Challenging Societal Views on Disability It’s pretty frustrating how society tends to look down on people with disabilities, right? We often get labeled as a burden or a leech, like we’re just sitting around and taking advantage of the system, getting “something for nothing.” It’s all based on these ridiculous standards of productivity that come straight from a capitalist mindset, where your worth is tied to how much you can produce or contribute economically. But honestly,

Ableism is basically when everything around us is designed with the idea that there's just one "normal" way to have a body, mind, or brain, and anyone who doesn't fit that mold is seen as less capable, less valuable, or needing to be "fixed." It's not just one thing; it pops up in all sorts of ways, from the systems we deal with every day to the stories we hear and the messages we end up believing. Systemic Ableism Let’s dive into systemic ableism. This is all about the big p

There's this thing going around in neurodiverse communities where people say, "I wouldn't change anything about myself because then I wouldn't be me." I have a bit of a problem with that. Considering all the heartache and struggles I've been through, and what my parents had to deal with because of it, I'd definitely want to change some things. Reflecting on Life with ACC You know, I often find myself daydreaming about how different my life might have been if I hadn’t been bo

What is masking and how does it develop in neurodiverse people? Masking is when someone, either knowingly or unknowingly, hides their natural behaviors and traits to fit into the neurotypical environment. When I first found out I was neurodivergent (got diagnosed with ADHD as a kid), I was told that my differences made me stand out. Never mind that I had ACC and didn't realize it. I just knew something was off (or different) about me, and the children around me could see it a

One of the most frustrating things I've come across as someone on the autism spectrum, , is when people casually say, "but you look normal," or brush it off with, "everyone is a little autistic." These comments, even if meant to be nice or supportive, can really hurt because they show a big misunderstanding about what it's like to live with invisible disabilities. Invisible disabilities like autism and DCCs aren't obvious at first glance. They're beneath the surface, which of