Neurodiversity Affirming Resources
So you want to learn about neurodiversity, how to be a better ally and lean into supporting your child in an affirming way.
First of all, LOVE IT! We are learning to unpack old stories that we know or grew up with, make space for that part of ourselves and our history and are listening to those with lived experience more. We are always grateful for those who speak up so that we may listen. More advocates are creating resources, providing input into research and helping spread education so that the public can lean into it. Thank you for listening and learning, so that when we know better, we can do better.
Here are some resources from those in the field which are broadly considered affirming, many from neurodivergent authors themselves.
These resources are focused around the autism and ADHD neurotypes, as is Sandhya’s field of focus but wanted to take a moment to acknowledge that neurodivergence includes other types of neurocognitive variations too.
Enjoy!

Books for Children:
- A Day with No Words by Tiffany Hammond
- When My Brain is Messy by Tania Wieclaw
- Just Right for You by Melanie Heyworth
- Why Johnny Doesn’t Flap: NT is okay! by Clay Morton and Gail Morton
- Lulu Is A Rhinoceros by Jason Flom, Allison Flom and Sophie Corrigan
- My Brain is A Race Car by Nell Harris
- The Brain Forest by Sandhya Menon
- Some Brains by Nelly Thomas
- The Rainbow Brain by Sandhya Menon (for the AuDHD brain)
- Wiggles, Stomps and Squeezes Calm My Jitters Down by Lindsay Rowe Parker
- Sometimes Play by Renee Stewart and Nell Harris
- My Wandering Dreaming Mind by Merriam Sarcia Saunders and Tammie Lyon
Older Children
- A Different Sort of Normal by Abigail Balfe
- Square Me Round World by Chelsea Luker
- Brain Building Book by Dr. Liz Angoff
- Welcome to the Autistic Community by Autistic Self-Advocacy Network
- Me and My PDA: A Guide to Pathological Demand Avoidance for Young People by Glòria Durà-Vilà and Tamar Levi
- The Awesome Autistic Go-To Guide: A Practical Handbook for Autistic Teens and Tweens by Yenn Purkis and Tanya Masterman
- The Spectrum Girl’s Survival Guide: How to Grow Up Awesome and Autistic by Siena Castellon
- The Autism-Friendly Guide to Periods by Robyn Steward
- The Amazingly Disorganised Help Dictionary by Georgia Productions
LGBTIQ related
- My Shadow is Pink by Scott Stuart
- My Shadow is Purple by Scott Stuart
- Queerly Autistic: The Ultimate Guide for LGBTQIA+ Teens on the Spectrum by Erin Ekins
- The Autistic Trans Guide to Life by Yenn Purkis and Wenn Lawson
Resources/Books for Adults:
Start Here: A Guide for Parents of Autistic Kids by Autistic Self-Advocacy Network
Understanding the Autistic Mind by Neuroclastic
What Every Autistic Girl Wishes Her Parents Knew by Autism Women’s Network
Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity
The Reason I Jump: One Boy’s Voice from the Silence of Autism by Naoki Higashida
Divergent Mind: Thriving in a World That Wasn’t Designed By You by Jenna Nerenberg
We’re Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation by Eric Garcia
Untypical: How the World Isn’t Built for Autistic People and What We Should All Do About It by Pete Wharmby
Looking after your Autistic Self: A Personalised Self-Care Approach to Managing Your Sensory and Emotional Well-Being by Niamh Garvey
Back from the Brink: Stories of Resilience, Reconciliation, and Reconnection by Tim Chan and Sarah Chan
Neurotribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity by Steve Silberman
Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism by Dr Barry Prizant
“Learning Outside The Lines: Two Ivy League Students With Learning Disabilities And ADHD Give You The Tools For Academic Success and Educational Revolution” Johnathan Mooney
Avoiding Anxiety in Autistic Children: A Guide for Autistic Wellbeing by Dr. Luke Beardon (ND Author)
Unconditional Parenting: Moving from Rewards and Punishments to Love and Reason by Alfie Kohn
The Parents’ Practical Guide to Resilience for Children Aged 2-10 on the Autism Spectrum: Two to 10 years by Yenn Purkis and Emma Goodall
Talking with Your Child about Their Autism Diagnosis: A Guide for Parents by Raelene Dundon
Self-Reg: How to Help Your Child (and You) Break the Stress Cycle and Successfully Engage with Life by Dr Stuart Shanker
