Laura Zdan

Ableism runs deep with them! . . . . . #autismacceptance #autismawareness #autismfamilies #ouchie #ableism #disabilityrights #autistickids #autismfamily #aspergers #aspie (at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDMEZIkBOPf/?igshid=pshw5ohpc2f0

While embarking on my UNLEARNING NEUROTYPICAL journey I had a realization tthat drastically changed the depth and scope. **By UNLEARNING for myself, I’m opening the doors to healthier parenting and a MUCH healthier family!!** . . The Neurotypical ideals that have harmed me definitely have the same potential to harm my children if i . As a parent, our own journeys set the tone for our kids and their own journeys. I don’t my own and each my children’s journey as one in the same because each of my children must pave their own way, just like I did. Yet, my goal is to help them to ACTIVELY see what my own values have become, and those values have so drastically changed over the last year while truly finding my autistic self. . . My parenting goals are for my kids to SEE me as: ☑️ Open and honest ☑️ Say I’m sorry when I’m wrong and not afraid to share my own growth with them ☑️ Openly discussing and giving answers their questions while supporting their own emotional regulation and health ☑️ Isn’t afraid to say “I don’t know” when I don’t have all the answers ☑️ Openly accepts I am a work in progress . . The key for me to unlock ALL of those goals is the hard work of #unlearningneurotypical and embracing ME just as I am and I want to support YOU, too! ‼️So, I have added 2 new parent/family tiers to UNLEARNING NEUROTYPICAL which will share family and parent/caregiver focused content while we’re on this UNLEARNING journey together. ‼️ Unlearning neurotypical goes so much deeper than just our own inner growth. It has the chance to change and support all of those around us, as well. Oh what a beautiful thing self-acceptance is! . . This is what new patrons of UNLEARNING NEUROTYPICAL are saying: “I’m so grateful for the reminder to support myself, accept myself and stop taking an adversarial approach to myself. I am learning so much about myself and I’m really glad to be here for all the unlearning I need to do!” <—— begin your own UNLEARNING Journey with us for as little as $3.00 a month. If you’re anything like me and the current patrons, it will change your life! . . Https://www.patreon.com/unlearningneurotypical or find the link in my bio! #actuallyautistic (at South Philadelphia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDJmxXKhMtR/?igshid=1jtzdcg7okrz4

Scroll through and read all the slides because this must read! Tell it like it is @art_twink <—— and follow + - + - + - + - #actuallyautistic #eugenics #functioning #autismacceptance #neurodiversity #neuroqueer #nonbinary #stop #listen #learn #unlearningneurotypical #actuallyunmasking (at South Philadelphia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDB3_aTpqVT/?igshid=1i755wemtn6wj

If you wouldn’t do something to an able-bodied child, do not do it to your disabled children. Another one that comes to mind, “I’m inclusive, but I have to be honest. If they’re being really distracting, it isn’t fair to the other kids to share their classroom”. <—- ABLEIST AF! . . . . . #actuallyautistic #actuallyunmasking #ableism #ableismistrash #ableismawareness #unlearningneurotypical #disability #disabilityawareness #disabilityrights (at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/CC_DLBShMhk/?igshid=1i8kc61ufd82v

On the episode 22 of the Not Neurotypical Podcast I discuss the groundbreaking realization I had about a month or 2 ago. I realized there was a major piece I was missing in my own journey of embracing, accepting, and growing autistically. I found that the major component I was missing was that in order to TRULY grow and move past the deep, traumatic, and harmful experiences I’ve been subjected to (mainly because I’m neurodivergent), consciously unmasking just wasn’t enough for me. I need to consciously UNLEARN the harmful things I’ve been taught or was taught to feel about myself and others, and make enough space to RE-LEARN about myself and this world. UNLEARNING NEUROTYPICAL. The box I never could, never would, and never will fit into! The box I tried so hard to embrace but yet never could. For me, unmasking was not enough..... Listen to episode 22 anywhere you get your podcasts or find a link in my bio! . . Care to join me on this fascinating journey!? Become an UNLEARNER on my Patreon for as little as $3.00 a month! Visit www.patreon.com/unlearningneurotypical to learn more or visit the link in my stories/bio! . . . . #unlearningneurotypical #actuallyautistic #autisticaf #aspie #adhd #neurodivergent #neurodiversity #patreoncreator #unlearnandrelearn #unlearn #dyslexia #autismacceptance #neurodiversityacceptance https://www.instagram.com/p/CC9LZL1Bwm4/?igshid=7hfc4ntqwfi6

This speaks for itself. There are so many of us begging our own community to stop gendering autism. This is just ANOTHER box we’re put into, yet this box is commonly forced on us within our own community on top of outside of it, yet it does a disservice to the vast spectrum that is autism. Embracing our varying experiences, traits, and presentations is how we keep people from being missed, dividing us further and creating even more boxes that do not always work is NOT how we strengthen our community. . . . . . . #actuallyautistic #actuallyunmasking #nonbinary #onthespectrum #spectrum #agender #transgender #autistic #autisticadults #autismacceptance #autismawareness #aspie #aspiegirl #aspiewoman #autisticgirl #autisticgirls #autismboy #autisticboy #aspergers #girlsonthespectrum (at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/CC8t329hmCo/?igshid=1dlcof8giarls

🔬 Let’s NOT just TALK about #ableism let‘s also dissect what it sounds and looks like. ⠀ Ableism is defined as “discrimination against disabled people.” More than that, ableism is a specific form of social prejudice. It classifies a large group of people as “less than”. It’s the idea that there is only one “right” type of person. It is also the idea that there is only one (or a best) way to look, act, feel, think, and do things. At its core, it is physical, emotional, social, and even spiritual elitism. If you are neurodivergent or disabled ANYWHERE in the world I can guarantee you‘ve been personally, negatively impacted by ableism. While we all face it at times, it’s so important to recognize that ableism and it’s darkness and negatively impacts marginalized groups such as black and POC on a MUCH greater scale. ⠀ What does Ableism sound and look like? ❎”I love my child but hate their #autism/ #ADHD / #ODD/ETC!”. Internalized: Hating your own traits related to your Neurotype. ❎Wanting to cure your child on their neurotype or assuming that disabled and neurodivergent people want to be “fixed”. Internalized: Wishing there was a fix or a cure to change how your brain or body works or wishing you could just be Neurotypical or able-bodied.⠀ ❎Segregating disabled children and adults into different schools and institutions. ⠀ ❎Lack of compliance with ADA laws or deciding that someone’s disability is “their problem”. ⠀ ❎Making disabled or #neurodivergent people a punchline or using slurs like the R word. ⠀ ❎Describing disabled or neurodivergent people as either tragic or inspirational. ⠀ ❎Assuming disability must be visible or assuming someone is “okay” because of how they look or the appearance of lacking a physical disability. ⠀ ❎Infantilizing or talking to a disabled person as if they are a child or assuming a person cannot comprehension a certain subject or situation based on their diagnosis. ⠀ ❎Asking invasive questions about someone’s medical history or personal life. ⠀ ❎ Questioning if someone is actually disabled, autistic, ADHD, etc. Internalized: wondering if you’re autistic or #adhd because you have friends/ married, has a degree/job, or are successful. https://www.instagram.com/p/CCtZVFdBnvy/?igshid=4i8gppun57u4