Stimpunks Foundation

Mutual Aid and Human-Centered Learning for Neurodivergent and Disabled People

Author: Ryan Boren

  • The Road to Neuronormative Domination: Thorndike won, Dewey lost. Skinner won, Papert lost.

    The Road to Neuronormative Domination: Thorndike won, Dewey lost. Skinner won, Papert lost.

    …one cannot understand the history of education in the United States during the twentieth century unless one realizes that Edward L. Thorndike won and John Dewey lost. Ellen Condliffe Lagemann Thorndike won, and Dewey lost. I don’t think you can understand the history of education technology without realizing this either. And I’d propose an addendum…

  • Tapping the Radical Roots of Peer Support

    Tapping the Radical Roots of Peer Support

    *Disclaimer: this essay is only intended to represent my own opinions and experiences, and is not reflective of any of my past/present employers – nor is it intended to speak as a monolith on behalf of peer support workers, autistic people, or any other mentioned communities/identities/political movements. I am a queer/trans/autistic young adult, currently working…

  • Latest Terms in the Stimpunks Glossary

    Our glossary grows. It’s at 320 terms. Here are the latest 21 terms added.

  • Can we trust?

    Can we trust?

    Can we trust? Can we trust the space you offer?Can we trust the words you utter? Can we trust the time decided?Can we trust the form provided? Can we trust your singular view?Can we trust the treatment we receive from you? Can we trust the way you perceive?Can we trust you to sit, listen and receive? Can we…

  • A Short Rumination on Our Journey to Neuroqueer Learning Spaces

    A Short Rumination on Our Journey to Neuroqueer Learning Spaces

    We fought for the right to learn differently, and lost. The journey was instructive. We found ourselves along the way. We found community among other neurodivergent and disabled people. We found vocabulary, vocabulary like “neurodiversity”, “neurodivergent”, “neurotypical”, and, more recently, “neuroqueer”. …intentionally liberating oneself from the culturally ingrained and enforced performance of neuronormativity can be…

  • Concision and Why Sheets

    Concision and Why Sheets

    Chomsky uses the term concision to discuss the way mainstream media outlets respond to power. Having concision means that ideas which align with forces of power in our society need no explanation and those that do not align with those forces of power need significant explanation. This allows the narrative of the “state religion” to…

  • The Path to Equity Begins with Neuroqueer-Sensitive Learning Spaces

    The Path to Equity Begins with Neuroqueer-Sensitive Learning Spaces

    If you tell me where or how to sit, I’m unlikely to do either. If you tell me that I can’t leave a room, I will leave – absent serious restraints – and I won’t come back. If you cover up the windows, or if there are no windows, I will leave and not come…

  • Sensate Sensory Tools Student Start-Up Discovery

    Sensate is a student lead start-up specializing in providing solutions for neurodivergence and anxiety. Creating discreet fidget tools that attach to workplace items. Our products are designed to ease your workspace experience, offering an outlet for fidgeting that promotes concentration and relaxation. Sensate Student Start-Up Discovery We recently met the folks at Sensate Sensory Tools…

  • Call for Submissions: Neuroqueer Learning Spaces

    Call for Submissions: Neuroqueer Learning Spaces

    Open Invite: Neuroqueer Learning Spaces We’re requesting community writing and art about neuroqueering education, play, and learning spaces. Ryan of Stimpunks and Helen of Autistic Realms are collaborating on a project. Any community work will be shared on the Stimpunks website and some work may be included in our chapter submission for Nick Walker’s new…

  • Creating Cavendish Space on a Budget

    Creating Cavendish Space on a Budget

    Cavendish Space: psychologically and sensory safe spaces suited to zone work, flow states, intermittent collaboration, and collaborative niche construction. Cavendish Space – Stimpunks Foundation Our advocacy for Cavendish Space and caves, campfires, and watering holes, prompts questions of how to create Cavendish Space on a budget and in one room. A book we highly recommend…

  • Contextual Computing, Workflow Thinking, and the Future of Text

    Contextual Computing, Workflow Thinking, and the Future of Text

    I consider text to be an indispensable part of our societies, no matter where situated on our planet. The potential permanence of the written record is vital to our recall of the past and to our ability to communicate with the future. Vinton G. Cerf, Foreword, The Future of Text We need to become better…

  • Seven Principles for Valuing, Prioritising and Enabling Autistic Children’s Autonomy

    Seven Principles for Valuing, Prioritising and Enabling Autistic Children’s Autonomy

    ““Shut your face!”; Prioritising, Valuing and Enabling Autistic Children’s Autonomy.” by Play Radical is excellent. It’s well-organized, well-paced, and nicely illustrated. I really like the “Seven Principles for Valuing, Prioritising and Enabling Autistic Children’s Autonomy”. These are spot on. Seven Principles for Valuing, Prioritising and Enabling Autistic Children’s Autonomy A Playful Manifesto Also from Play…