Resource Oasis: Further Exploration & Support
This Resource Oasis offers starting points for further learning, finding community, and seeking professional support. This list is not exhaustive, and we encourage you to do your own research to find what best suits your individual needs. Inclusion here does not constitute a formal endorsement of every aspect of every organization, but these are generally recognized as valuable resources in the neurodiversity space.
1. Reputable Organizations & Advocacy Groups
Many of these organizations have regional or national chapters. Search for "[Organization Name] [Your Country/Region]" for local resources.
- For Autism:
- Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN): autisticadvocacy.org (Focus on self-advocacy, rights, policy)
- National Autistic Society (UK): autism.org.uk (Information, support, services)
- Search tip: "Autistic-led organizations"
- For ADHD:
- For Specific Learning Differences (SpLDs):
- International Dyslexia Association (IDA): dyslexiaida.org
- Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA): ldaamerica.org
- Dyspraxia Foundation (UK): dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk (Search for DCD resources in your region)
- Search tip: "[Dyscalculia/Dysgraphia/etc.] association [your country/region]"
- For General Neurodiversity:
- Neurodiversity Hub: neurodiversityhub.com (Resources for students, employers, individuals)
2. Informative Websites & Online Communities
- ADDitude Magazine: additudemag.com (Practical strategies, information for ADHD & related conditions)
- Understood.org: understood.org (Focus on learning and thinking differences)
- The Mighty (Neurodiversity Section): themighty.com/topic/neurodiversity/ (Community stories)
- NeuroClastic: neuroclastic.com (Autistic-led perspectives, advocacy)
- Consider searching for blogs and forums using keywords like #ActuallyAutistic, #ADHDCommunity, #NeurodivergentVoices.
3. Recommended Reading (Books - Examples)
This is a small selection; many wonderful books exist. Look for authors who are neurodivergent themselves or are recognized for their affirming perspectives.
- NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity by Steve Silberman
- Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity by Devon Price, PhD
- Divergent Mind: Thriving in a World That Wasn't Designed for You by Jenara Nerenberg
- The Autistic Brain: Helping Different Kinds of Minds Succeed by Temple Grandin
- Driven to Distraction (Revised): Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder by Edward M. Hallowell, M.D., and John J. Ratey, M.D.
- The Dyslexic Advantage: Unlocking the Hidden Potential of the Dyslexic Brain by Brock L. Eide M.D. M.A. and Fernette F. Eide M.D.
4. Podcasts & Videos (Examples)
Search podcast platforms and YouTube for these and other creators focusing on neurodiversity.
- The Neurodiversity Podcast
- ADHD Rewired
- How to ADHD (YouTube Channel)
- As Lolis Mentally (YouTube Channel - formerly Aspergers from the Inside)
5. Finding Professional Support
If you are seeking diagnosis or ongoing support, here are types of professionals who may help:
- Psychologists/Neuropsychologists: For diagnostic assessments (Autism, ADHD, SpLDs), therapy.
- Psychiatrists: For diagnostic assessment, medication management.
- Developmental Pediatricians/Neurologists: Often involved in diagnosis for children, sometimes adults.
- Occupational Therapists (OTs): For sensory processing, DCD/Dyspraxia, fine motor skills, daily living skills, interoception.
- Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs): For communication differences, social communication, verbal dyspraxia.
- Specialist Teachers/Educational Therapists: For targeted support with SpLDs.
- Neurodiversity-Affirming Therapists/Counselors/Coaches: For mental health, coping strategies, unmasking.
How to Find Them:
- Referrals from your primary care physician.
- Directories from national/local neurodiversity organizations (see section 1).
- Online therapist directories (e.g., Psychology Today - often filterable by specialty).
- Asking in trusted neurodivergent communities for *types* of providers or experiences (be mindful of privacy).
Questions to Ask Potential Professionals:
- "What is your experience working with [autistic adults / adults with ADHD / adults with dyslexia, etc.]?"
- "What is your approach to neurodiversity? Do you follow a medical model or a social/affirming model?"
- "What does your assessment process involve, and what is the approximate cost/timeline?"
- "Do you have experience with adult diagnosis and the nuances involved (e.g., masking)?"
6. Building Community
Connecting with other neurodivergent individuals can be incredibly validating. (See Page 152 for more on this).
- Search social media platforms (Facebook groups, Reddit subreddits like r/autism, r/ADHD, r/Neurodiversity).
- Check Meetup.com for local groups.
- Explore online forums dedicated to specific neurotypes or interests.