My child is neurodivergent and I need support

The most powerful way to help your child thrive, strengthen your relationship with your child, and succeed with unschooling a neurodivergent kid is to learn from adults who are like your child.

Disability, Neurodivergence and/or chronic illnesses affect lives in ways society at large doesn’t understand or accommodate. To accommodate your children better, first we need to understand from their perspective what are their challenges. Which is why it is important to hear voices from within the disabled, neurodivergent and chronic illness communities. In our private discussion and support groups, you’ll see commenters self ID as neurodivergent or disabled. This is done to better explain what lived experience and perspective they’re sharing.

There has been a rennaissance of autistic voices online over the past 10 years. So much of the knowledge gathered in this group is because of autistic, adhd, OCD, dyslexic, bipolar, and other neurodivergent adults sharing their experiences–what helped them and what didn’t.

Many families come to this group afraid to allow their child autonomy, drop therapies or coercive schooling, and generally trust their child because they have been told that coercion will correct difference. We believe, and we have learned from autistic adults, that coercion only deepens shame, reinforces masking, and distances neurodivergent folks from the practical solutions, self-acceptance, and community that can help them truly thrive.

There are many groups, resources, and publications to learn from outside this group. Search for “actually autistic” groups, content creators who are also ADHD. Often the best insights can be found on social media, and these resources change frequently.

The documents here summarize what our group has learned but are a small window into a rich world of neurodivergent advocacy that can help you understand your child, and possibly yourself.