Neurodiverse Positivity

I got to take part in an interview for an app being developed that's aiming to provide individualized tools for improving well-being and cognitive skills for neurodivergent children and young people. (And they used identity first language in the interview I participated in, woo!)

It's called MindOpp and the pilot for the final stage of development will be starting soon, so if you're interested in getting involved too, feel free to sign up here!

Here's what they say about it:

Hello everyone,

My name is Rachel Nicholson (she/her) and I am a current PsyD student working towards my doctorate in clinical psychology. Part of my graduate training is to conduct a dissertation project and I have chosen to focus mine on the subjective experiences of hyperfocus in autistic adults. The purpose of this study is to shed a light on the autistic perspective specifically related to hyperfocus as much research on autism has excluded the community’s input all together. Those interested in participating will be asked to complete an anonymous online survey, which will take approximately 15 minutes. You must be 18 years or older to participate in this study as we are focusing on the experiences of autistic adults.

If you are interested in participating, please complete the survey via this link:

If I can act like other people, then I am expected to hold down a full time job, buy groceries and make a living.

If I show that I am struggling and show my autistic traits, I am offered fewer opportunities and people treat me as if I am not capable of the things that I would like to do.

We are constantly caught in a world where it is so hard to be comfortable in ourselves while living a life that doesn't lead to burnout. So if you have autistic people in your life whether friends, work colleagues, children, etc, remember to ask what they want to do in life. Offer opportunities based on what they say about themselves, promote them for who they say they want to be and what they feel comfortable doing.

Try not to take take away opportunities from non-verbal or higher-support autistics and try not to suppress the support needs of autistics who are able to present themselves as more neurotypical.

Asexuality is known as being more common within the autistic community, so you're far from alone here. As far as I'm aware, there's no research on why this is. Though some people tie it to sensory issues or in the difference in how we relate to people. The latter could also apply to being aromantic, and so this could certainly be a possible aspect to why we also see quite a few aromantic autistic people. :)

This type of change is so hard because there's just no avoiding the change in this certain thing so I really hear what you're going through here.

What I would recommend here is really focusing on all the things in your routine (if you keep one) that you do around the time of brushing your teeth that are still the same.

For example if you're brushing your teeth and feeling anxiety due to the change try thinking, "After this I'm watching that show I always watch." etc.

If this doesn't sound like your thing, maybe try a comforting activity whilst brushing your teeth, even just holding a comfort object or something to fidget with that you can focus on.

Haha, yes I can certainly relate to this! I don't personally find eye contact painful, more uncomfortable and too intense or personal. But when people look away for a moment I feel I have a chance to connect with them more. :)

Lots of people in the autistic community will precisely relate to this though!

I think that I would suggest simply being open with her about the fact that you don't want a big conversation about it. :)

You could phrase it something like this, "Hey Mam, I don't want to go too deeply into this just yet, but I think that I might have sensory processing disorder and I just wanted you to know so that ____."

You could perhaps mention to her that it's not at all dangerous, but just that you struggle with certain things and may need some extra understanding or support in those areas. It could be helpful to let her know more specifically what you struggle with and anything you'd like her to do (or not do!) to help you out.