FILM

Amélie

A most visually gorgeous, sweetly poetic and heart rending film. Perhaps you’ve seen it? Whether you have or not, try viewing it through the lens of neurodivergence.

I love this clip of Amélie helping a blind man. It illustrates how those who see more than others so deeply long to share our gift of richer sight saturated in technicolor feeling.

A lovely Medium article Amélie: The Most Relatable Representation of Neurodivergence on Screen connecting the film’s characters with various representations of neurodivergence.

LISTEN

Andrea Vanzo - "Amélie - Comptine d'un autre été, l'après-midi" by Yann Tiersen

I have always experienced music as a physical, instinctive and emotional act. This is my reinterpretation of the famous piece "Amélie - Comptine d'un autre été, l'après-midi" by Yann Tiersen. Hope you enjoy

READ

Matilda by Roald Dahl

While Roald Dahl may not have explicitly intended it, the character of Matilda Wormwood in "Matilda" is often seen as an example of neurodiversity, particularly autism. Many autistic individuals, especially those diagnosed later in life, relate to Matilda's intelligence, isolation, and love of reading, which align with characteristics of giftedness and autism. Her disconnect from her family and their inability to understand her resonates with the experiences of many autistic individuals in neurotypical environments. 

Here's why Matilda is considered neurodiversity-coded:

• Exceptional Intelligence and Special Interests:

  Matilda's advanced reading ability and fascination with books are traits often seen in autistic individuals, sometimes referred to as hyperlexia. 

• Social Isolation and Difficulty Fitting In:

  Her struggles to connect with her family and peers, and her preference for solitary activities like reading, are common experiences for autistic individuals. 

• Direct Communication and Honesty:

  Matilda's straightforward communication style, even when it means pointing out her father's illegal activities, can be seen as a reflection of autistic communication patterns. 

• Resistance to Social Expectations:

  Matilda's refusal to conform to her parents' expectations and her willingness to challenge authority figures can be interpreted as a rejection of societal norms that may not align with her neurodivergent experience. 

• "Autism-Coded" in Adaptations:

  The musical and film adaptations of "Matilda" have been celebrated by the autistic community for portraying these neurodivergent traits, with some viewers seeing Matilda as a representation of themselves. 

For myself, the book was a godsend in my youth. Everything about Matilda—her repulsive family, her love of reading, curiosity about the world, her solitary nature coupled with her fearlessness in standing up to bullies, her mischievous pranks, her leadership in encouraging others to claim their own sovereignty as well as her psychic abilities—were a mirror representation of myself and my own life. The book is but one example of how creative works can float like seeds of a wish flower into the isolated worlds of those who may know no other role models nor depictions of themselves and have only the a contrary world directly around them to contend with. It is an example of how creative acts can be liberating acts, inspiring and empowering individuals to subvert the subverters of their true human spirit.

HUMANITY

Not Normal

Many of us spend our lives twisting ourselves into shapes that are unnatural and uncomfortable in the hopes of gaining acceptance from others. We do this in an effort to live up to their expectations, or avoid conflict. And in doing this, we fail to recognise what we deeply desire for ourselves and what is true within our own heart. If you're trying so hard to fit in, you're missing out on all the benefits of stepping out and really being you - that person that comes out when no one's looking, when your guard is down - that's you. And the good news is, we're all waiting for you to do it. Even though we won't say it out loud, we really want to know what the real you looks like, sounds like, acts like. We want you to do it so we can see just how easy it is for us to do it too. Let it shine!

Filmed in Barrydale, South Africa. Featuring Graham Abbott

View on Vimeo here, YouTube here.

SHORT STORY

“The Temple”

Imagine a low threshold of a temple that requires all who enter—kings and queens as well—to humble themselves with a bow of respect. It is the kind of respect still alive and well in cultures that practice this gesture as a way of acknowledging the divinity within all and appreciation for the opportunity to interact.

Once inside the temple, or house of divinity, the guest may be required to navigate through some narrow passageways before entering into a vast and glorious inner space.

The arrogant and obstinate ones who refuse to humble themselves are naturally barred from such an experience. They may criticize the architect for designing an opening so ridiculously unaccommodating to themselves. They may even do some damage in trying to force this temple to adjust to their own expectations of appropriateness. Still, they will never be fully allowed in to receive the treasures being offered from the inner sanctum.

The most sacred temples are open only to those willing to humble themselves in acknowledgement of the presence of divinity within.

