Weird Pride Day Is March 4th

March 4th is Weird Pride Day. A celebration of weirdness and diversity. We reject the stigma associated with being weird, and ask people to stand up and say they’re weird and they’re proud.

CHAMPS and the Compliance Classroom

I wrote this in 2016 after witnessing a CHAMPS classroom. My stomach dropped when I saw CHAMPS at our elementary school. “Eyes front, knees front, closed mouth” leapt off the wall and rose from memory. I was in school in the 1970s and 80s. Some teachers were really into table readiness and proper student posture,Continue reading “CHAMPS and the Compliance Classroom”

Neurodiversity in the Classroom

Neurodiversity is an equity imperative and is critical in shifting the culture of teaching and learning.

We offer several series and courses on neurodiversity in the classroom. This is what our community of neurodivergent and disabled people wants to say to educators. This is 100s of hours of free and open professional development, deeply and broadly sourced. Learn how to better treat and teach our loved people.

Additions to Our Philosophy on Tech Ethics, Algorithmic Oppression, Power, Accommodations, Accessibility, Care, Inclusion, Diagnosis, and Reframing

Our philosophy page collects quotes we steer by. They are compasses and stars that align us on our mission. We recently added quotes on tech ethics, algorithmic oppression, powerThe 20th Century political scientist Karl Deutsch said, “Power is the ability not to have to learn.”I quote this statement often, because I think it’s one ofContinue reading “Additions to Our Philosophy on Tech Ethics, Algorithmic Oppression, Power, Accommodations, Accessibility, Care, Inclusion, Diagnosis, and Reframing”

Accommodations: Individualized Responses to Structural Design Problems

The accommodationsAccommodation is fundamentally about not changing the person but changing the environment around the person.Normal Sucks: Author Jonathan Mooney on How Schools Fail Kids with Learning Differences Yet on a programmatic… More for natural human variation should be mutual. @laurenancona Yet on a programmatic basis, disability policy and other social programs remain enmeshed, even atContinue reading Accommodations: Individualized Responses to Structural Design Problems”

September at Stimpunks: Our Blogging, Our Reading, Our Giving

September was busy at StimpunksStimpunk combines “stimming” + “punk” to evoke open and proud stimming, resistance to neurotypicalization, and the DIY culture of punk, disabled, and neurodivergent communities. Instead of hiding our stims, we… More. We made progress on setting up the foundation and the philanthropic LLC. We got a new logo. We helped launchContinue reading “September at Stimpunks: Our Blogging, Our Reading, Our Giving”

FAQ: What does our umbrella logo mean?

It started with my electric wheelchair. The accessory kit for the wheelchair included an umbrella holder. I like shade. I spend a lot of time outside in my chair, and an umbrella is very helpful to sensory regulation. When shopping for an umbrella to go with the chair, I came upon this rainbow one andContinue reading “FAQ: What does our umbrella logo mean?”

Inclusive Meetings, Classes, and Presentations with Access Notes, Bodymind Affirmations, and Small Changes

I’ve noticed a trend among neurodivergentNeurodivergent, sometimes abbreviated as ND, means having a mind that functions in ways which diverge significantly from the dominant societal standards of “normal.”NEURODIVERSITY: SOME BASIC TERMS & DEFINITIONS Neurodivergent is quite… More and disabled speakers, notably Lydia X. Z. Brown and Jonathan Mooney, of prefacing their presentations with an access noteContinue reading “Inclusive Meetings, Classes, and Presentations with Access Notes, Bodymind Affirmations, and Small Changes”

Additions to Our Philosophy on Equity, Learning, and Psychological Safety

Our Philosophy page lists• Progress in human understanding has become increasingly complex and overwhelming.• Checklists help prevent serious but easily avoidable mistakes.• Checklists should be as short as possible, include all essential steps… More acquired phrases that we steer by. They are compasses and stars that align us on our mission. I added several phrasesContinue reading “Additions to Our Philosophy on Equity, Learning, and Psychological Safety”

Try Again: Mercy is Necessary to Learner Safety

“Retesting clearly works, so I give endless chances. If you’re willing to work, there’s always mercy. You can try again.” Craig B. Smith Craig invites students to learn without adding fear to a subject that already creates its own. He recognizes that students who are emotionally distressed—anxious, angry, or depressed—are cognitively impaired and don’t learnContinue reading “Try Again: Mercy is Necessary to Learner Safety”