How To Support Neurodiverse Members
ASilentObserver
August 25th, 2021
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Today I want to discuss neurodiversity and how to support them better in different spaces of our community. We are a diverse community and everyone has a unique personality, challenges, and needs. And, we are an inclusive community where everyone is welcomed.
Let's start with understanding neurodiversity! Neurodiverse individuals are those with developmental disabilities like autism, ADHD, social anxiety. But, point to understand that when we say disabled, it means they are differently-abled. Just like our unique personality. We all have our own struggles but these struggles do not define who we are. It defines a phase of the challenge and struggles we facing. For some this challenging phase can be short-term while for others it may be a bit longer.
Now, let's focus on understanding some terminologies
1. A Guide to Autism
2. Ways to Build Relationships and Rapport
3. Supportive Phrases and Questions for Member Chatrooms!
Supporting a member with the neurodiverse challenge
I hope you may find the above resources helpful. Members with neuro-diverse challenges like autism, ADHD, social anxiety can add different perspectives and strengths into our community. Everyone has challenges. But as a community, we can show respect, patience, care, and compassion to them and each other. Compassion goes a long way. Let's be kind to our fellow neurodiverse members.
Please do share if you have more resources, tips to support them better in the comments of this post. We will continue to strive to offer support and learn how to support each other better and together.
Resources Credits: @gracey @sunshinegiraffe123 @Fristo
Let's start with understanding neurodiversity! Neurodiverse individuals are those with developmental disabilities like autism, ADHD, social anxiety. But, point to understand that when we say disabled, it means they are differently-abled. Just like our unique personality. We all have our own struggles but these struggles do not define who we are. It defines a phase of the challenge and struggles we facing. For some this challenging phase can be short-term while for others it may be a bit longer.
Now, let's focus on understanding some terminologies
1. Aspie: Someone who has Asperger’s syndrome, which is on the autism spectrum.
2. Autism: a neurological disorder characterized by repetitive behavior, difficulties communicating, and problems establishing and maintaining relationships.
3. Autism awareness: A movement about spreading awareness and acceptance of people on the autism spectrum.
4. Neurotypical: A person who doesn’t display atypical thought patterns or behaviors.
5. Stimming: Self-soothing, repetitive body movements which autistic people do in response to over-stimulation or emotional stress. Common ‘stims’ are rocking back-and-forth motions, hand flapping, and arm and leg rubbing.
How to Support
Here are some resources that you will find helpful to support neurodiverse members better. These resources are informative and share a lot of information that all of us (Fellow Members, Listeners, Room Supporters, Chatroom Moderators) can use. All the texts in blue are hyperlinked and clickable.1. A Guide to Autism
2. Ways to Build Relationships and Rapport
3. Supportive Phrases and Questions for Member Chatrooms!
Supporting a member with the neurodiverse challenge
I hope you may find the above resources helpful. Members with neuro-diverse challenges like autism, ADHD, social anxiety can add different perspectives and strengths into our community. Everyone has challenges. But as a community, we can show respect, patience, care, and compassion to them and each other. Compassion goes a long way. Let's be kind to our fellow neurodiverse members.
Please do share if you have more resources, tips to support them better in the comments of this post. We will continue to strive to offer support and learn how to support each other better and together.
Resources Credits: @gracey @sunshinegiraffe123 @Fristo
IceCream4IceCream
August 26th, 2021
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@sunshinegiraffe123 thank you so much for helping out and explaining things to @cafedaydreams. Cafe, it's your choice how you'd prefer to describe yourself. I identify as neurodiverse, some identify as disabled, etc. It's your identity. If you have learning difference and are considered gifted, it is called twice exceptionality. 
Interesting Forum Discussion here about terms we use to describe ourselves.
Discussion about the term gifted and twice-exceptional.
Interesting Forum Discussion here about terms we use to describe ourselves.
Discussion about the term gifted and twice-exceptional.
IceCream4IceCream
August 26th, 2021
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@ASilentObserver
Yay!!! So glad there is a post on Neurodiversity! :) Also, there are lots of neurodiverse listeners/leaders on 7 Cups including myself :)
Here are a few things I want to say.
