our own thing - no pressure to talk, no forced interactions… yet still being around each other ❤️ It’s calming and connecting. A way to spend time with people you love, without the overwhelm #AutismAwareness

One of the things about neurodivergence is that you may be very quiet on the outside, yet have the LOUDEST thoughts on the inside #autism #AuDHD #anxiety #autisticshutdown

Telling someone who’s autistic or ADHD that they’re “not trying hard enough” is one of the most harmful things you can say We’ve heard it all our lives (especially from loved ones) You only see the tip of the iceberg - not everything else beneath Those words only deepen our guilt, shame & burnout

Many autistic people struggle with identifying and understanding their feelings, and I think there can be many layers to that: - alexithymia - delayed emotional processing - a lifetime of being told your feelings aren’t valid so you start to doubt or ignore any feelings you DO have 💔

We shouldn’t be looking at what causes autism We should be looking at: - how society can STOP STIGMATISING AUTISM - support and services that work for everyone - how to improve autistic people’s quality of life - reducing suicide rates (9x higher for autistic people)

I wish more people understood that autism is a dynamic disability: - Just because we can do something one day doesn’t mean we can the next - Our abilities change with context, environment, stress levels and support - Co-occurring conditions also affect our autism and functioning #AutismAwareness

The AuDHD experience of missing really obvious things whilst also picking up on the tiniest details that no one else notices…

*Autism and ageing - new research!* A thread summarising the main findings (sources at end)… 🧵 Autism is often thought of and researched in childhood terms but most autistic people are actually adults So what does autism look like in middle & old age? What are our needs and challenges? (1/10)

Autism and proprioception (something I don’t see talked about enough!) Proprioception differences in autism may be why… - you easily bump into things - fine motor skills are hard e.g. doing buttons - you enjoy pushing, pulling or squeezing things - you love deep pressure like weighted blankets

The fact that we weren't loved by the people who were "supposed" to love us means exactly nothing about who we are, our worth, our potential, or how our life "has" to go.

Too often, autistic needs are treated like mere preferences We keep getting told that they’re: - annoying - weird - inconvenient - unimportant And then we start downplaying them ourselves too because of shame and fear of rejection We shrink ourselves, we mask And we lose ourselves 💔

The more I understand about autism, the more I think about how it’s not *just* about being autistic It’s the exhaustion. The loneliness. The migraines. The bullying. The sleep issues. The struggle to feel safe, to belong… With a nervous system that feels like it’s often on fire #AutismAwareness

Contrary to popular belief, autistic people can enjoy socialising… - in ways that are meaningful to us - in spaces where we can actually be ourselves - in settings that don’t overstimulate - often with other autistic people - whilst having opportunity to recharge when we need it (during/ after)

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but autistic people aren’t “picky eaters”. We’re sensory eaters. What may seem like fussiness is often an intense sensory experience: - Textures that overwhelm - Smells that trigger nausea - Flavours that overload the brain #AutismAwareness #ARFID

Hey autism researchers: Studying "irritability" in autistic people—without asking why from an ND-informed view—is failing. Hard. Especially when noting that "irritability" correlates with communication difficulties. Consider reframing as "frustration" or "lack of appropriate accommodations." #autism

ADHD diagnoses save lives ❤️ New research shows that treating ADHD can: • improve mental health • reduce risk of accidents • lower substance misuse • decrease likelihood of criminal behavior (linked to impulsivity etc) Early diagnosis and support aren't just helpful - they're life-changing #AuDHD

Being disabled can be extremely tiring Not just from managing symptoms, medication, appointments, executive dysfunction, pain, anxiety, mobility issues… But also from constantly fighting for access & being told your struggles aren’t real or valid, even by friends and family #DisabilityAwareness

These can all seem like trivial things if you’re not disabled but they can make a MASSIVE difference if you are I’d also love if supermarkets had a webpage listing their discontinued foods, so we can confirm rather than have the anxiety of not knowing, desperately checking back, and hoping in vain

Been in the Emergency Department for 12+ hours and I genuinely wish a neurotypical person could experience this - even just for a few hours It’s sensory hell: unpredictable machine beeping, bright lighting, noise from all directions… There has to be a better way for autistic people to access care

Unlearning shame when you’re autistic (1/2) ❤️ - Find community (autistic friends and allies) - Understand how your brain works - Celebrate your neurodivergent strengths - Slowly unmask - Honour your autistic needs - Try to be more open about your challenges - Connect with your passions

Disability is not fun. It’s not a vacation. It’s a 24/7 job where you’re lucky to receive a benefit that keeps you in legislated poverty. It’s a constant fight for healthcare, accessibility, accommodation & inclusion. Its one of the only minority groups you can join any time

Patty Berne, one of the primary architects of Disability Justice, died earlier this year. Despite Berne’s enormous impact, there have been very few obituaries. So I wrote one. #PattyPresente