In a predominantly “neurotypical“ world, most neurodivergent people grow accustomed to making daily accommodations out of necessity, just to get by. While neurodivergence tends to be associated with deficiencies, it also comes with great gifts that are often secret and hidden away.

When one is fortunate enough to be invited into the inner world of a neurodivergent’s True Heart, one must appreciate that some adjustments to the standard customs of the neurotypical world are required. At least, if one is to receive the fullness of the gifts being offered.

It can be easy to forget that many of those who appear relatively ‘normal’ on the outside may be having a vastly different internal experience betrayed only by their apparent ‘quirks’. If we can look past the surface appearance of another to see into the inner sanctum of their heart, we may find a precious form of human purity that is relatable beyond all seeming differences. In addition to the many gifts each unique soul has to offer, it is the gift of humbling oneself in order to connect with the true humanity of another that provides us access to the deepest wells of pure human beauty.

WE CAN BE HEROES

Temple Grandin | Different kinds of minds

One of my personal hero’s, Temple Grandin is a professor on the very campus I used to attend pre-school. I’ve long looked to her as an example of one who defied the odds and prevailed far beyond the limitations and low expectation imposed upon her early on by ignorant authority figures considered medical “experts”. It was her devoted mother, her experience living on her aunt’s ranch along with a few influential teachers who showed the patience, care and foresight needed to draw forth her true capabilities which she has continued to build upon throughout her adult life.

A tireless advocate for people who think differently, Grandin makes the case that we need the collaboration of all kinds of minds to solve problems, prevent disasters, and accomplish objectives. Diagnosed with autism and someone who "thinks in pictures", Grandin sees the value in every individual's ability to make a contribution.

………………………………………………

Other presentations by Dr. Grandin I really enjoyed:

Temple Grandin Why the world needs all kinds of minds

Temple Grandin- Educating different kinds of minds

LOCAL ADVENTURE

Meow Wolf Santa Fe - Temple of a Thousand Stories

In a world that often feels fractured and confined, Danaé Brissonnet’s art bursts through the seams with unapologetic color, folklore, and freedom. “The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion,” wrote Albert Camus – a sentiment that could just as easily describe Brissonnet herself. 

Through murals, masks, puppetry, and immersive storytelling, the Quebec-born artist travels the globe – planting portals where imagination becomes resistance and symbolism becomes language. Her latest work, now taking root inside Meow Wolf Santa Fe’s House of Eternal Return, invites viewers into a realm where myths speak, spirits dance, and art dares to liberate. We had a chance to talk with her about her work, this new installation and her creative process.

See the full interview with Brissonnet here on the Meow Wolf website.

Video story about Brissonnet and her process here.

OUTSIDER ART

In the Realms of the Unreal

Henry Darger's epic masterpiece "In the Realms of the Unreal" is a significant work among “Outsider Art”, showcasing his unique blend of art and literature. The novel, which spans 15,145 pages, tells the heroic story of the Vivian Girls, who fight against the Glandelinians, a group of oppressive beings. Darger's work is characterized by its vivid illustrations and complex narratives, often exploring themes of transformation, resilience, and the spiritual journey. His life and work were shrouded in mystery until his death in 1973, but his legacy continues to inspire and intrigue collectors and scholars alike.

Watch the full In the Realms of the Unreal film inspired by Darger’s epic work. The film not only honors his life and legacy of Darger but shines a light on the conditions and general consciousness the time that lacked the capacity to value and support neurodivergent minds such as Darger’s.

A ROSE BY ANOTHER NAME

V.A.S.T.

VAST stands for Variable Attention Stimulus Trait. It’s a new term that describes all people with ‘ADHD’ traits even if not meeting the full criteria for an ADHD diagnosis. Having Variable Attention Stimulus Trait means that you have a brain with unique wiring that can lead to creative thinking, adventurousness, courage, integrity, perseverance and a desire to make a change.

• Do you dive into projects you are passionate about?

• Can you have trouble getting started, unless the deadline is close?

• Are you mystified by people who are happy with a boring 9-5 job, even if it pays really well? 

• Do you consider yourself a deep thinker?

• Are you really persistent?

• Are you a creative problem solver? 

• Do you wish people would just get to the point and hate small talk?

• Does your curiosity lead you to research something intensely?  

• Are you a night owl?  

• Are you more sentimental or moved by beauty than other people?

• Would a beach vacation bore you because you’d prefer to explore?

