Neurodiversity Reads discussion

Introductions are optional. However, they can also be an entry point for new people joining a group.

What you share on this thread is up to you.

However, if you want to post here and need help getting started some suggestions might be what you prefer to be called, what your pronouns are, where approximately you are from, and your favorite authors/genres. If you'd like to mention disability statuses or whatever, that is up to you. Some people also like to note why they've joined a group.

For Example:

I go by either Savannah or Nico. I prefer They or She as far as pronouns. I'm from north western Pennsylvania, in the United States of America. I like reading paranormal fiction, including romances (look up "vaginal fantasy" for a wider idea), but I read fairly widely. I'm Autistic with anxiety stuff + PTSD, possible narcolepsy, and fibro + joint stuff that has started to impact my mobility. I started this group because of a discussion on the email list devoted to Autreat.

Welcome to everyone, whether you make a post in this thread or not!

Hi everyone,

I'm Mike. I mainly just go by Mike, but Michael is fine too. I'm okay with anything but "it" pronouns, but I have to confess that using "they" as a singular makes my brain hurt. I understand that it's a common thing now, but I have a hard time with it. I tend to use ze/zir a lot in my own writing, particularly when I'm writing about someone who blogs under a handle and not a conventional name. If you're being anonymous, then I'm being gender-neutral as a default until I'm told not to.

I'm from Michigan, the southwest part of it to be specific, but I'd really like to move north of the bridge someday.

I teach college writing and write novels, as well as a related blog at http://mmonjejr.com. My first book, Nothing is Right came out last fall. I'm up for trading blurbs with other ND authors if anyone else is writing, and I do occasional book reviews on the blog. Let me know if you have any suggestions for what I should review (your work or recommendations from your reading lists--I'm open to both). - Mike

Hey.
My name is Alyssa, I'm Autistic, I write a blog ( http://yesthattoo.blogspot.com) and sometimes short stories/fanfiction. I take any pronoun other than "it." I do write book reviews on my blog in exchange for a copy of the book, but I'm honest, so... if you don't want a bad review and the contents of my blog suggests you'll get one you might want to skip.
I study mathematics, mechanical engineering, and Chinese. I like to sing; I like to sew.

Hi

I hope this group is still in operation.

I just discovered I have Asperger's, which explains a lot. Before I discovered that, I wrote a book based on my younger child's view of the world, which we called "Geoff light," like Coke light, because my child said I got close but not dark enough.

At the time, we thought Geoff had only ADHD. Now she is Jess, as well.

I'm jealous of those of you who were diagnosed early enough to use the information. I lived my life (corporate lawyer, horseperson, mother, now writer) with people telling me I "was an acquired taste", and my non-lamented ex, whom I met at college at Yale, telling people, "Claudia's not like the other kids."

I was unable to lie, except by omission, until it became critical to do so to avoid seriously upsetting my kids. It still makes me feel as awful as when others choose to lie or otherwise not follow the rules. I never learned to like anyone hugging me.

Now that my children and horsewoman friend are living in other states, and my one other friend is seriously ill, I'm back to pretending I'm like the other kids.

I can relate. I am also a horrible liar; people see right through me. I have never been officially diagnosed with Asperger's, but the psychiatrists and neuropsychologists I have seen say they believe I have developed too many "survival skills;" I guess that means I've become really good at hiding my "Aspie traits." I do remember being punished, ridiculed, teased, harassed, bullied, etc., for doing things I now know are Aspergian(sp?). I couldn't even *pretend* to hide my issues when I was a kid. I've gotten better as an adult, but as an adult, I choose to surround myself with people who *don't* make me hide who I am.

Tracey wrote: "I can relate. I am also a horrible liar; people see right through me. I have never been officially diagnosed with Asperger's, but the psychiatrists and neuropsychologists I have seen say they belie..."

So, what made you hop back in this group now? Why does no one post here? There is some author posting on a related group, "Autism Families and Professionals."

I've been posting some stuff on the blogs "The Art of Autism," "Learn from Autistics, " and "Wrong Planet." But the first two are very formal and the last seems geared to younger folk.

Check out the publications of Autonomous Press http://autpress.com/

It is an entirely neurodiverse owned/operated venture. Two of its books have been nominated for Lammys this year.

Please check out Goodreads' "For Love of a Book" group. They have just added my new novel, "No Child Left Behind," to their "Read and Review" discussion,

"No Child Left Behind" is a near-future novel that celebrates neurodiversity. For teens and up, it's about coming of age with humans and meta-humans of many cognitive flavors.

20 free epub or mobi copies are available.

I'd like to tell members about Beyond Rain Man: What One Psychologist Learned Raising a Son on the Autism Spectrum. I'm the mother of a young adult with Asperger's, and I work as a school psychologist with autistic children and adolescents. You can find more info at www.beyondrainman.com Thanks!

I'm Raevyn. My main diagnosis is Asperger's Syndrome. I'm a girl.

Is it okay if I make some new topics?

Raevyn wrote: "I'm Raevyn. My main diagnosis is Asperger's Syndrome. I'm a girl.

Is it okay if I make some new topics?"

I'd love to see them. This site has been fairly dead.

I'm a 63-year-old female retired corporate attorney, who was just diagnosed with Asperger's this year (diagnosed with depression for many years, which more properly probably was Asperger's burnout from a job with way too much human politics). I'm an animal person, which probably kept me going in the world of neurotypicals as long as I did. Now I mostly consort with my horses, parrots, and annoying Great Pyrenees bitch.