1. Neurodiversity includes ADHD, Autism Spectrum Conditions, and Specific Learning Differences like Dyslexia, Dyspraxia,and Dyscalculia.
2. Some people with these conditions consider them to be intrinsic to their identity. They might not think they have a disability/deficit/disorder! Please respect an individuals' preferences: ask them how they would like to be referred to and how they feel about their neurodevelopmental condition. E.g. autistic person vs person on the spectrum/ person with ASC or ASD.
3. The term neurodiversity was coined by Judy Singer who—quoting an article from Web MD (Bhandari, 2021)— is "a sociologist who has autism...It refers to the concept that certain developmental disorders are normal variations in the brain. And people who have these features also have certain strengths".
Regarding terminologies and conditions
1. Autism Spectrum Conditions/ Disorders (ASCs): please refer to my post here on this group of neurodevelopmental conditions. Sometimes people on the spectrum might experience social anxiety as a co-occuring/co-morbid condition. Before the Diagnostic Statistical Manual Version 5 DSM-V; Asperger's syndrome and Pervasive Developmental disorder were some of the conditions that are now joined under the term "Autism Spectrum Condition". I would like to note that Aspie is an outdated term which not everyone uses anymore, and it is no longer an official diagnostic term. Some people in the autistic commmunity/ some people on the spectrum find it offensive (Hans Asperger who the term is named after did some terrible things) so it would be good to remember that! There are people who still identify as "Aspies" those so please respect peoples' personal preferences
People with other neurodevelopmental conditions/ forms of neurodiversity might experience social anxiety as a co-morbidity too! Social Anxiety is a type of anxiety disorder: specifically it is a complex phobia. You can get more support for social anxiety in this sub-forum in the Anxiety Support sub-community, or read about it in the listener or member training guides/self-help guides.
2. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): I'll be making a post to explain ADHD next week (this was planned anyways for SP+) but very simply it is another neurodevelopmental condition: like other neurodevelopmental/developmental conditions, this means you are born with it and it affects your brain and nervous system development.
ADHD is characteristed by inattention (variability in your ability to focus among other things, mind wandering), hyperactivity (mental and physical), and impulsivity (e.g. having trouble waiting in queue, interrupting others unintentionally). Attention "dysregulation" is a more appropriate word than deficit as people with ADHD hav e a spectrum of attention: they can pay too much attention (sometimes becomes a state of hyperfocus) or too little/ are unable to focus.
Importantly, Emotional Dysregulation is another core feature of ADHD which not many are aware of: difficulty managing your emotions. I will detail ADHD more in my post next week.
Check out the Support Plus sub-community for more details! We cover:
1. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder/ADHD (including Parents of Children with ADHD)
2. Autism Spectrum Conditions/ASCs (including Allies)
3. Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)
4. Dermatillomania, Trichotillomania & Body Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRB )
5. Hoarding Disorder
6. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Often people on the spectrum have trouble regulating emotions too. This is often a core feature (emotional dysregulation).
4. Neurodivergent: People with the conditions who are followers of the neurodiversity movement may consider their selves as being "neurodiverse" or "neurodivergent".
5. Neurotypical refers to people who are not neurodivergent. That's basically it: people who don't have these more unique variations in brain wiring which cause them to think and essentially, "exist" differently in the world. Difference, not disorder.
How to support: great links to @sunshinegiraffe123's and @Fristo's posts :D I hyperlinked Support Plus earlier in this post: we have lots of resources and continue to develop them.
Finally I cannot say I am an expert on neurodiversity, or on anything for that matter: I am aware of the boundaries of my listener/leadership role. However, I have lived experience with ADHD, so if you ever want to talk about it from that perspective, please feel free to PM me. Other neurodiverse leaders/members, feel free to reply to my post on this thread if you are open to doing the same: i.e. having people approach you with questions about your lived experience as a neurodivergent person.
Image credits: All credits to MissLunaRose12, the creator of this image which was [osted on Wikimedia Commons. I don't own this image.
This is the symbol of Neurodiversity! A rainbow infinity symbol
Yay!!! So glad there is a post on Neurodiversity! :) Also, there are lots of neurodiverse listeners/leaders on 7 Cups including myself :)
Here are a few things I want to say.
