Division for Early Childhood 2024 Conference

Mom/stepmom/aunt to multiple neurodiverse kids, 7 diagnosed or self-identified as being on the autism spectrum, 5 ADHD, with some anxiety and learning differences also in the mix. I have ADHD and self-identified as autistic when one of my gender diverse children was diagnosed and I learned about different presentations of autism, especially among women and minorities. The relief I experienced in understanding why I'd always felt like an "other" was enormous.

I have two autistic kids still at home; one of whom I homeschool. Though our family's autism journey has often been difficult and some features of autism can be challenging both for the person and the people around them, I have come to believe autism is a gift. My work now as my kids get older is to build a better world that lets my kids - and all neutrospicy people - live authentically.