I had planned to write a blog post for International Persons with Disabilities Day, but: 1) I’m too burned out from taking my daughters and their friends to MCM Comic Con yesterday then driving home in the freezing mist and dark. 2) I’m not a ‘Person with Disabilities’; I’m ‘disabled’. I should not have toContinue reading “IDPD, or Disabled People Day as I like to call it”
Category Archives: Neurodiversity
Believe us!
Sometimes it’s so weird being Autistic and ADHD. I’ve just done a public speaking event at Vodafone HQ, where I felt so welcome, comfortable and well looked after… then had a severe sensory meltdown on the way home. I felt OK when we left Vodafone, calm even. But then we started getting ‘hangry’ and IContinue reading “Believe us!”
Addictive Personality
Tell me you’re ADHD without telling me you’re ADHD. I’ll go first: All my adult life I’ve been saying: “I need to be careful with _____* because I have an addictive personality” * Insert alcohol/ caffeine/ drugs/ meds/ prescription painkillers/ dieting/ sunbeds/ exercise/ MyFitnessPal/ Twitter/ Candy Crush (or similar game) etc… #ADHD #AuDHD #Addiction #Neurodiversity
Alice, What’s the Matter?
Yes, writing is well under way for my semi-autobiographical comedy novel about my early adulthood as an oblivious undiagnosed autistic young woman, blundering through life. Originally titled ‘Alice in Blunderland’, but that title has been used before and also I am a huge fan of the Bradford-based band Terrorvision, whose song ‘Alice, What’s the Matter’Continue reading “Alice, What’s the Matter?”
My ADHD assessment is today… yikes!
This morning I have my assessment for ADHD, with Psychiatry UK, and I expect to be diagnosed with ADHD, although my imposter syndrome is worried I’m wrong. If I’m wrong, I may have to publicly eat my words, as I have been describing myself as ‘AuDHD’ for several months. A ‘queer AuDHDer’ in fact, asContinue reading “My ADHD assessment is today… yikes!”
Neurodivergent self-labelling and identity
Neurodivergent self-labelling and identity: The Power and the Paradox An informal discussion between Charlie Hart and Georgina Shute, exploring the complexities of neurodivergent self-identifying and labels, delving into the validity and impact of self-diagnosis. Gina: Neurodivergent self-labelling and identity can be both powerful and paradoxical (something with two meanings that don’t make sense together). MyContinue reading “Neurodivergent self-labelling and identity”
Order and chaos in our AuDHD household
You might recall, I shared a couple of extracts from my school reports for ADHD Awareness Month. Some of you may be surprised I still have them, that they were not lost years ago. I found my school reports quite by chance, in the bottom of an old carrier bag full of jumbled up photos,Continue reading “Order and chaos in our AuDHD household”
Exclusion from University
I have been watching TEDx talks on YouTube recently, especially from other neurodiversity advocates in the UK. My most shout-out-loud relatable moment yet was from Alex Partridge. Like Alex, I also experienced my parents turning up unexpectedly at my student accommodation bearing a recorded delivery letter confirming I had been excluded from university. For me,Continue reading “Exclusion from University”
Neurodiversity inclusion tips
We all have unique strengths and challenges, so understanding these is key because everyone has specific accessibility and support needs. Autism, for example, is a spectrum condition, which means that it affects people in different ways. It is unhelpful to stereotype people based on their neurological condition, so please do not make assumptions about whatContinue reading “Neurodiversity inclusion tips”
Human not Waxwork
Make-up free Monday, no filter. Have you ever wondered why I’m such a fan of TikTok filters and FaceApp etc? Well, I am not good at applying make-up, and I never have been, and don’t always have the spoons. I am also somewhat self-conscious about the scars around my left eye and eyebrow, from gettingContinue reading “Human not Waxwork”
Ausome Charlie 