Neurodivergent Acceptance: What I Promise to Do

It is time to normalize AuDHD and advocate for all neurodivergent individuals who have been labeled rude, lazy, weird, careless, dramatic, or "too much." One way to do that is to be intentional about how we interact with the people we encounter in life. 

I am okay if you need to rock, talk to yourself, pace, or flap your arms in public to regulate. 

Around me, you can repeat phrases, quote movies, or act out scenes if it makes a situation more comfortable. 

I understand if you need to leave early or cancel at the last minute because you're burned out. 

I'll patiently wait while you search for that word that got lost somewhere in the cluttered and overflowing cabinets of your mind. 

Feel free to wear sweatpants to the formal event if that's what helps you feel comfortable and focused today. 

I'm happy to listen while you rant about your special interest, and I understand that excitement may sometimes mean talking a little louder or a little faster than expected. 

Ask that question to clarify what I meant or what I wanted, or if it was sarcastic. Never be afraid to ask.

There is no judgment if the thing you mastered yesterday suddenly feels impossible today. Executive dysfunction does not care how capable you are. 

I accept that memorizing every fact about My Little Pony is not the same as remembering how to tie your shoes, answer an email, or spell "knife." Skills can be wonderfully and frustratingly spiky. 

Feel free to be the life of the party one moment and a zombie the next if that's what you need. I won't take it personally. 

Please tell me if I said something that upset you. I know you're not being "too sensitive." 

If our conversation about geopolitics suddenly jumps to the history of Pop-Tarts, I get it. 

If you're frozen, overwhelmed, and completely lost, take your time. I'm here. 

I accept these things because I understand they are not character flaws. They are not signs that someone is lazy, rude, careless, dramatic, or difficult. They are often the ways neurodivergent people navigate a world that was not designed with their brains in mind. 

And perhaps the more we understand that, the more room we can make for people to be themselves instead of expecting them to become someone else. 

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