Happy Intersex Awareness Day! 💛💜💛 Take this day to inform yourself on Intersex people, and go follow and support advocates such as @interact_adv @genderfenderbender @valentino_vecchietti @intersexjusticeproject Celebrate #IAD2022 by lifting up intersex voices & demanding intersex human rights. Intersex people do not need to be fixed, but to be respected for who they are. Today on Intersex Awareness Day, we join advocates calling for an end to non-consensual surgeries and for bodily autonomy. #BornBeyondBoxes Infos and graphics from: @interact_adv #Intersex #IntersexRights #LGBTQI #BornBeyondBoxes #lgbtqia #education #IntersexAwarenessDay #illustration #gender #EqualRights

Introduction to Neurodiversity. ♾️🌈 This is a vast topic and one that deserves more than 10 slides to explore. This post is for everyone who is new to the term and who would like to learn more about it. 🌱Post created in collaboration with @standofficial 🌱Text provided by @tehleeljaved 🌱Illustrated by @autism_sketches [ Transcript: Introduction to Neurodiversity. Neuro means related to nerves or nervous system. Diversity means the condition or fact of being different or varied. Term coined by Judy Singer during a socio-political movement in the 90s. It introduced the idea that differently wired brains were a natural variation and should be accepted, accommodated and celebrated. The term was soon picked up by a variety of different neuro-minorities (ADHD/ Tourettes'/ Dyslexia/ Autism and more). Many view it as biodiversity that refers to the variety of life on Earth at all it's levels, from genes to ecosystems. To highlight that different organisms flourish in different environments and not all differences are pathological or need to be "corrected" or fixed. Sometimes all that is needed is a suitable environment. Neurodivergent: a person whose Neurotype is divergent of the majority of society (ADHD, Tourettes' etc). Neurotypical: A person whose Neurotype is typical of the majority of society. Allistic: a person that is not Autistic. Ableism: Ableism is the discrimination and social prejudice against disabled people. Not broken, not damaged, not faulty. Just different. Neurodiversity helps us understand our differences and utilize them for the good of both ourselves and the society. "If you judge a fish by the ability to climb a tree, it will live it's whole life believing that it is stupid" (note: studpid is an ableist slur). Many Neurodivergent people are much like those fish being asked to climb trees every day, without being provided with an option to swim. Many fail and start believing it's their fault, when in reality, all that is needed is the change of the environment. #ActuallyAutistic #autistic #autism #neurodiversity #neurodivergent #adhd #tourettes #AutismSpectrum #advocacy #ocd #MentalHealth #mentalhealthawareness

Today is World Autism Awareness Day, Please read through every slide. Autism Spectrum: The autism spectrum is not linear. Being autistic - like every other experience of life - presents differently from person to person and is therefore a spectrum. Different traits listed: - social differences - interests - repetitions - sensory sensitivities - emotional regulation - perception - executive functioning - other The traits I used are just some of the ones I could have chosen, this acts as a way to illustrate a point and is not supposed to be a strict guideline. The illustration is available free for use and sharing, please tag me or credit me accordingly. Link in my bio! This is a popular representation for the autism spectrum, not my own idea. Stay respectful in the comments * #autismacceptance #autism #autismus #autismcelebration #ActuallyAutistic #neurodiversity #neurodivergent #Illustration #education #advocacy #autismo #autismSpectrum #spectrum #AutismAwarenessMonth #AutismAwareness

Happy Asexual Awareness Week 2022 from me, an aro-ace bean! 🖤🤍💜 I hope you enjoy today's illustration, I had a lot of fun illustrating it! All the best to all my Ace Followers 🖤🤍💜 Asexuality Awareness Week is there to raise awareness, spread information, spark discussion about and campaign for greater understanding and acceptance of asexual-spectrum identities. Asexuality is a sexual orientation where a person experiences little to no sexual attraction to anyone and/ or does not experience desire for sexual contact. Asexuality is an umbrella term. There are some people who may not fit the strictest definition of the word 'asexual' but nonetheless feel their experience aligns with asexuality in some way: demisexual, graysexual and more. #Asexuality #Asexual #queer #lgbtq #AsexualityAwareness #AsexualityAwarenessWeek #AceAwarenessWeek #illustration #lgbtqia+ #loveislove #ActuallyAutistic #autistic #autism

How do you experience empathy? Leave a comment to start a discussion, I'd be interested in learning your experiences! Autism & Empathy, Misconceptions and New Understanding: Based on the data obtained using EQ (emotional quotient), it has been a long standing myth that Autistic People lack empathy, but it is far from the reality. Newer studies show that autistic individuals may have a difficulty in understanding or expressing feelings but share similar levels of empathy as neurotypical individuals, or even more. Autistic authors have also described ''hyperarousal of the empathic system'' or an ''intense empathy'' felt by autistic individuals. Research also shows that neurotypical individuals often fail to recognise the emotional and mental states of autistic individuals or find it hard to judge the emotional expressions of autistic people. It is about time we bust the long-standing myths and start viewing Autism as difference, rather than a deficit. Important Note: A low EQ or low affective or cognitive empathy does not equate to low humanity or being a bad person.. These include: NPD, ASPD, alexythimic people and others. Discussions surrounding low / no empathy often have negative connotations, which create a restricted narrative. This post was created in collaboration with @standofficial Illustrated by @autism_sketches Sources: Edey et al, 2016 Sheppard et al. 2016 Elcheson et al. 2018 p.189 Williams, 1998, p.59 Bird et al. 2010 Baron-Cohen & Wheelwright, 2004 Fletcher-Watson 2020 #ActuallyAutistic #autism #autistic #neurodivergent #neurodiversity #zdhd #npd #aspd #bipolar #education

