Writing
Browse by topic
Choose a topic to find all my writing on it, or scroll down for my latest posts.
Burnout
Understanding Autistic burnout, noticing it early and finding gentle ways towards rest and recovery.
Education
Neuro-affirming ideas for schools, classrooms and learning spaces where Autistic young people can thrive.
Family
Support for Autistic families, parents and carers, rooted in connection rather than compliance.
Neurodiversity
Writing on the neurodiversity paradigm, neuro-affirming practice and building belonging together.
PMLD
Relational, neuro-affirming practice with people with profound and multiple learning disabilities.
More Realms
My longer, academic-adjacent writing on neuroqueer theory, monotropism, posthumanism and other ways of being.
Latest writing
-
Autistic Burnout – Supporting Young People At Home & School
Autistic burnout in young people is real—and recovery starts with understanding. This post offers neuroaffirming ways to spot the signs,…
·
-
Monotropic Interests and Looping Thoughts
The theory of monotropism was developed by Murray, Lawson and Lesser in their article, Attention, monotropism and the diagnostic criteria…
-
Map of Monotropic Experiences
The Map of Monotropic Experiences now has a home of its own. Visit monotropicmap.org to explore each of the twenty…
-
The Double Empathy Problem is DEEP
“The growing cracks in the thin veneer of our “civilised” economic and social operating model are impossible to ignore”, Jorn…
-
Top 5 Neurodivergent-Informed Strategies
Top 5 Neurodivergent-Informed Strategies By Helen Edgar, Autistic Realms, June 2024. 1. Be Kind Take time to listen and be…
-
Autistic Community: Connections and Becoming
Everyone seeks connection in some way or another. Connections may look different for autistic people. In line with the motto…
·
-
Monotropism, Autism & OCD
Exploring similarities and differences between Autistic and OCD monotropic flow states. Can attention tunnels freeze, and thoughts get stuck?
·
-
Monotropism Questionnaire & Inner Autistic/ADHD Experiences
Post first published 28th July 2023 Over the past few weeks, there has been a sudden surge of interest in…
-
Penguin Pebbling: An Autistic Love Language
Penguin Pebbling is a neurodivergent way of showing you care, like sharing a meme or twig or pretty stone to…
·
-
Awe, Wonder and Monotropic Attention in Neuroqueer Learning Spaces
If Helen De Cruz designed a learning space, what would it look like? Helen Edgar follows wonder and awe through…
-
Masking, Internalised Ableism and Imposter Syndrome: What We Do to Survive, and What We Are Taught to Believe
Masking is what we do to survive. Internalised ableism is what we are taught to believe. Imposter syndrome asks whether…
-
Free Resources for Autistic Adults: The Thriving Autistic Discovery Programme
Free, self-paced videos, guides and tools for recently identified Autistic adults, from the Thriving Autistic Discovery Programme. What it is,…
-
Bagpuss: Lost Things. Holding Space for Emergence & Joy
Exploring Bagpuss through a neurodivergent lens: monotropism, slow attention, and the quiet beauty of restoring meaning to lost and overlooked…
·
-
The Neurodivergent Community Standing in Solidarity Against Racism and Ableism
Solidarity Against Racism & Ableism in the Autistic & Neurodivergent Community
·
-
Autistic Mental Health Conference 2026: Ecosystemic Causes of Mental Health Issues
Autistic Mental Health Conference 2026: Ecosystemic Causes of Mental Health Issues
·
-
Plain Language:
A plain-language guide to monotropism, wonder and awe — what happens when Autistic and ADHD attention is given space to…
-
The Constellation of Intensities: Neuroqueering the Spiky Profile
Why even the “spiky profile” still measures us against a grid — and what a constellation of intensities offers instead.
·
-
Stimpunks Solidarity and Otters
A reflection from Stimpunks Solidarity Sesh on otters, monotropism, and co-regulation, and what watching them together each week teaches us
-
Little Fluffy Clouds: An Invitation To Play
Multisensory Play Ideas: Little Fluffy Clouds Sensory Session
-
Neurodiversity Infinity Symbol: History, Time, and Collective Becoming
The neurodiversity infinity symbol has a story worth knowing. Rotate it and it becomes an hourglass holding time, community, and…
-
Stimming, Glimmers & Solidarity: Celebrating Autistic Pride Together
What is Autistic Pride Day? Explore its history, stimming, and glimmers with NeuroHub Community, Stimpunks & Autistic Realms.
