I’ve been in an interesting headspace recently.  Spring has always been my favorite season in Texas. However, this year, since my grandfather passed away, things have been bittersweet.  Monday would is my grandfather’s birthday, and this coming Sunday (though my birthday was one month prior), my grandfather and I would have celebrated our spring birthdays together with the rest of our family.  Our birthdays were always one month apart. My birthday is March 29th, and my Grandfather’s is April 29th. This was my first birthday since his passing.  I don’t cry as much, though I ..read more

Many years ago, in a world where Neuro-Inclusion was a barely visible beacon of hope glowing in the distant future, I embarked on a quest (via plane and sometimes by bus) to spread understanding and appreciation for NeuroDivergent People across the United States.  My frustration with inaccessible workplaces led me to this place, filled with buses, ride shares, airports, planes, and hotel rooms—all billed to and paid for by the clients (employers, conference organizers, universities, and public entities) who would fly me in to speak.  On the one hand, traveling was fun and exciting. G ..read more

A green flyer with cute weed nuggie and puff puff pass artwork, with a big green question mark asks “what’s your favorite strain?” Do YOU partake? As we observe 4/20, a day many cannabis enthusiasts celebrate, I spend the morning in quiet reflection.  I’m a medical cannabis user. I have been for years, even before recreational or medical cannabis was legal in my state.  As a pre-teen with a chronic illness that no medicines could help, I accidentally discovered cannabis alleviated many of my symptoms when I was in middle school. Still, I kept my secret to myself (because this medicin ..read more

Because I’m Autistic+ (Autism PLUS multiple NeuroTypes and co-occurring conditions that I don’t share), I spent most of my life trying to fit into a world not designed for people like me.  Growing up, I always felt alien, but for most of my life, I didn’t have the words to explain where this feeling came from (or why).  I saw things differently than most people I knew, and I often got in trouble because people would misunderstand or misjudge me (or because I had misinterpreted, misunderstood, or misjudged them) – a phenomenon that STILL happens to this day, but wreaks less havoc in m ..read more

ID: Lyric, a beige-skinned nonbinary person with black hair with dark green ends and shaved sides, is sitting in the window shades pulled shut behind them. They are wearing a flamboyant shirt that has goats and flowers on it. NeuroDiversity is important in Autistic Acceptance Month because it recognizes and values the diversity of human brains and minds, including those of Autistic People. NeuroDiversity also acknowledges that Autism is not something that needs to be “cured” or “fixed” but is instead a natural variation of the human experience. So, What IS NeuroDiversity? NeuroDiversity: Refe ..read more

Living a double life” is a phrase often used to describe individuals leading secret lives, but for many Autistic people, it’s a constant reality.  Behind the mask of neurotypicality, we hide our true selves, concealing our autistic traits, interests, and behaviors to avoid social rejection, bullying, and even physical harm.  This is the experience of Autistic camouflaging- a complex, exhausting, and often invisible struggle to avoid standing out in a sometimes hostile world.  As someone who has spent years perfecting the art of camouflaging, masking, shielding, or blending in, I ..read more

Content Warning: This piece discusses Conversion Therapy/ABA I’ve been spending a lot of time reflecting on who I used to be when I did not yet know I was Autistic, as well as who I am now (that I’ve known the truth about my mind for over seven years).  Photo of Lyric in a grey blazer, black undershirt, and red pants. They have their medium-length hair down and are smiling to the side in front of a bold orange and teal sunset. On the image is the text that reads: I AM Autistic and Proud – Lyric Rivera, NeuroDivergent Rebel. Eight years ago, I did not yet know I was Autistic, but I di ..read more

It’s April.  April is “Autism Month” (also known as Awareness Month, Acceptance Month, or Appreciation Month, depending on who you ask). As an Autistic Person who belongs to multiple communities that are seen as lesser by the social hierarchies our society enforces, I’m tired of awareness days and months.  I am tired due to the multitude of them, and of the expectations that come with them and the misinformation that happens when people outside my communities try to speak on issues they don’t understand.  I am tired of the negative attention these days, weeks, and months bring ..read more

NeuroDiversity is important in Autistic Acceptance Month because it recognizes and values the diversity of human brains and minds, including those of Autistic People. NeuroDiversity also acknowledges that Autism is not something that needs to be “cured” or “fixed” but is instead a natural variation of the human experience. When we embrace NeuroDiversity, we: Promote acceptance and inclusion Break down stigmas and stereotypes Foster a culture of understanding and support Recognize the strengths and contributions of Autistic and other NeuroDivergent People Advocate for accommodations and access ..read more

Today (April 2nd, 2024) is the 17th Annual World Autism Day. This is my 7th World Autism Day, knowing that I am Autistic. I have many feelings about April, watching it come and go since I first learned I am Autistic a few months before my twenty-ninth birthday.  For many Autistic people, April can be a source of frustration and pain (because instead of promoting acceptance and understanding, traditional awareness campaigns often perpetuate harmful stereotypes, contributing to our continued stigmatization). Years ago, on my first April, knowing my Autistic brain, I was naively excited abou ..read more