By: Julie Landry
Imagine constantly feeling like you are running on empty, with no spoons left to cope with the demands of daily life. This is what autistic burnout can feel like.
By: Cat Salladin
The question of whether cats can be autistic is a complex one, and research is still ongoing to fully understand the presence of autistic traits in cats.
By: Dr. Julie Landry
Have you ever felt intensely focused on a single interest or task, to the extent that the world around you seems to fade away? Or perhaps you've noticed that when you concentrate on something you're passionate about, it's difficult to switch your attention to anything else.
By: Cat Salladin
In today's fast-paced world, finding inner peace can sometimes seem like an elusive dream, especially for neurodivergent individuals. Balancing work, family, and personal responsibilities can take a toll on our mental and emotional wellbeing, leaving us feeling stressed and overwhelmed.
By: Dani Rodwell
In the colorful landscape of the neurodivergent community, there exists a multitude of intricate phrases and identities that help us describe who we are. Within this space, there are many different variations of the word “neurodivergent” -neurodistinct, neurowonderful, neurosparkly, neurospicy, neurodefiant, and many more.
By: Julie Landry
In mental health and trauma, the concept of dorsal vagal shutdown plays a pivotal but often misunderstood role. This physiological response, rooted in the complex workings of the nervous system, can profoundly impact an individual's ability to regulate emotions and navigate stressful situations.
By: NeuroSpark Health
Are you curious about your brain's unique wiring? Wondering if you might be neurodivergent? Discovering your unique neurotype can be an empowering journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance.
By: Dani Rodwell
The AuDHD experience continues to be a growing conversation about the very multifaceted and nuanced experience of being multiply neurodivergent.
By: NeuroSpark Health
Have you ever wondered why some people seem to handle stress with ease while others become completely overwhelmed? The answer lies in understanding the concept of the window of tolerance. In this blog, we will delve into the depths of the window of tolerance and its impact on our emotional well-being.
By: NeuroSpark Health
In the vast and oftentimes overwhelming process of pursuing autism exploration or diagnosis, late-realized adults may have a particularly hard time knowing where to turn.
By: Julie Landry
Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) is characterized by an intense, anxiety-fueled resistance to the everyday demands of life. In adults, PDA often presents as an overpowering desire to maintain control over their environment and a tendency to steer clear of tasks that provoke stress.
By: Dr. Julie Landry
Adults with PDA might struggle with tasks that involve change, uncertainty, or external expectations. This frequently leads to difficulties in employment, relationships, and day-to-day functioning.
By: Dani Rodwell
Why neurodiversity affirming practices should apply across all contexts including neurodiversity affirming education, workplaces, and social settings.
By: NeuroSpark Health
Reasons for diagnosed autism in females, and why woman pursue autism asssessment in adulthood
By: NeuroSpark Health
Being able to recognize whether you experience rejection sensitive dysphoria, and how it shows up for you, is a powerful aspect of self-awareness that could be helpful for you to better manage it.
By: NeuroSpark Health
Tips about understanding, navigating, and dealing with rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD)
By: NeuroSpark Health
Because it is not an officially recognized medical diagnosis, a formal sensory processing disorder test currently does not exist.
By: Tasha Raella
I hope that one day I will live in a time when more therapists will feel safe enough to disclose their autism to clients and colleagues.
By: NeuroSpark Health
It’s remarkable how many people have suspicions that they might be autistic, but they don’t know how (or don’t feel comfortable) to bring up autism with their therapist.
By: NeuroSpark Health
AuDHD is a term that many members of the neurodivergent community use to describe the experience of being both autistic and ADHD. AuDHD is not a clinical term, and it doesn’t appear in the DSM, but it is a lived experience term created by the community that is both short and sweet.
By: Dani Rodwell
A common question that people ask themselves when they start to explore and learn more about neurodivergence is whether zoning out is a sign of ADHD. That’s both a valid experience and a valid question.