·
-
Penguin Pebbling: Theory, Practice and the Five Neurodivergent Love Locutions — A Guide for Practitioners
Penguin Pebbling is a low-demand, neurodiversity-affirming card game built around the Five Neurodivergent Love Locutions — five relational modes natural…
·
-
Five Autistic Love Locutions: Showing Care And Love In Different Ways
Autistic people have always had our own ways of showing love. Discover the five Autistic love locutions — infodumping, parallel…
·
-
Penguin Pebbling: A Game of Creating Belonging, Building Connection and Understanding Autistic Identity
Penguin Pebbling: A Game of Creating Belonging, Building Connection and Understanding Autistic Identity
·
-
Why Attachment Theory Fails Autistic People, and What Might Work Instead
If you have spent any time navigating schools, social care, or therapy as an Autistic person or supporting a loved…
·
-
Building Neurodivergent-Affirming Cultures of Regulation: Reflections from a Cavendish Space Workshop
What does regulation really mean for neurodivergent people? Helen Edgar reflects on Cavendish Space, co-regulation, and building cultures where our…
-
No Space Is Neutral: Safe Spaces, Imagined Neutrality, and the Work of Belonging
: No space is neutral. Exploring minority stress, the Double Empathy Problem, and what it really takes to build safer,…
-
Being With People & The Value of Intensive Interaction
Helen Edgar draws on twenty years of practice alongside people with PMLD to explore why Intensive Interaction — when practised…
·
-
Neuro-Affirming Practice Is Not a Framework. It’s a Way of Being.
Neuro-affirming practice isn’t a framework or a checklist. It’s about being human — kind, compassionate, and truly present with people,…
-
What Would A Neuroqueer Pedagogy Be?
“What would a neuroqueer pedagogy be?” By Ombre Tarragnat (English translation with permission from Genre en Cours article Feb 2026)
-
Intensive Interaction as Neuro-Affirming Relational Practice
Intensive Interaction isn’t about “fixing” or prompting communication. It’s about meeting someone where they are—through connection, attunement, and shared flow.…
·
-
Weird Pride in a Hostile World
Weird Pride is a practice of becoming. A refusal to shrink. A quiet, feral devotion to staying alive as ourselves…
·
-
The Autistic Rhizome: Community, Liminal Spaces & Belonging
Autistic belonging grows through community, from liminal spaces, not conformity.
·
-
Re-Storying Autism
Re-Storying Autism A Framework For Families, Parents, And Carers: Reimagining Support For Autistic People. #1 Amazon Bestseller
·
-
Re-Storying Autism: A New Course & Workbook Now Available!
Re-Storying Autism: A Framework for Families, Parents and Carers Reimagining Support For Autistic People Neurodiversity Affirming Neurodivergent Competent
·
-
Monotropism, Limerence And Autistic ADHD Experiences
Limerence in Autistic and ADHD people may be shaped by monotropism, a natural tendency toward deep focus and emotional intensity.…
-
Beyond “Complex Needs”: Neuro-Affirming, Relational Practice with Children with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities
A neuro-affirming, relational approach to supporting children with profound and multiple learning disabilities, centred on safety, communication, and being-with.
·
-
Stimming as Embodied Sensory Language
Reframing stimming beyond “behaviour” as embodied sensory language, monotropic flow, and neuroqueer, interdependent connection with the world.
·
-
Free 2025 Advent Calendar & Neuro-Affirming Autism Resources
Free 2025 Advent Calendar & Neuro-Affirming Autism Resources
·
-
What schools and parents need to understand about supporting Autistic and neurodivergent children
What schools and parents need to understand about supporting Autistic and neurodivergent children
-
Join NeuroHub Community Space
Join me & David Gray-Hammond in our new community NeuroHub. Access to exclusive webinars, resources and space to connect with…
·
-
The Neuronormative Paradigm: Naming The Systems That Harm
The Neuronormative Paradigm, conceptualised by Nick Walker, names the systems that define and enforce what society considers normal. This exploration…
-
Monotropism: A Poem
A poem about monotropism for children, young people, families and educators to open conversations about Autistic & ADHD experiences.
