Beany Brain: loving our jumping-bean brains!

Welcome to this issue of the Beany Brain! I hope today’s newsletter will bounce us up as we contemplate the upsides and challenges of being neurodivergent, a little beauty, some creativity, and just general yeehawesomeness.

Table of Contents

• Beany Brain: loving our jumping-bean brains!

  • Welcome to this issue of the Beany Brain! I hope t …

• Ableism

  • Trendy

    • Yeehawesome!

  • Wonderful Wednesday

  • Today’s Beany-full Summary:

Ableism

If you are unable to see the above image, it’s an adult male wearing a black T-shirt and black baseball cap on backwards, and above him in the image it says, “I bring a sort of ‘Everyone has inherent worth regardless of their productivity’ vibe to every conversation that ableists don’t really seem to like.”

What is ableism?

Can I catch it? Is it contagious?

How do I know if I’m an ableist, or how do I spot someone who is?

The Center for Disability Rights says:

The same article goes on to say that because someone has a diagnosis from a medical professional, others automatically assume that that means there’s something wrong. But different doesn’t mean wrong. Nothing needs to be fixed necessarily.

Leah Smith, the author of the article and a disabled person herself, says that as kids, nondisabled people are taught to be extra “nice” to disabled people, but sometimes good intentions can be harmful if it means pitying a disabled person.

Another way that ableism is present is when disabled people’s voices and opinions and presence are not welcomed, or when they are invited to the table, then they are ignored or treated badly.

So now we know what ableism is and what being an ableist means.

Let’s go one step further: There is also internalized ableism.

That’s when you take on ableism from people around you and you end up thinking it yourself and applying it to yourself.

La Concierge Psychologist lists 15 signs that you may have internalized ableism as an autistic person:

Hmmm, quite a few of those definitely resonate with me.

But let’s not beat ourselves up.

If we can extend grace to others, let’s practice extending grace to ourselves too.

How can we start unlearning ableism and internalized ableism? Do we just cross our fingers and hope for the best?

The NEA (National Education Association) has some teachers and retired teachers working on educating people about this.

One former teacher, Mary Binegar, ended up disabled after a car accident and learned firsthand about ableism and lack of access and others’ frustrations with disabled people.

She says, “Often, correcting discriminatory behavior can be as simple as asking what works best for someone…It’s just about being mindful of what we say and do. It’s just about stopping to think.”

As a neurodivergent person, I’m going to remind myself about what I need. I’m going to stop and think. I will practice being mindful of my own needs. What could support me better? And maybe with a few extra spoons that I could gain, I can then support others better too.

Trendy

For anyone with sight issues who needs a transcription, Neurodiversweetie’s post (the above image) says:

Yeah, it’s just a trend. You know, girls and women getting diagnosed at a higher rate than before.

Um, can we just say that “bipolar” and “depressed” are misdiagnoses for girls and women who are autistic. (Unless, of course, you are bipolar and depressed in addition to being autistic.)

Nobody who is autistic “just wants attention,” and that includes men and women both.

In fact, just last week I wrote about RSD (rejection sensitive dysphoria) and how we don’t want people’s eyes on us!

I don’t want attention.

Sure, I want to bring attention to issues around neurodiversity and the challenges we neurodivergent people face. Yes.

The trend I want to see is more understanding, more accommodations, more support.

The trend I want to see is more awareness around hidden disabilities.

The trend I want to see is more access to diagnoses. I hear from some Americans that the cost of getting assessed is prohibitive (in some cases, many thousands of dollars). I hear from some Brits that they are on a waiting list for multiple years for an assessment.

To be fair, there is more discussion around this and more acceptance than there used to be.

But I’m still reading about unfair workplace expectations for those with diagnosed neurodivergencies and unfair treatment from coworkers and bosses—even bullying.

My strong sense of justice that goes along with being autistic is kicking in here. I’m steaming.

While my ADHD is leading me off track from the original focus of this post.

So what’s trendy?

It’s trendy to be neurotypical. Or to expect people to be neurotypical.

It’s trendy to be able to easily make sense of the world around you and to have quick comebacks in every conversation.

Sometimes, it’s trendy to bully.

It’s trendy to be trendy.

Honestly, I don’t think a few extra women getting the diagnoses that they need and deserve is a huge trend.

And it’s certainly not all positive attention.

But maybe those of us with eyes open to injustice can make a dent in trends that are unhealthy.

I could always use a few more spoons in the meantime.

Yeehawesome!

Yeehawesome! is a happy-brain roundup in each issue of Beany Brain. What’s happening that’s good in brain land? What’s bringing me joy?

1. The fun of writing Chinese calligraphy with a brush and black black ink. It’s so satisfying, meditative, and relaxing while also keeping my busy brain busy with a definite hyperfocus. I hope I can take classes (this was just a demo and practice at a Christmas party).

2. Ambitious about Autism is a group in the UK that helps connect autistic young people with companies who are offering paid work experiences/internships specifically to folks who are autistic. Here’s a beautiful video of some young autistic women who’ve gone through the program.

3. I haven’t used this myself but I found Neurodivergent Therapists (a list of US and international therapists who are neurodivergent themselves) and Neurodivergent Practitioners, a similar type of aggregator. I hope this can be useful for someone.

Beany Brownie Points and Extra Bonus Funniness

Wonderful Wednesday

Wonderful Wednesday was a day once a year in college when they would suddenly and surprisingly call off all classes and we’d play all day. The cafeteria provided special fun food and we’d do stuff outside like slip ‘n slides and jello wrestling in sumo suits. This segment of Beany Brain is dedicated to that memory of silliness and fun—no words, just a photo from the week that I’ve taken or found that reminds me to let the joy in. Since Beany Brain is published on Wednesday every week (at least, Wednesday in Japan), I hope you enjoy this Wonderful Wednesday.

Today’s Beany-full Summary:

• Ableism is assuming someone with a diagnosis or disability needs to be fixed in some way.

• Being an ableist is someone who thinks or acts this way.

• Internalized ableism is taking on the ableism from around you and pointing it at yourself.

• There is a trend upward of more females getting diagnosed with neurodivergencies than before. These are necessary for support and understanding, and not just “to get attention.”

• Go forth in Beany joy. What will help you feel yeehawesome this week?

Thank you for reading this installment of Beany Brain! You’re very welcome to hop on by any old time.

If you’re enjoying Beany Brain, please share with a friend or seventeen at www.beanybrain.com. Cheers big time!