Static Labels & Changing Identities

This week's newsletter is on the shorter side, as it's been a busier week than usual. Which is a perfect opportunity to highlight some of the great work of others.

​Dr. Megan Anna Neff provides an excellent resource to anyone who wants to deepen their understanding of neurodiversity. One particularly useful exploration can be found in her Substack article on neurodivergent identity arcs:

This model is relatable and widely applicable to anybody who wants to make better sense of an identity transition of any kind, their own or another's.

We explore this model in part 3 of Lens Not Label, in the last section of the book (where we go deeper into the theory of it all).

It's at the end for a reason

From the very start of writing Lens Not Label, it was important to us that the book was accessible and practical.

We've read too many books that bore you with the theory first. You slog through it, trying to absorb as much as you need to get to the good stuff you can actually try out.

You wouldn't have a conversation this way. And this is a conversational guide, so we felt we could do things differently. The way we'd want to read a book. Upside-down.

Lens Not Label gives you just enough background to get started. Then takes right into practical and useful ideas that you can apply to your conversations with neurodivergent people in the workplace and beyond. Later, the theory. That's why we saved it for part 3: The Deep End.

We also wrote it so that you can jump around. Because everyone thinks differently. Some of you may want the theory first.

In sum, Choose Your Own Adventure!​

Now onto this week's book updates…

The Calm Before the Writing Storm

With Lens Not Label in the final stages at the publisher and Uncontained temporarily paused (Claire is on holiday and I was onto other work this week), it's a good time to rest and reflect.

That's part of the writing process, too.

I can sense things will be picking back up soon. We've got a podcast episode coming out in early July, plus a survey and research participation opportunity, too.

I've got a cuppa right here and I'm enjoying this moment. If you'd like to join me, feel free to take 60 seconds to clear your mind a bit.

What landed with you?

There were so many different thought trails one could take from Dr Neff's article (linked above). I've read it at different points in time over the past year and in each visit something different has stood out to me.

This time, it was the part about how ND identity arcs mirror the process of becoming anti-racist

And I was again comforted by all the reader suggestions about how to gently and compassionately grapple with all that.

I started this newsletter wanting to share the great work of others. Sometimes that great work is simply a helpful thought that takes us from one moment to the next. And that's definitely worth highlighting.

With care and thought,
Kim, Claire and Nathan