I'm a 68-year old male who has a mood disorder (unipolar depression) currently (thank God) in remission. I'm an author (of 17 books), including two on neurodiversity: The Power of Neurodiversity: Unleashing the Advantages of Your Differently Wired Brain, and Neurodiversity in the Classroom: Strength-Based Strategies to Help Students with Special Needs Succeed in School and Life. I was a special education teacher for several years, but I'm really a writer by nature. I've written a novel on the disapperance of childhood, but I haven't had it published yet (it's a long story). I see neurodiversity as a way for teachers to begin honoring the strengths and abilities of people with neurodiversities as well as their challenges. There's too much focus on deficits and dysfunctions in special education. I think a diversity model is the future of disability rights. At least I hope so. I blog regularly and have a website (same place): www.institute4learning.com.

Welcome, Thomas!

Hello everyone. My name is Travis. I live near Seattle, WA in the Pacific Northwest in the US. I am 35, cis male, gay, and go by he/him. I am autistic as well as artistic. I work in a library and it is my dream job. I have always loved the systematic organization of libraries. They are my favorite places in the world.

I love reading. I read a wide variety of genres, and am working on building my own personal library at home. At the time of writing this, I have 52 books. A number that is ever growing.

That is all.

Hey all!

My alias is Fyri (pronounced like "fear me"), but in the professional space I go by either N.K. or Nicole.

I'm a long time writer and I'm currently gathering beta/sensitivity readers for the sixth draft of my fantasy series. I come here because 1) I'm a proud ADDer and "Waht?! A neurodiversity group?! :DD" and 2) I'm seeking some actually autistic input for 2 characters in my first book.

The characters are also women of Indian (South Asian) descent, and one is a major lead character through the series. The series is a Crossworlds Fantasy/Adventure series with magic and characters inspired by Avatar: The Last Airbender. It is about 105K words (350-420 pages, depending on font).

Please let me know if you're interested either by comment or DM!

Besides that: I love cats, I go by she/her, Nature is great but bugs are not, I live in the U.S., and, uh, mm! Studio Ghibli is life. <3 ^_^

~Fyri

Hi, my name is Holly.
I go by she/her pronouns, and I have autism and dyslexia, but only found out about being on the spectrum a few years ago.
I live in Australia.
My favourite types of books to read are comfort fantasy, magic realism, comics/ graphic novels, and period gothic.
I have joined this group hoping to find other neurodiverse people to talk to and to discuss books.

Hi everyone :)

I'm Heather, I'm originally from London and now live in Glasgow, Scotland. I'm a pop culture and disability awareness blogger who blogs about all things geeky, living with chronic illnesses and my love for beauty products. I'm a massive bookworm and regularly review books, with fantasy, science fiction, horror and urban fantasy being my favourite genres.
I'm on social media as justgeekingby.

I have seven chronic health conditions; hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (hEDS), chronic migraines, ME/CFS, IBS. anxiety and depression, asthma and rhinitis. I also have PTSD, compulsive skin picking and undiagnosed dyscalculia. I talk about all of these openly on my blog, Just Geeking By - http://geeking-by.net

I've joined this group because I want to support neurodiverse authors and neurodiversity in literature. As a book reviewer, I have a platform that gives me the chance to offer that support. I've read the group rules and I'm here to listen.

I'm a 24 year old female who is neurodivergent. I read childrens books mostly because my neurodivegencies cause reading comprehension issues. I joined this group to support neurodivergent authors.

Hi everyone! My name is Rachael and I'm a relatively new book reviewer/blogger on Goodreads. My pronouns are she/her and I would love to connect with other Autistic people on here. Feel free to friend or follow me. :)

Hi everyone, so great to see such an eclectic bunch of neurodivergents. I come from Nepal/India but now based in Switzerland. I have a combination of complex PTSD (undiagnosed), ADHD, and perceptual and auditory processing disorder (diagnosed) - and now I know why I have always struggled to connect with people even though I know many people superficially. My pronouns are he/him. Reading has proven to be quite difficult with my hyperactivity and white light sensitivity but I like to keep pushing my boundaries. Look forward to reading books on neurodivergents which are written by one of us.

Hi I'm Christine and I'm 28 years old. My pronouns are she/her. I'm from the USA. I mostly read non-fiction and poetry but will read others things sometimes. I'm autistic and also have PTSD.

hello! my name is remy (they/them) and i’m autistic and i have ptsd, mdd, and adhd!! i’m from the northern united states. one of my special interests is the warriors series by erin hunter and im currently re-reading it (as i write this im listening to moonrise from the second series, the new prophecy). if anyone wants to be friends or just chat that would be cool!! i don’t really know how goodreads works and this is my first group, so yeah. okay bye!!

Hi! I'm Danielle (she/her) I'm 21 but feel like I'm stuck in the mind of a 13 year old sometimes and the body of a 90 year old, and I'm diagnosed with autism, severe adhd (which makes reading a little hard lol), cptsd and depression. Because of my autism and lack of social skills I always sound really formal and bussinessy but I'm still an adhd/autism goblin so please don't be intimidated to talk to me! I would love to make some ND friends!!!

I'm a librarian so books are of course a big special interest for me and I love getting recommendations (I mostly read sapphic fiction, historical fiction/retellings and I've been getting into fantasy lately) especially if the recommendations have neurodiverse characters!! I also have fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and a myriad of undiagnosed stuff going on so I also really appreciate book reccs about chronically ill/physically disabled characters!

ASD ADHD little-old-lady with CFD/ME and osteoarthritis
I think you have figured me out from that. Feel free to ask me questions if not.
Spent more of my life with my nose in a book. Makes a great bookmark.

Kay wrote: "I'm a 24 year old female who is neurodivergent. I read childrens books mostly because my neurodivegencies cause reading comprehension issues. I joined this group to support neurodivergent authors."

Have you tried audio books?