Neurodivergent Narratives - Writing Prompt #22

“No need to force yourself to do something the “right way” if it’s not your right way. Your job is to honor your process.” —Andi Cumbo

Right now, I’m about to take the stage at an autism conference in Oregon where I’m speaking to therapists and educators on creating content that is rooted in Autistic Culture. Tomorrow I’m on my way to North Carolina, and I couldn’t be more excited. Not only do I get to see my sister again—she flew all the way to the UK to watch my TEDx talk in Tamworth—but I get to do an encore performance at TEDx NC State, right in her backyard. But what makes this trip even more special is that my neurodivergent nephew will be in the audience. What he doesn’t know is that I secretly dedicated this talk to him.

It’s a full-circle moment for me, because like so many of us who were late diagnosed, I can’t help but wonder how things might have been different if I’d known sooner. If I’d understood why I felt the way I did, why the world seemed so overwhelming, why I struggled with things that came easily to everyone else. When I was 13, I was self-harming, battling an eating disorder, and filled with self-hate. I didn’t have the language for what I was experiencing, and I didn’t have anyone who truly got it.

That’s why this TEDx talk means so much to me—because I want to be the person I needed at his age. I want him to know that he’s not broken, that he doesn’t need fixing, and that being neurodivergent is something to be celebrated, not hidden.

Writing has been one of the most powerful ways for me to process all of this. There’s something deeply meaningful about putting words out into the world that your younger self would have needed to hear. Writing can be healing—not just for us, but for those who come after us.

Now the a lot of the work for writing Adult Autism Home Assessment is out of the way, my next big book project is with YOU! We are just 6 months away from opening up submissions for our anthology of listener voices. I have already seen some awesome submissions. In preparation for it, I have been reading this awesome Irish anthology. If you are thinking about what you might submit, check out Wired Our Own Way: An Anthology of Irish Autistic Voices for some inspiration.

If you’ve ever felt the pull to revisit those formative years through storytelling, Neurodivergent Narratives is the perfect place to explore that. Our writing circle offers space to process, to reflect, and to create something that speaks to both past and future versions of ourselves.

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