-
Understanding the Double Empathy Problem: A Guide For Autistic People & Families
FREE Neuro-Affirming Communication & Sensory Passport + Training Support Autistic people through better understanding of communication, sensory needs & double…
·
-
Presuming Competence: A Neuro-Affirming Reframe To Support Autistic People
When “presume competence” is applied without a neuro-affirming lens, it can become a harmful, ableist expectation
·
-
Ethics & Values of Autistic Realms
Autistic Realms is grounded in values of authenticity, autonomy, and relational care for the human rights of Autistic or otherwise…
·
-
Inclusion Needs Recognition, Not Erasure: A Neurodiversity-Affirming Approach
When headlines claim that autism and ADHD are “invented labels,” it’s more than rhetoric, it’s erasure. A explores why removing…
-
Χάρτης Μονοτροπικών Εμπειριών
ThalloMinds has kindly translated The Map of Monotropic Experiences (Χάρτης Μονοτροπικών Εμπειριών) that I created in collaboration with Stimpunks! Huge…
-
Why “Interest-Led” Isn’t Enough: Embracing Monotropism & Neuro-Affirming Practice
Many approaches claim to be “interest-led,” but true neuroaffirming practice goes deeper. Being monotropism-informed means honouring Autistic attention, autonomy, and…
-
Navigating PANS/PANDAS & Neurodivergence
Our new PANS/PANDAS info-gathering templates help families, schools & clinicians understand the overlap between neurodivergence and PANS/PANDAS.
-
Shared Flow: Turning Attention To Support Children Together
Discover Dinah Murray’s concept of co-tropicality—turning our attention together. Explore how joining Autistic children in their flow builds trust, co-regulation,…
-
Protecting the Meaning of Neuro-Affirming Practice
Discover what genuine neuro-affirming practice looks like — beyond tokenism and “neurodiversity-lite.” Explore how to protect the heart of the…
-
Discovering Belonging: Creating Neuro-Affirming Animations with Thriving Autistic
Discovering Belonging: Neuro-Affirming Animations with Thriving Autistic. Celebrate Autistic identity through the Discovery Programme and new animations that explore belonging,…
·
-
Being Autistic shapes grief: Explore unique paths through loss and affirming support
Explore how Autistic people experience grief differently and discover affirming resources, support, and strategies for navigating loss with compassion.
·
-
Reflections on the Autistic Mental Health Conference 2025
Reflections On The Autistic Mental Health Conference. An Interview between David Gray-Hammond & Helen Edgar
·
-
Monotropism vs Polytropism: ADHD, AuDHD & Autistic Attention
Explore how monotropism shapes Autistic, ADHD, and AuDHD attention. Dispelling myths, uncovering research and exploring why neuroaffirming support matters for…
-
SPACE-TIME: A Monotropism Informed Framework for Autistic People
SPACE-TIME: A Monotropism-Informed Neuroaffirming Framework for Autistic People
-
Building Connections: Teachers Starting the Year with Pupils with PMLD
Connection comes first. Relationships, trust, & small shared moments are the real foundations of learning.
·
-
Creating Autistic Safety and Belonging: 10 Ideas for Neurodivergent Competency
10 Principles of Neuro-Affirming Practice: Building Neurodivergent Competency Together
-
Beyond “Neurodiversity Lite”: Why Neurodiversity-Affirming Practice Matters
Explore the difference between true neurodiversity-affirming practice and “neurodiversity-lite,” and why justice, and lived experience matter.
-
Autistic Mental Health: Beyond the Pathology Paradigm
Autistic mental health is often framed through a narrow, deficit-based lens — one that focuses on pathology, risk, and what’s…
·
-
Monotropism and Polytropism Explained
Learn how monotropism differs from polytropism, plus research showing ADHDers and AuDHDers score higher on the Monotropism Questionnaire.
-
Why PBS is Harmful for Autistic and Neurodivergent Young People
Exploring why and how Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) can harm Autistic people. #Neurodiversity #AutismAcceptance #PBS #DisabilityJustice
·
-
From Autistic Realms to More Realms: Exploring Other Ways of Being
Journey from Autistic Realms into More Realms—where neuro-affirming support meets creative, sensory, and neuroqueer explorations of other ways of being.