PSA… Stimming and a preference for routine are NOT problematic behaviours They’re natural, valid ways that many neurodivergent people regulate emotions, reduce anxiety, and navigate a world that often feels overwhelming #AutismAwareness

The neurodivergent urge to go “But why?” every time someone gives you an instruction… It’s not about being difficult. It’s not about challenging or defying you We just genuinely want to understand #AutismAwareness

A day in the life of an autistic person… TOO MUCH GOING ON by @worry__lines

Autistic? Got a special interest? Hold onto it tight ❤️ Even if others don’t get it. Even if it’s obscure… It’s yours. It’s precious In a world that often feels too loud, too fast, too much - your special interest is your joy, your comfort, your spark Never let anyone dim that ✨

The hardest workers in society include those who get paid the least. They include volunteers. They include unpaid carers. They include stay-at-home parents. They include disabled people fighting to survive every day.

AuDHD life is like having 138 open tabs in your brain… but no search function and no task manager

One of the hardest things I’ve learned as an autistic? That I don’t have to be accessible all the time And neither do you ❤️ So many of us struggle with boundaries due to neurotypical norms, trauma, or pressure to keep going But saying “no” to things is often saying “yes” to your mental health

I don’t know who needs to see this but a lot of the time, ADHD isn’t about having no attention It’s about your attention going to other places instead of the task you want or need to be focusing on #ADHD #AuDHD

We've all heard "If you've met one autistic person, you've met one autistic person." However, the more autistic people you meet, the more you learn about autism. Not only how autistic people are different, but how often autistic experiences are shared—even by autistic people who SEEM very unalike.

A perk of having ADHD: I’ll order something, forget about it, and be surprised when it arrives I generally hate surprises due to my autism But this time I’ll know it’s something I definitely wanted or needed, so now it’s the best kind of surprise 😂 #AuDHD

One of the greatest autistic joys is meeting other autistic people ❤️

the amount of stories I read from women being diagnosed at age 30+ is honestly such a big failure and I'm glad they (and me!) are finally getting the support they need after this amount of time. imagine having a broken wrist for 30 years and nobody noticing? that'd be unconsciable. alas!

The “overdiagnosed ADHD” debate continues… but here’s what late diagnosis looks like for many women: ❌ Years of criticism ❌ No support = low self-esteem, guilt and shame ✅ Diagnosis = clarity, healing and feeling like life is more worth living This matters. So does the research #AuDHD

A lot of disability is invisible But it also goes deeper than that… You might only see what we choose to show you Society teaches us to hide the hard days To keep pushing through To prioritise productivity To mask our pain To feel shame about who we are And to fear judgment for being different

I think a lot of neurotypical people would be surprised at just how many autistic people go through life wondering for years if they’re “really” autistic, even after diagnosis And if they’re “valid” 💔 (I know, because I was one of them)

Autism is often framed through deficits or problems, but many autistic people experience deep joy from: - special interests (there’s nothing like connecting with something you feel SUPER passionate about) - sensory experiences (textures, sounds, colours, art, nature…) - authentic self-expression

Inclusion isn’t just about creating quiet pockets for autistic or disabled people to decompress - it’s about designing the main space or event to be accessible, calm & comfortable too Quiet spaces can be helpful for some, but true inclusion means everyone feels they belong in the main space as well

I wish more people understood that something seemingly small can really affect an autistic person It’s not that we’re “overreacting” It’s because of: - our brains being wired differently - disability (e.g. anxiety) - past trauma - sensory sensitivities #AutismAwareness

Did you know…? Research shows that autistic people are more likely to experience these physical health conditions: - Migraines - Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) - Endometriosis - Sleep disorders - Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) - Chronic fatigue syndrome/ ME - Coeliac disease - Fibromyalgia

Autistic folks, don’t forget to stay hydrated in this heat! Some of us don’t easily feel heat or thirst but your body still needs water ❤️

Am having so much anxiety about my anxiety today. Being constantly anxious can be hell 😢

today's a great day to make sure "require alt text before posting" is enabled in your settings and to continue to make bluesky more accessible and inclusive bsky.app/settings/acc...

Having needs doesn’t make you weak. It makes you human. Neurodivergent or not, your needs matter… You deserve to feel safe and heard ❤️ #autism #AuDHD #disability

If an autistic person is quiet, it doesn’t necessarily mean they have nothing to say or don’t care We might be: - still processing (often deeply) - not feeling safe enough to speak - unsure how to join in the conversation (turn-taking isn’t always intuitive for us) #inclusion #AutismAwareness

I hate people thinking that my sensory issues are something that I can overcome and suddenly not have issues with anymore. No, I can’t get over my issues with the textures of certain foods, no I can’t just not get overwhelmed in crowds etc. I can work around it with tools but it’s still there.