Skip to content 
The Idea of the Week
Maybe you’ve heard of “Autism Awareness Month,” during which you hear about autism-oriented fundraisers, presentations, and stories. This 5-minute read shares the origins of Autism Awareness, the issues associated with Autism “Awareness,” and why the autistic community changed the language.
Now, just What is Neurodivergence and What Does It Mean to Be Neurodivergent (a 7-minute read)? Neurodivergent refers to anyone whose brain develops and/or functions in ways that are considered atypical in society, whereas neurotypical refers to anyone whose brain develops and functions in ways that are considered typical in society. Neurodiversity, akin to biodiversity, is the neurological differences between humans.
Practice of the Week
How do we celebrate Autism Acceptance Month? We can start by learning more about the autism spectrum and listening to autistic people’s experiences (a 7-minute read about neurodivergence in the workplace).
While autism is commonly thought of as a male disorder, there is a growing body of research studying the female autism phenotype—which is to say, how autism presents itself in females. Autism has been commonly missed in people with this phenotype. A key phenomenon in this phenotype is camouflaging, which is more commonly referred to as “masking” in the autistic community (a 21-minute video).
Here are 3 more autistic content creators who you can subscribe to on YouTube or watch on TikTok and learn more about their experiences as an autistic person:
- @heavyonthedr, run by Dr. Chelsia, is an AuDHD TikTok creator, researcher, and educator uniting neurodivergent experiences, who outlined the unmasking process.
- The Aspie World is a YouTube channel by Dan that provides informative content about autism and aims to “show the world that Autism can be freaking cool!” You can also find @TheAspieWorld on Instagram.
- Mom on the Spectrum is a YouTube channel by Tay, a mom of 2 and diagnosed as autistic at 31. Tay’s goal is “to share knowledge, resources, and products that empower other neurodivergent people and their loved ones to live freely and creatively.”
Share with us on our Instagram or Facebook page!
The Thought of the Week
Wishing you a peaceful week!