Neurodivergent Narwhals (a whole host of resources for autistic children with adorable infographics)
Different, Not Less by Chloe Hayden
We’re All Neurodiverse by Sonny Jane Wise
Podcasts/Video

The Neurodivergent Woman by Monique Mitchelson and Michelle Livock
Two Sides of the Spectrum by Meg Proctor
Exploring Neurodiversity with Adina Levy by Play Learn Chat The Deep Dive by Michael Coles
How to ADHD by Jessica McCabe
ADHD for Smart Ass Women by Tracey Otsuka
Things it’s ok to ask for when you have ADHD – Webinar by Ellie Middleton
Connor De Wolfe‘s Tik Tok
Yo Samdy Sam: YouTube channel on Autism
Different not Less: Youtube Channel by Chloe Hayden
Purple Ella: YouTube Channel on Autism and Disability
Amazing Kids: Autism Spectrum Condition by Amazing Things Project
Let’s Talk About ADHD by National Centre for Mental Health
What’s It Like to Have ADHD by ADHDVoices
Welcome to the Autistic Community by Autistic Self-Advocacy Network
Talking to my Children About Autism by Reframing Autism
Clinical Skill Resources
The Neurodivergent Friendly Workbook of DBT Skills by Sonny Jane Wise
Neurodivergence Skills Workbook for Autism and ADHD by Monique Mitchelson and Jennifer Kemp
Helping Autistic Teens to Manage Anxiety: Strategies and Worksheets using ACT, CBT and DBT skills by Theresa Kidd
Is This Autism? A Guide for Clinicians and Everyone Else by Donna Henderson, Sarah Wayland & Jamell White
The Explosive Child by Dr Ross Greene
Beyond/Behaviour by Mona Delahooke
What’s Up Flip Chart by Sandhya Menon
The Amazing Autistic Brain Cards by Glòria Durà-Vilà
Ready Rocket Resources by Tash O’Connor and Bella Martini
Body Signals by St Luke’s Resources
Ready to Learn (Interoception kit) by Government of South Australia
The Interoception Curriculum by Kelly Mahler
Standing up for Myself Book for Neurodivergent Kids and Teens (9-15 years)
Sensory Certifcate for SLPs by Jessie Ginsburg
Professional Certificate in Neurodiversification of Clinical and Educational Practice by Ausome Training
On Being a Neurodiversity Affirming Therapist by Rachel Dorsey
Konnect Kids Social Curriculum by AuSome Training
Autism Level Up! for Energy Regulation resources
Spoon Thieves by Nurture Clinical Psychology Neurodivergent Me: Cards to Explore your Neurodivergent Identity by Nurture Clinical Psychology
Parent Workshops
Autism and ADHD Parent Education by Sandhya Menon
Collection of Webinars on Autism by AuSome Training
Collection of Webinars on Autism, Masking, Anxiety and PDA by Kristy Forbes
Understanding the ND Affirming Paradigm by Adina Levy
Self-Reg by Dr Stuart Shanker
At Peace Parents (Workshops for PDA kids) by Dr Casey Ehrlich
Autism and Neurodiversity Masterclass by Autism Camp, a collection of autistic voices around the world
If you’re looking for lived experience voices, here are some great Facebook groups to listen to.
- Autism Inclusivity
- Ask Me, I’m Autistic
- Ask Me, I’m an AAC user
- Meaningful Speech (for those who communicate via echolalia, or are gestalt language processors)
- The B Team
- Parenting Neurodivergent Kids: A Neuro-affirming Approach
And Instagram Pages:
- Kristy Forbes (autistic/PDAer parent to autistic/PDA children, educator)
- Allison Davies (autistic music therapist)
- Sandhya Menon (AuDHD Psychologist)
- Chloe Hayden (AuDHD actor/advocate)
- Lived Experience Educator (Queer/AuDHD/bipolar educator/advocate)
- Neurodivergent Researcher (AuDHD researcher)
- Yellow Ladybugs (Organisation that helps female-identifying autistics have their voices heard)
- Neurowild (AuDHD speech therapist/illustrator, great graphics)
- Agony Autie
- Neurodivergent Rebel (Queer/Trans/AuDHD author)
- Nigh.Functioning.Autism (AuDHD/Epilepsy/Black voice/AAC)
- ND Narratives (AuDHD/Black voice/Somatic attachment practitioner)
- Martin Balsby (Gay/AuDHD/Tourettes voice)
- ND Wellness (AuDHD therapist)
- Ella Willis (Queer/AuDHD illustrator)
- Adina Levy (AuDHD speech therapist)
- Tiana Andrews (AuDHD/Dyslexic/Dyspraxic OT)
- ActuallyAutisticTikToks (collection of autistic-created TikToks, great way to find creators)
- Ceri Sandford (ADHDer-, ADHD coach)
Thank you for listening to the neurodivergent voice. Should there be a resource that you’d like to add to the list that you’ve found helpful, please do email me at smenon@onwardsandupwardspsychology.com.au.