By: NeuroSpark Health
Executive functioning is a set of important skills that enable you to get things done. Simply, the adjective “executive” refers to the quality of being suited to put plans and actions into effect.
By: Dani Rodwell
The community wants to know, is my boyfriend autistic?
By: Vee Martin
If you suspect that demand avoidance, PDA, or “pervasive drive for autonomy” may be impacting your life, NeuroSpark Health would feel privileged to support you.
By: NeuroSpark Health
Recognizing that you’re masking and making the choice to try to remove that mask is a personal decision and a huge step in moving toward a life of authenticity.
By: NeuroSpark Health
Starting your journey of pursuing an autism diagnosis can be overwhelming and it is often difficult to find a knowledgeable and affirming provider. The step-by-step instructions below will guide you to getting the answers you deserve.
By: Dani Rodwell
Autistics and ADHDers often have an extremely tough time with task switching.
By: Dr. Julie Landry
Whether you are self-diagnosed, autistic-exploring, or pursuing an adult autism evaluation, autistic identification can provide many benefits.
By: Dani Rodwell
AuDHD Assessment. AuDHD test. AuDHD test online… and one of my personally-used favorites, “AuDHD reddit.”
By: NeuroSpark Health
By: NeuroSpark Health
The reported autistic male-to-female ratio is 4:1, but that's likely because autism in women is often missed or misdiagnosed. Learn the reasons why and signs to look for.
By: NeuroSpark Health
While there are some things that autism and ADHD have in common, there are quite a few ways that they differ from one another.
By: NeuroSpark Health
Vocal stimming can be a great coping mechanism for autistic people and people with ADHD. Learn about vocal stims and what types there are.
By: NeuroSpark
Autism stimming comes in all forms, but what are the most common? Learn about the types of stimming as well as 10 autism stimming examples.
By: NeuroSpark Health
So, is autism a disability? To be honest, it’s tricky and it deserves a much more nuanced conversation. Yes, the technical answer is that autism is a disability.
By: NeuroSpark Health
Our understanding of autism continues to evolve as we learn more about how autism came to be recognized as a spectrum.
By: Dani Rodwell
Unsure which travel accommodations can be helpful for autistics? NeuroSpark Health’s Dani Rodwell reveals autistic travel accommodations that she uses.
By: NeuroSpark Health
The full impact of autistic masking is not yet publicly understood and continues to be studied, but many actually autistic people have been sharing about their masking experiences, which is incredibly validating for the rest of the community.
By: NeuroSpark Health
NeuroSpark Health shares how autism is diagnosed, autism characteristics, and strategies that can help you work through associated challenges.
By: Dani Rodwell
Are you an autistic person with ADHD who struggles with routines? NeuroSpark Health’s Dani Rodwell reveals how her autism and ADHD affect her routines.
By: Dani Rodwell
Want to know what AMA Draft Resolution 706 really says about ABA? NeuroSpark Health’s Dani Rodwell lays it all out in layman’s terms.
By: NeuroSpark Health
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism often have several overlapping characteristics and frequently co-occur. The overlapping traits and similarities are often misunderstood and misinterpreted by healthcare professionals who do not specialize in adult ADHD and autism.
By: NeuroSpark Health
At-home autism-affirming therapy can be a valuable resource to autistic people in a range of situations. Learn about benefits like specialist access.
By: NeuroSpark Health
"High-functioning" autism in women often goes overlooked. This is more accurately called high-masking. Learn how to identify the traits of high-masking autism.
By: NeuroSpark Health
Autism coaching can be a valuable resource for autistic people looking for guidance and support.
By: NeuroSpark
Many adults can go through life knowing that they have unique traits and experiences, but are realizing later in life that these qualities align with the autism spectrum and begin exploring their neurodivergent identities. Receiving a formal diagnosis is not at all necessary to self-identify as autistic.
By: Neurospark Health
What is stimming? Learn about what stimming is and some of the different forms it can take. Discover how healthy stimming can provide comfort.
