Eccentric Circles

In an earlier episode, I told my own story of being diagnosed autistic as an adult in my 30s, after my young son was diagnosed. I received many questions about how I didn’t know I was an autistic girl when I was younger, and why no one at home or school realized. Being diagnosed as an adult is actually really common, and many people are diagnosed much later than I was. It can be hard to see autism...

The stereotype of ADHD is a hyperactive, rambunctious little white boy, but the truth is that people of all backgrounds, ethnicities, cultures, races, all people, have ADHD at about the same rates. About 5-10% of everybody on this planet has ADHD, or is an ADHD brain. And those rates don’t differ between white, Black, or Hispanic populations. But it is true that ADHD is uncovered and diagnosed dif...

Let’s talk about language! Autism and ADHD are both known as neurodevelopmental “disorders.” But is “disorder” really the best way to refer to autism and ADHD, given the scientific body of research indicating autism and ADHD are examples of natural genetic variation? So how can we talk about autism and ADHD as examples of neurodivergence, but not disorders?  See Show Notes for this episode here :...

Special interests are one of the most defining traits of autism spectrum disorder (ASD): an intense focus on a specific subject. But ASD special interests are also a secret strength of autistics everywhere. Learn more about how autistics use our special interests to regulate our emotions and expand our worldviews today, on Neurodiverging. See Show Notes for this episode here : https://neurodivergi...

Spoon theory and fork theory are two of the most popular models of disability and energy consumption in the chronic fatigue community. But how do they apply to autism? Find out how helpful these models really are, today, on Neurodiverging. See Show Notes for this episode here : https://neurodiverging.com/spoons-and-forks-autism-and-fatigue/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adch...

Do you have an autistic friend or loved one who repeats everything you say all the time? Or do you know someone with autism spectrum disorder who’s in the habit of talking to themselves? It’s called echolalia! It’s common among young children, and autistics of all ages. Why do we repeat? Find out what’s going on from an autistic adult's point of view. See Show Notes for this episode here : https:/...

Having different communication styles and making it work anyway is part of being in a family. But what if it’s not working? Collaborative problem-solving can be a life-saver for learning how to communicate with autistic adults, how to communicate with an autistic child, or how us autistics can better work with neurotypical folks. Here are 4 real-world tips to help! See Show Notes for this episode...

I didn't find out I was autistic until after my second child was born and my life fell apart. Why are so many autistic women misdiagnosed or not diagnosed at all? Hear my story. See Show Notes for this episode here : https://neurodiverging.com/how-i-learned-i-was-autistic-as-an-adult/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's episode serves as an introduction to what I'll be talking about through this podcast series, including my answers to three questions: What does neurodivergent mean, and what is neurodivergence? What is neurodiversity? And why are they important to talk about? See Show Notes for this episode at https://neurodiverging.com/what-does-neurodivergent-mean . Learn more about your ad choices. Visi...