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Welcome back to part two of what to look for in a good resource! There are some amazing resources for Neurodivergent people and to support Neurotypical people looking to be better allies. If you’re just starting out learning about Neurodivergence and are struggling to see the woods from the trees where resources are concerned, here are three ways to spot a good resource. 

Nothing About Us Without Us

The battle cry of the Disability Rights Movement is as true now as the day it was first said. When looking for resources look at who is writing, what voices are presented, who is telling the story. Ask yourself does the resource look at Neurodivergence as a tragedy to be fixed or corrected, or does it describe the difficulties of being Neurodivergent in an empathetic and supporting manner? This is where lived experience can be useful, if a resource is written with community input. Whether you are looking at a how to guide or an academic paper, the way in which the community is engaged with, is a good clue to how good the resource is.    

Neurodivergent affirming 

Now I can hear some of you saying but such and such Neurodivergent person’s resource uses deficit model language. The Neurodivergent community is a large part of the 8 billion people on the planet and we are not carbon copies of each other. Some people do write about models and ways of being that I would argue are outdated, as some Neurotypical people do. When looking for a good resource look for Neurodivergent affirming language. The language doesn’t even need to subscribe to the Neurodiversity paradigm. Look for resources that support people to exist as their authentic selves, with no moral judgement over diagnosis or traits. A good example of this is the ubiquitous advice given to job candidates: make eye contact and smile - I have met many Autistic people who have taken umbrage with this advice. Look for resources that work with Neurodivergent traits rather than demanding masking or forcing Neuronormativity.     

Grounded in Support Rather than Change 

This leads nicely into my final recommendation - Support not Change. Articles and guides that talk about how to manage traits and support you to exist in an overstimulating world without promoting Neuronormativity are music to my ears. When looking for a good resource, keep an eye out for advice on changing environments and situations rather than changing people. This is particularly true when looking at sensory sensitivity; look for resources that present ways to soften the sensory input - avoid those that suggest forced exposure is the only solution. I have read a lot of resources for young people and a great example of everything I’ve talked about looking for in resources can be found at Autism Understood which offers advice without judgement. 

If you are interested in Neurodivergent affirming resources have a look at our new resources library showcasing good resources from the wider community. If you are struggling to create Neurodivergent affirming resources for your organisation, get in touch to discuss how we could help you via our contact page.