By: Dani Rodwell
NeuroSpark’s co-founder Dani Rodwell shares her informal thoughts about what identity, pride, and intersectionality means to her. Dani cares a lot about authenticity, embracing differences, and celebrating uniqueness﹣ especially during Pride﹣and she supports others to do the same.
By: Dr Julie Landry
Did you know that autism has a male-to-female ratio of 4:1? Learn about 5 overlooked signs of autism in women that can lead to being undiagnosed.
By: Vanessa Quinn
NeuroSpark is celebrating Pride by amplifying the voices of neurodivergent LGBTQ+ and gender-diverse community members, like Vanessa Quinn.
By: Dr Julie Landry
June 18 is Autistic Pride Day, which celebrates pride in the autistic community. Learn 4 ways to show your support and pride in the community.
By: Dr Julie Landry
Autism can't be cured or fixed, but it can be affirmed. Learn about 5 life-changing benefits of autism-affirming therapy for adults.
By: Dani Rodwell
I was able to connect the dots on a lot of repetitive behaviors that I have been doing my entire life without even the thought that they were in fact, self-stimulatory. Stims can be very obvious and they can also be very subtle.
By: Dani Rodwell
NeuroSpark cofounder Dani Rodwell shares her experience with autistic burnout and moving away from traditional 9 to 5 work to a more neuroinclusive life.
By: Felíz Felix
NeuroSpark is celebrating Pride by amplifying the voices of neurodivergent LGBTQ+ and gender-diverse community members, like Felíz Felix.
By: Dr Julie Landry
Stimming isn’t only a feature of the ADHD brain; it’s of course very prevalent for autistic individuals as well. People with either brain style can utilize stimming as a way to soothe anxiety, but ADHD stimming has a more narrowed purpose of increasing focus and assisting with impulse control.
By: Dr Julie Landry
Simply put, autism is characterized by differences in the brain. This can include differences in social-communication, information processing, sensory experiences, and restricted or repetitive patterns..
By: Dani Rodwell
I was an unidentified neurodivergent child who was being unfairly held to neurotypical expectations.
By: Jennifer Alumbaugh
NeuroSpark is celebrating Pride by amplifying the voices of neurodivergent LGBTQ+ and gender-diverse community members, like Jennifer Alumbaugh.
By: Fawn Spark
NeuroSpark is celebrating Pride by amplifying the voices of neurodivergent LGBTQ+ and gender-diverse community members, like Fawn Spark.
By: Dr Julie Landry
Studies have shown that autistic people have a higher likelihood of identifying as having a sexual orientation and identity other than heterosexual and cisgender when compared to neurotypical people.
By: Ama Asmad
As someone with multiple marginalized identities, including long-suspected (though still officially undiagnosed) autism, I’ve constantly reflected on what “self-acceptance” means not just in my own life, but as an objective state.
By: Jackie Schuld, ATR-BC, LPC
Why do autistics need therapy? We don’t NEED it, but it sure as hell helps.
By: Dr Julie Landry
Neurodivergent clients are not getting the care that they need or the care they deserve.
By: Dani Rodwell
The month of April has been historically referred to as Autism Awareness Month. The first Autism Awareness month began over 50 years ago and initially started out by the Autism Society as National Autistic Children’s Week. This observance soon expanded to Autism Awareness month.
By: Ben VanHook
The language we use within the disability and neurodivergent community is very important.
By: Lara Schaeffer
I remember from a pretty early age as a girl and young woman being aware that it doesn’t seem very easy being a boy…and I remember thinking about this fairly often.
By: Kate Laine-Toner
The benefits of self-discovery through having a diagnosis (either formal or through self-identification) far outweigh the negatives.
By: Jessica Michaels
My autism and ADHD made it harder to recognize and emotionally deal with the fact that these inequities existed.
By: Tracy Smith
The characteristics of autistic females may be overlooked, their interests in books, animals, or teenage bands thought to be typical interests for their age.