-
Neuroqueer Learning Spaces: Free Training for Reimagining Education
Neuroqueer Learning Spaces: Free Training for Reimagining Education By Autistic Realms & Stimpunks Foundation
-
Neuro-Affirming Neurodivergent & Disabled Wheel of Life: Reclaiming Flow on Our Own Terms
Neuro-Affirming Neurodivergent & Disabled Wheel of Life: Reclaiming Flow on Our Own Terms Workbook available for instant download.
·
-
Glimmers: Autistic Joy and Monotropism
Glimmers are small, powerful moments of Autistic joy that emerge when we’re deeply immersed in what matters to us. Learn…
-
Summer Rhythms for Autistic Parents & Carers: Low‑Demand Parenting, Managing Energy & Sensory Needs
A practical guide for Autistic parents and carers to support energy flow, sensory regulation, and family balance through the summer…
·
-
Ethodivergent Hearth Building: A Relational Neuroqueering Community Practice
Explore ethodivergent hearth building as a neuroqueer, relational practice of care, kinship, and more-than-human community with Autistic Realms & Stimpunks.
-
Going Deeper: Rest, Burnout, and Monotropic Flow
Autistic burnout recovery often means going deeper into flow, not switching off. Find out about reclaiming rest through monotropic focus,…
·
-
Awe, Wonder and Different Ways of Knowing: Cavendish Space and Helen De Cruz
Honouring the brilliant philosopher Helen De Cruz, whose work on wonder, thinking, and inclusion helped shape and inspire our Neuroqueer Learning…
-
Autistic Pride: Rest, Resistance & Monotropism
Written for Autistic Pride Day 2025: what Autistic Pride means to me, from monotropism and the cost of masking to…
-
Mingling with the universe: Autistic Perception
Mingling with the Universe” exploring Autistic meaning-making as sensory, felt, and more-than-human, where solitude becomes connection, and the world speaks…
-
Unmasking: Reclaiming Our Monotropic Attentional Resources?
Exploring masking and unmasking: reclaiming our monotropic attentional resources, reconnecting with ourselves and community
-
Mossy Minds & Monotropism
An exploration of moss and monotropic ways of being. An invitation to slow down, sink in, and reconnect through sensory…
-
Autistic Pride: Restorying & Unknowing Autism
Restorying is how we reclaim our Autistic voices, honour our ways of knowing, and build futures rooted in connection, not…
·
-
Being With People with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities Through Attunement and Shared Time
There’s something incredibly powerful in the simple idea of being with someone. Not doing to or even doing with or…
·
-
The Power of Monotropic Flow: Reclaiming Ourselves Through Creative Practice
“Art opens up space for healing and a way of reclaiming your own narrative”. Letting go of how we should…
-
Empowering Advocacy: Neuro-Affirming Support for Your Autistic Young Person at School
By Helen Edgar (Autistic Realms), with David Gray-Hammond & Tanya Adkin Navigating the education system as the parent or carer…
-
Toileting: A Neuroaffirming Approach to Support your Autistic Child
Toileting is not a race. For many Autistic children, the journey may look different. Respecting a child’s pace, sensory needs,…
·
-
Neurodiversity Affirming Reading Recommendations
Looking for neurodiversity-affirming reads? I’ve have a growing collection of books listed by autistic authors, advocates, and researchers. Perfect for…
-
Monotropism, Spiral Time, and the Rhizome of Memories
Memory may not be linear for neurodivergent people. It may feel like a spiral of felt sensations. Being monotropic shapes…
-
Sintering: Neurodivergent Community Building
When snow first falls, its flakes are delicate and vulnerable, but over time, a quiet transformation begins. Sintering is the…
-
Reclaiming Rest: Autistic Burnout, Monotropism, and Resistance
Rest can become a radical act in a world that often equates our worth with productivity, especially for Autistic or…
·
-
Neuroqueering Monotropic Time: A short summary
Autistic/ADHD people are more likely to be monotropic and resonate with the theory of monotropism. Dinah Murray, Wenn Lawson, and…
-
Neuroqueering Time: Bergson, Deleuze, and Monotropism (an exploration)
Time as a double temporality problem, exploring interest gravity for monotropic people and flow as a temporal home…..