1. Neurodiversity includes ADHD, Autism Spectrum Conditions, and Specific Learning Differences like Dyslexia, Dyspraxia,and Dyscalculia.
2. Some people with these conditions consider them to be intrinsic to their identity. They might not think they have a disability/deficit/disorder! Please respect an individuals' preferences: ask them how they would like to be referred to and how they feel about their neurodevelopmental condition. E.g. autistic person vs person on the spectrum/ person with ASC or ASD.
3. The term neurodiversity was coined by Judy Singer who—quoting an article from Web MD (Bhandari, 2021)— is "a sociologist who has autism...It refers to the concept that certain developmental disorders are normal variations in the brain. And people who have these features also have certain strengths".
Regarding terminologies and conditions
1. Autism Spectrum Conditions/ Disorders (ASCs): please refer to my post here on this group of neurodevelopmental conditions. Sometimes people on the spectrum might experience social anxiety as a co-occuring/co-morbid condition. Before the Diagnostic Statistical Manual Version 5 DSM-V; Asperger's syndrome and Pervasive Developmental disorder were some of the conditions that are now joined under the term "Autism Spectrum Condition". I would like to note that Aspie is an outdated term which not everyone uses anymore, and it is no longer an official diagnostic term. Some people in the autistic commmunity/ some people on the spectrum find it offensive (Hans Asperger who the term is named after did some terrible things) so it would be good to remember that! There are people who still identify as "Aspies" those so please respect peoples' personal preferences
People with other neurodevelopmental conditions/ forms of neurodiversity might experience social anxiety as a co-morbidity too! Social Anxiety is a type of anxiety disorder: specifically it is a complex phobia. You can get more support for social anxiety in this sub-forum in the Anxiety Support sub-community, or read about it in the listener or member training guides/self-help guides.
2. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): I'll be making a post to explain ADHD next week (this was planned anyways for SP+) but very simply it is another neurodevelopmental condition: like other neurodevelopmental/developmental conditions, this means you are born with it and it affects your brain and nervous system development.
ADHD is characteristed by inattention (variability in your ability to focus among other things, mind wandering), hyperactivity (mental and physical), and impulsivity (e.g. having trouble waiting in queue, interrupting others unintentionally). Attention "dysregulation" is a more appropriate word than deficit as people with ADHD hav e a spectrum of attention: they can pay too much attention (sometimes becomes a state of hyperfocus) or too little/ are unable to focus.
Importantly, Emotional Dysregulation is another core feature of ADHD which not many are aware of: difficulty managing your emotions. I will detail ADHD more in my post next week.
Check out the Support Plus sub-community for more details! We cover:
1. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder/ADHD (including Parents of Children with ADHD)
2. Autism Spectrum Conditions/ASCs (including Allies)
3. Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)
4. Dermatillomania, Trichotillomania & Body Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRB )
5. Hoarding Disorder
6. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Often people on the spectrum have trouble regulating emotions too. This is often a core feature (emotional dysregulation).
4. Neurodivergent: People with the conditions who are followers of the neurodiversity movement may consider their selves as being "neurodiverse" or "neurodivergent".
5. Neurotypical refers to people who are not neurodivergent. That's basically it: people who don't have these more unique variations in brain wiring which cause them to think and essentially, "exist" differently in the world. Difference, not disorder.
How to support: great links to @sunshinegiraffe123's and @Fristo's posts :D I hyperlinked Support Plus earlier in this post: we have lots of resources and continue to develop them.
Finally I cannot say I am an expert on neurodiversity, or on anything for that matter: I am aware of the boundaries of my listener/leadership role. However, I have lived experience with ADHD, so if you ever want to talk about it from that perspective, please feel free to PM me. Other neurodiverse leaders/members, feel free to reply to my post on this thread if you are open to doing the same: i.e. having people approach you with questions about your lived experience as a neurodivergent person.
Image credits: All credits to MissLunaRose12, the creator of this image which was [osted on Wikimedia Commons. I don't own this image.
This is the symbol of Neurodiversity! A rainbow infinity symbol