• Do you often misplace your keys and other items?  

• Do you have a quirky sense of humour?

• Are you a loyal friend?  

• Do you value honesty highly and detest hypocrisy?

Then you may have a VAST mind. It is estimated that about 10% of the population has Variable Attention Stimulus Trait. If you don’t have a VAST mind yourself, you definitely know and admire someone who does.

Learn more about V.A.S.T. here.

ONE HEART, TWO WORLDS

Wolf's Message Documentary

Wolf was a diagnosed schizophrenic and experienced much difficulty in his life due to his mind being “very busy”. Still, his heart was exceptionally large and his spirit so expansive it could not be contained within one realm alone. Wolf was one of those with a foot in two worlds. This moving film tells the amazing story of how Wolf artistically designed and orchestrated his own passing on a spiritual level so the story of his life would be told.

HELPING PAWS

Animal Kinship for the Neurodivergent

Neurodivergent individuals often find solace and connection with both domestic and wild animals due to shared traits like heightened sensitivity, preference for routine and a natural affinity for sensory experiences. In many ways, animals are more relatable for neurodivergent minds.

What animals offer to neurodivergent people in particular:

• Shared Experiences:

  Both neurodivergent people and animals may experience heightened sensory sensitivities, struggle with social conventions, and find comfort in predictable routines and repetitive behaviors. 

• Connection and Comfort:

  Many neurodivergent individuals report a strong connection with animals, finding them calming, non-judgmental, and a source of unconditional love and acceptance. 

• Therapeutic Benefits:

  Interacting with animals can help reduce anxiety, improve emotional regulation, and provide a sense of comfort and companionship for neurodivergent individuals. 

• Special Interests:

  Animals often become a special interest for neurodivergent people, leading to in-depth knowledge and a strong desire to understand their behavior and needs. 

• Double Empathy Problem:

  Some neurodivergent individuals find it easier to empathize with animals or individuals from different cultures than with neurotypical people, a phenomenon related to the "double empathy problem". 

• Nature as Sanctuary:

  The natural world, with its diverse animal life, can be a haven for neurodivergent individuals seeking refuge from social pressures and sensory overload. 

A CHANCE TO SHINE

Bird Boy Sings

When 10-year-old Samuel Henderson decided to share his bird calls at a school talent show this past May, he wasn’t nervous at all. In fact, in his mind, he was playing to a much larger audience than his school auditorium.

“I’ve always wanted to share my bird calls with the world,” Henderson says. “I pretended it was the whole world watching.”

Little did he know that this is exactly what would happen. After a TikTok video of his performance went viral in August, millions of people have now seen and marveled at his incredible impressions. 

Read the full Audubon article here, click image above for CBS story.

PROOF OF CONCEPT

Telepathy Tapes

For centuries, we have tiptoed around the idea of extra-sensory perception—the idea that humans can perceive information and impact their world outside the parameters of our five senses.

The Telepathy Tapes podcast explores such uncharted territories by entering the lives of the most unexpected subjects: non-speaking children with autism. Telepathy is a worldwide phenomenon amongst families of non-speakers. Parents and teachers have expressed this desperately for decades without being believed. Documenting, validating, and corroborating the claims of telepathy in these families is the easy part.  THE TELEPATHY TAPES explores how and why it’s happening.

I started this project as a documentary and still believe that format suits this story best. This story needs to be visual to reach as many people as possible. But to start building an audience and begin to get this critical information into the world, I’m releasing highlights of my four years of work to date - in addition to in-depth, long format interviews with various parents, non-speakers and teachers.

-Ky Dickens, Creator & Host of the Telepathy Tapes podcast

BREAKTHROUGH TECHNOLOGY

SPELLERS

A plastic panel representing numbers, letters and basic symbols, a stick, an open-hearted interpreter. This is breakthrough technology that is opening the door to thousands and soon many more non-verbal autistic voices deemed to be “cognitively disabled” worldwide.

Inspired by the book Underestimated, the new full-length documentary SPELLERS challenges conventional wisdom regarding a group relegated to society’s margins: nonspeakers with autism, who most “experts” believe are cognitively disabled. As the film opening asks, “What if we’ve been wrong…about every single one of them?”…

Find the full film here.

