I am one of those unregulated neurodiversity advocates, neurotic to the bones no doubt about it. You have been warned! Only follow me if you are interested in my lived experience of:– Autism, ADHD and C-PTSD– The double rainbow intersection of both the AuDHD and LGBTQIA+ spectrums– Surviving bullying and discrimination in education and work–Continue reading “Unregulated neurodiversity bandit”
Category Archives: Inclusion
Autism month brain dump
Questions from Carol Jean Whittington for her Mind Your Autistic Brain website. Question 1 – What does accessibility mean to you? Reducing or eliminating barriers to inclusion or success, which requires conscious inclusion. Question 2 – What is your big “why” for advocating for autism inclusion in the workplace? Workplace inclusion is my niche becauseContinue reading “Autism month brain dump”
Another autistic blurt and more rumination
My last anecdote made quite an impact, and I’ve been asked for more. Here’s another classic “blurt” 🤦♀️ The CEO in a previous job used to like to take a group of employees out for tea and cake at a fancy restaurant (Harvey Nicols) when they reached ten years of service. When it was myContinue reading “Another autistic blurt and more rumination”
Background on me
Having made it into Theo Smith’s list of Top 80 UK Neurodiversity Evangelists to follow, here is some background for my new followers. In 2018, I took my eldest child, who was 14 at the time, to see a psychiatrist about his extreme anxiety attacks. She listened and observed, then concluded that what he wasContinue reading “Background on me”
Leaders who dominate conversations
When a diverse group of individuals have a meeting, and a senior person (not openly autistic) dominates the conversation, clueless about how and why to be inclusive to introverts, who may have their own interesting backgrounds, ideas, stories to tell, but can only react politely. Don’t preach diversity and inclusion if that’s the best youContinue reading “Leaders who dominate conversations”
Neurodiversity and mental health conditions
An interesting debate from a LinkedIn group I’m in. Apparently there’s a TikTok trend from people with Cluster B personality disorders to identify as neurodivergent. Some people in the recognised neurodivergent community, with lifelong neurodevelopmental conditions such as Autism, ADHD, dyslexia, are not sure how to feel about it. Here’s my personal view. Caveat –Continue reading “Neurodiversity and mental health conditions”
Straight passing relationships and LGBTQIA Pride
Straight passing relationships and LGBTQIA Pride: “A relationship is referred to as being ‘straight passing’ when even though one or more people in it are queer, their romantic and sexual identities are often perceived by others to be heteroromantic and heterosexual. This can occur, for example, when a cis, bi man is dating a cis,Continue reading “Straight passing relationships and LGBTQIA Pride”
My hopes for an autism inclusive future
Autism is a common neurotype. Forget all those misleading stats – the majority go undiagnosed. I wasn’t diagnosed until my early forties, after struggling for decades. Many families with one diagnosed autistic have many more who unwittingly camouflage and fly under the radar. Yes, autism runs in the family. Don’t assume you’re neurotypical. Society mustContinue reading “My hopes for an autism inclusive future”
Persons with disabilities… Urgh
On this “International Day of Persons with Disabilities” I’d just like to highlight that this sort of language is unnecessary and stigmatising Note: As always, this is my personal take on this, I’m not speaking on behalf of my employer. There is nothing wrong with being disabled. The vast majority of us disabled people preferContinue reading “Persons with disabilities… Urgh”
Anti-bullying week
#AntiBullyingWeek Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me… According to bullies over the years, this is me: Ugly Four-eyes Rubber-lips Square Dork Greebo Loser Slag Arrogant Mental Deluded… Unkind words hurt like a thousand cuts. Cuts that might seem superficial, but the wounds can be deep. They may neverContinue reading “Anti-bullying week”
Ausome Charlie 