-
Monotropic Time – A Short Blog
Monotropic Time: A Different Rhythm If you are Autistic, ADHD, or AuDHD, time may not feel like a straight line,…
-
Autistic Young People: Skills Regression, Burnout or a shift in Monotropic Attentional Resources?
Autistic individuals may not lose skills but instead redirect their monotropic attention toward new interests or areas of development.
-
Monotropic Time & Neuroqueering Temporalities
Monotropic Time & Neuroqueering Temporalities Dwelling in Resonance: Monotropism, Monotropic Time, Spirals & Neuroqueer Temporalities
-
Monotropic Time
Each person’s experience of time is likely to be influenced by culture, age, disability and neurodivergence. For Autistic/ADHD/AuDHD people, time…
-
Testimonials for Autistic Realms
Testimonials gathered from National Diversity Awards nomination feedback 2024 and 2025. Feel free to vote for me and others here:…
·
-
Neuro-Affirming Research in Practice: Supporting Autistic Students, Embracing Monotropism In The Classroom And Beyond
Written by Tanya Adkin and Helen Edgar, based on the presentation we delivered to the National Autistic Society Professionals’ Conference…
·
-
Monotropism and Autistic Play
All play is ok! There is no right way to play! All play is ok! There is no right way…
-
Could it be PANS/PANDAS… Be Curious!
This collection of text and images was created collaboratively by neurodivergent educators, working together to shine a light on this…
·
-
Challenges for Autistic & Neurodivergent Families Navigating the SEND System: We Need to Understand the Double Empathy Problem & Embrace Monotropism
(Blog based on a presentation I delivered to London Met University 14th March 2025, updated April 24th 2025 following the…
-
Weird Pride and Being Weird
Weird Pride Day: Why Be Normal When You Can Be You? Every day can be a Weird Pride day if…
-
What does ‘neuro-affirming’ mean for Autistic young people?
This blog was written by myself, Helen Edgar of @autisticrealms for GROVE. I am delighted to work with Grove Neurodivergent Mentoring and…
-
Autistic Young People & Friendships
Discover how Autistic young people experience and build friendships in a way that honors their unique communication styles and interests.
·
-
Tides of burnout and being monotropic
“Once the storm is over, you won’t remember how you made it through. But one thing is certain. When you…
·
-
Call for Submissions: Share your experiences of being monotropic.
Open Invite: Share your experiences of being monotropic. Share poems, art, blogs, essays, videos, podcasts, music, etc., that reflect your…
·
-
Obstacles in the way of Neuro-Affirming Practice in Educational Settings & Ways Forward
Implementing neurodiversity-affirming practices in education, healthcare, and other systems is often hindered by pervasive narratives and biases. Recognizing and addressing…
-
Behaviourism/PBS/ABA/PECs: There are alternative ways
‘The path isn’t a straight line; it’s a spiral. You continually come back to things you thought you understood and…
-
Autism & The Map of Neuronormative Domination: Stuck States vs Flow States
The Map of Monotropic Experiences now has a home of its own. Read more about neuronormative domination, the water the…
·
-
The Map of Monotropic Experiences: A Summary
The Map of Monotropic Experiences now has a home of its own. You can explore each of the twenty areas…
-
Words: Inspired By The Experience Of Being Monotropic
Monotropism is a neurodiversity-affirming theory of autism (Murray et al., 2005). Autistic /ADHD/ AuDHD people are more likely to be…
-
Book Review: I didn’t see you there. By Charlotte Gale
I didn’t see you there by Charlotte Gale is a powerful journey of poetic memoirs of one family’s path through…
·
-
Neuronormative Domination, Monotropism & The Map of Monotropic Experiences
The Map of Monotropic Experiences now has a home of its own. Read more about neuronormative domination, the water the…
-
Radical Resilience
Image of pink flower growing between gaps in pavement. Text:Wild flowers offer hope. Be radically resilient. Find possibilities in-between hard…
-
Gestalt Language Processing, Monotropism & Young People
Monotropic (Autistic/ ADHD) people have fewer tunnels of interest to process and use their energy than polytropic people (non-Autistic/ADHD). Polytropic…