A MOST CHARMING “CONTEMPORARY”

Omar

Mr. Omar King had quite the effect on the Soft White Underbelly community. His antiquated speaking style and gentlemanly charm juxtaposed to his tender age of 24 is intriguing. Everything about him seems so pure, kind and gentle, then he reads his “Confessions of an Orange Crayon” (pure Magical Realism genius!) from his book and you realize he also possesses quite the whimsically naughty mind.

You can find his “schizophrenic dime store” short stories for purchase here.

I also really loved the interview with another “True Heart” Jacob which you may enjoy as well.

SKATE OR DIE

Rodney Mullen

Considered “The Godfather of Skateboarding” for the many innovations he brought to the fledgling sport at the time he entered the scene, Rodney Mullen attributes much of his diverse gifts and challenges to his experience of being autistic.

To Rodney, skateboarding was a little like a series of puzzles – in his mind skate tricks were mathematical challenges, ready to be worked out, deconstructed and built back better. Transfers of balance and force and transitions of energy made sense to him, as someone who had honed their interest in and talent for engineering through kits like Erector Sets, in many ways a precursor to Lego. Rodney picked up skateboarding easily and nurtured his natural talent but he knew from an early age that to progress, he would have to think outside the box and “veer off into my own direction”, as he put it. He succeeded and then some, turning pro at the age of 14 and then also going on to use this drive to do things distinctly differently in a career in engineering.

Full Digital Science article here.

Watch:

Rodney Mullen autism and becoming the godfather of skateboarding

Rodney Mullen's Best Advice from Bones Brigade

Skateboarding is science, art, athleticism, and innovation borne from a desire to not settle for the status quo. Rodney believes that the spirit of scientists is the same as that of skateboarders – both groups are always asking what they can do to take things in a new direction.

The links above are excerpts from the Bones Brigade Autobiography, the personal story of how sheer talent, skill, passion and the belief that anything is possible transformed skateboarding from a fringe pastime to a thrilling action sport filled with extraordinary gravity defying feats as well as a global industry. The Bones Brigade is the team they formed that revolutionized not only their lives, but international pop culture as well.

Rodney’s comeback…

After a major injury left him mostly incapacitated and unable to skate for nearly 12 years, he returned after major risky surgeries and much slow healing with a mesmerizing video collaboration Liminal.

HUMOR

How Hannah Gadsby's High-Functioning Autism Works

Hannah Gadsby on her autism diagnosis: ‘I’ve always been plagued by a sense that I was a little out of whack’ (an extract from Ten Steps to Nanette by Hannah Gadsby)

Examples of how neurodivergent humor reflects our unique cognitive styles: Because of our childlike nature, flat affect and lack of facial expressiveness, our pension for pattern recognition, our tendency to take things literally, our befuddlement at the strange logic and habits of neurotypical people… those on the autism spectrum tend to favor wholesome childlike humor, “Dad jokes” (Dad/kid jokes are the best!), deadpan delivery (my pal Ben is also fond of poo jokes which too few seem to appreciate), bizarre/absurdist/quirky comedy or off-hand references and seemingly random connections that very few will appreciate, pattern disruption humor (in which the expected progression is derailed), amusement at the ridiculousness of social norms, the absurdity of being human in general and humor about how we mistakenly tend toward literalism in our interpretations of what people say. 

CRAZY BEAUTIFUL WORLD

Neurodiversity Gifts: A paradigm shift on the potential of psychosis

What if we’ve had it all backwards? What if the person on the street corner diagnosed with schizophrenia is pouring forth profound maps of the unseen dimension to deaf ears? Join Oryx Cohen, CEO of the National Empowerment Center, and South African Josh, diagnosed bipolar 1 with an MA in Theology, to unpack the gifts of Neurodiversity in an engaging and dynamic webinar. Neurodiversity, as a subset of biodiversity, speaks to how our unique configurations of consciousness, including psychosis, have been created that way for a reason. The National Empowerment Center’s new online course called Neurodiversity Gifts applies the concept of Neurodiversity to the mental health community in a fresh way that moves far beyond biomedical models, and which has been shown to enhance meaning, purpose, and connection amongst the previously-unheard. In this webinar we will take a Heroes’ Journey through diverse yet linked disciplines: depth psychology, quantum physics, anthropology, spirituality, and dream studies to weave the threads of a new but ancient cosmology that fosters the perspective of post-traumatic growth. You’re invited to the roundtable, where we chart the terrain of this mental health paradigm-shift together.

MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR

Chris Tuger - Prolific Creator and “True Heart”

Through our handful of interactions and creative works he gifted me, I was honored to learn some aspects pivotal to Chris’ experience, what is most meaningful and compelling in his life and his work as a multi-faceted artist. While we both have an aversion to labels, I felt a kinship with Chris partially on points having to do with his drive to create, to connect and communicate with others through his creative works, his experience of “neurodivergence” and his soul connection to indigenous cultures partially via his own ancestry. Beyond all points of self-identification, it’s the True Heart of this genuine hue-man that shines the brightest. He and his wife Tamara truly enrich the culture of our Greater World. Enjoy!

How do you feel that communicating your/our neurodivergence to others can potentially aid in connection?

It always comes down to intention. Are you using something as advertising or as an excuse to cover for bad behavior? If you sincerely intend to offer connection without expectation, then you will open beneficial possibilities for others and yourself.  

How do these forms of creative engagement between your mind, your hands and your perceived world(s) nourish you on a most fundamental level? And, how do you feel the offering of these creative works to others is returned to you in a mutually beneficial way?

Making and releasing creative expressions is how I evolve and redefine myself and my relationship with the world. I share the work knowing that it will seed hope and wonder in others with time.  

You and your wife Tamara have been together for decades now, since high school. I’m wondering how the gifts Tammy offered you when you first met and throughout those years have helped you to evolve as the human you were meant to be?

She was the first to offer me unconditional love, and in the over 40 years we’ve been together, that has allowed me to explore what it means to be. 

I was struck by how often your relationships with and to others came up for you in our conversation. From the woman you purchase the woven/tassel work from for your sculptures to your art school teachers and others—how do you feel these relationships that are woven into your life are also woven into your work?

We need others to question and empower our motivations. I tend to encounter people who provide a needed perspective at crucial moments of my life, but you can’t fully comprehend that at the time. 

We both share a soul and ancestral connection to indigenous peoples. How do you feel your own indigenous ancestry and the spirit of indigenous peoples of this or any continent speak to and through you?

I’m glad that you added the qualifier ‘of this or any continent,’ as I tend to feel connections to any tribal/indigenous people through the art that they make. Indigenous expression tends to be about strengthening their culture through stories, be it oral tradition or objects made as vessels for those stories. When a tribal artist makes a work, the primary intention isn’t for fame or fortune (although those can be shadows cast by the work), but to express something beyond themselves. Tribal and indigenous art speaks across manmade borders and through time.  

I mentioned to you previously how most of us have been so genetically and culturally blended we become like orphans, estranged from any root culture. Do you find that connecting with your ancestors in mind, heart and spirit is a grounding element for you? Does it help to light your path in a way?

I am equally empowered by the distant past as well as the distant future. When I was starting in art school, I found that the art world needs definitions and labels to wrap and confine art. I came up with the term ‘Techno Primitive’ in regards to my intended expression. I defined it as, ‘Using cutting edge technologies to relay the most primal expressions and the most primal materials to explore possible futures.’ I’ve always invited paradox and contradiction in my art, as it creates an internal dialogue that the curious sense and interact with. By having one foot planted firmly in the ancient past and another in far future possibilities, I can create a present that is constantly moving. This allows expressions to feel timeless. 

There’s also a shamanic element to both our stories as creators in that we can be and do act as conduits for archetypal energies most often represented by animals. You had a profound life-or-death moment with an attacking male baboon in your early youth that informed the “Mr Jimbers” alter-identity you would later embody. The stories on their own are very interesting though I’m curious how you experience these elements working through and on you— what ‘medicine’ do you feel they offer to both you and others?

These stories challenged me from an early age to never stop evolving. For decades I poured time and energy into the vast and wild garden that is my art (and myself by extension), and now when I intend to shape an expression into a stable form (in whatever medium gives the best voice to that expression), I find that I have to run to catch up with my art as it has expanded beyond the last time I spoke with it. 

How does your insatiable curiosity help to unlock your own levels of awareness about yourself and the world?

Curiosity is the most vital aspect of both being an artist and a human, and both are moving targets in terms of definition. Curiosity taunts and teases what lies in wait just ahead, and when you get there, it opens doors that you couldn’t sense just moments before. 

On this day, what has made you feel most alive?

I wake up every morning thinking about my current project, whatever that it may be at the moment. I realize that every expression I make is another facet that gathers and reflects light and hope. The best place I can be is knee deep in a work with no clear path within easy reach. The work is the work, meaning the process is the reward. 

Find more of Chris’ work on his website vermillioncrush.com