- Neurodiversity and accessibility in creative practice.When researching neurodiversity and art, the subject of access to funding came up for me. The application for funding documents a process that is often very challenging for the neurodiverse creative. Laura Dobbs, in her blog https://rachel.we-are-low-profile.com/blog/ July 2016) talks about how she has often helped neurodiverse artists navigate the funding portal Grantium for theContinue reading “Neurodiversity and accessibility in creative practice.”
- A Day in My LifeProcessing one day at my university, studying part-time as a mature student who is neurodiverse. Please note that these photographs are intended to display my personal experience, personified through the figure in the photographs. The texts confirm the intention for the viewer. These are not intended as any criticism of anyone or any organisation. IContinue reading “A Day in My Life”
- Let’s look at some of the issues.Disclaimer time: All this is my view and may or may not reflect other’s experience as neurodiverse and is not the views of any organisation, or institution. Mental health & wellbeing is a hot topic of late, especially due to increased isolation in covid-19 times. As a person who has not noticed much of aContinue reading “Let’s look at some of the issues.”
- Neurodiverse rather than Autistic.Thank you Judy Singer for liberating me and creating a word with new positive connotations of a presentation that was once a ‘disorder’. Nah, I am not that individual who wants to fit in to unfittable space anymore, or has to become a chameleon to appear to communicate with apologies for not getting ‘it’, whateverContinue reading “Neurodiverse rather than Autistic.”
- Understanding Terminology in EducationI have an experience of listening in school and lectures in university and colleges. The interpretations I glean from the dialogue amongst a group in educational and academic arenas can be a challenge but once I feel orientated and comfortable in the group I am able to ask specifically what is meant by a certainContinue reading “Understanding Terminology in Education”
- Recognising ‘blind spots’I have several confessions. I find it quite funny really. For example, I didn’t understand how to leave school so I stayed on to do A levels then art foundation and a fine art degree. A teacher in the 80s said you should go to art college. Oh, ok says I. I confess I didn’tContinue reading “Recognising ‘blind spots’”
- Actor or Self?I have been thinking about my late diagnosis and how I have managed in life up until then. Of course, l haven’t exactly metamorphosed into a different being but I have become less controlled in my emotions and anxiety levels. At 55 years old I am going through, abet a rapid, journey of being oneselfContinue reading “Actor or Self?”
- The ‘What is your need?’ question
Is it enough to just type ‘Autism’ when told by the Arts Council email that the ‘participant’ (me) has to state what their need is when applying for money to pay someone to help me apply for an Arts Council ‘Developing Your Creative Practice‘ grant for round 11. Then it wants me to identify whatContinue reading “The ‘What is your need?’ question” - Be Brave. . .and go for it. Take a risk.I’d like to talk about fears for the neurodiverse individual which can affect functioning and how theses fears could originate. Vance (2020) describes uncertainty as a significant stressor for an autistic person. She states that “Knowing what to expect, or why things happen, and being prepared for what makes them stressful gives the autistic personContinue reading “Be Brave. . .and go for it. Take a risk.”
- Writing a Dissertation as a Neurodiverse Visual Artist.Photograph by Babs Cooper. Edited by Jill Boyd. My premise was that accessibility should be one of the themes of my MA Photography, alongside justice, social engagement and equality. I envisaged an MA done on a mobile (cell) phone which represented an accessible resource that has a familiar presence in wealthy countries. The devices themselvesContinue reading “Writing a Dissertation as a Neurodiverse Visual Artist.”
What’s it like to be a visual artist? What’s it like to be neurodiverse? What’s it like to be diagnosed with autism at 54 years old?
So, what’s it like to be a neurodiverse artist who’s recently been diagnosed with ASD? Yeah, I’ll let you know when I find out.
First, I need to do a literature search on the subject. This is because I have no real frame of reference, no context in which I can morph myself to what’s expected, like before. I have no mask and am now existing within in a void of my own choosing. The only trouble is, is that I feel adrift, looking for a home, but knowing that I have to build my own.
Exploration of Life as a Neurodiverse Creative 