Tell me about your special interest in the comments! let's share our favourite topics together! - #ActuallyAutistic #autism #autistic #illustration #introvert #autismo #autismus #autismacceptancemonth #AutismAwarenessMonth #neurodiversity

do you experience social exhaustion frequently? I've been working a lot on different projects these last few weeks and still have a lot to catch up to, so here is an older illustration of mine: - How do you experience social exhaustion? - What would you like to tell people around you about your limits and boundaries when it comes to socialising? [ID: Social Exhaustion. Social situations can be very overwhelmed and leave me drained and exhausted. Make sure to respect your limits and take care of yourself. ] If you like my work consider supporting me: KoFi: AutismSketches PayPal: [email protected] Commission open! Free Colouring pages available, #ActuallyAutistic #autism #autistic #introvert #illustration #AutismSpectrum #autismo #MentalHealth

October is AAC Awareness Month! Take the time to learn about AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) and help raise awareness! #aacawarenessmonth #aac #ActuallyAutistic #awareness #education

October is AAC Awareness Month, and in honour of that and to raise awareness I would like to dedicate a post on the topic: AAC is short for Augmentative and Alternative Communication. Communication devices, systems, strategies and tools that replace or support natural speech are known as AAC. AAC examples: Sign Language, emojis, body language, written words, pictures, text communication, electronic devices, voice output devices, and more. Who is AAC for? Many people with different communication difficulties, speech impediments and disorders can benefit from AAC. There are AAC systems like speech-generating devices, books and apps that can be used as an alternative and/ or support for speech. Sources: - assistiveware.com - praacticalaac.org - @drawntoaac #aac #autism #ActuallyAutistic #autismacceptance #aacawarenessmonth #disability #neurodivergent #neurodiversity #education #Illustration #autistic #awareness

I've finally started watching Heartbreak High, I've been wanting to watch it since hearing about it's autistic rep and the fact that Quinni is played by the lovely @chloeshayden !! Have you watched it yet? What are your thoughts? Transcript: Quinny is an autistic character in the new Netflix show Heartbreak High, played by Chloe Hayden, (@chloeshayden ) who is autistic herself. It reminded me a lot of me own experience while showing her in a lovely accepting environment The show and Chloe's acting represented autism so accurately and respectfully I love how it shows the vastness of the autistic experience within just one person. Although it can never capture everyone's individual experience, I think it introduces non-autistic people to a lot of universal experiences for autistic people. Media is the most powerful tool we have to change and educate people and I'm really excited about this representation! I hope it continues in the future. -Amber I love to see all her struggles, but not let her be restricted by them. I love her joy, too I love the fact that Quinnie isn't a prop or there for someone else, she's just there as a character who happens to be autistic I don't really relate to her, but I love t see an autistic person playing an autistic character and showing the struggles and society's often ableist response.. It shows people how different autism can present in individual people #HeartbreakHigh #Netflix #Quinni #quinny #autism #autistic #ActuallyAutistic #happy #queer #Autismus #autismo #tvShow #NetflixSeries

What's your favourite place? Leave a comment ⬇️ I needed to draw something lightheartet and cosy today, so here are 4 illustrations of my favourite places: - a small garden, filled with plants, a cat to keep you company and good weather - a cosy library, where you can enjoy as many books as you'd like curled up on a sofa - an art studio, surrounded with paint, brushes, artworks, a place where you can stay until deep into the night - a little cafe, where you can enjoy a cup of your favourite beverage, a small stop from the bustling city outside. And of course with a warm pastry waiting for you. If you're interested in a custom illustration you can message me through Insta or via [email protected] My commissions are open 🌱 #Illustration #ghibli #coffeeshop #library #books #art #cosy #calm #peaceful #instaart #drawing #garden #plants

I needed to draw something lightheartet and cosy today, so here are 4 illustrations of my favourite places: - a small garden, filled with plants, a cat to keep you company and good weather - a cosy library, where you can enjoy as many books as you'd like curled up on a sofa - an art studio, surrounded with paint, brushes, artworks, a place where you can stay until deep into the night - a little cafe, where you can enjoy a cup of your favourite beverage, a small stop from the bustling city outside. And of course with a warm pastry waiting for you. Those places make me feel the magic of every day life, a sanctuary I can always fall back to. I hope you have a space like that as well. And of course some Ghibli Music is the perfect accompaniment 🌱🍃 #Illustration #ghibli #coffeeshop #library #books #art #cosy #calm #peaceful #instaart #drawing #garden #plants