What Neurodivergent Writers Get Right

The most interesting posts in my Linked feed? Often those written by my openly ASD and ND peers. Although not exclusively, I hasten to add.

I’ve noticed they write about personal experiences, personal struggles, and personal adversity. They write about deeply personal and meaningful stuff. Often painful and humbling, but also the very essence of being human.

Not praising their employer’s latest DEI initiative. Not some vibe-coding post designed to harbour sales leads. Not the old ‘agile is dead’ groundhog, popping up like it’s 2022 again.

Instead, I appreciate their honesty. I admire their vulnerability. And I marvel at their bravery.

“Aren’t you afraid of oversharing?” someone once messaged me. And no, it wasn’t my mother. Others have told me they received similar.

What the sender probably means (aka afraid of themselves) is, “When big Fortune 500 is considering you for a cubicle and sees your profile, aren’t you afraid they may change their mind?”

No, I’m not afraid. Not one bit. I don’t want them to extend an offer if sharing personal experiences is somehow unacceptable or distasteful. Those who read and don’t back off, well then, we’re off to a good start.

The greater service, though, is sharing something meaningful that truly reaches another person. And that does happen, more often than you might think.

But isn’t it funny how many of the writers who move me the most have been told they have ‘social and communication’ disorders. Thankfully, that didn’t stop them.

Their words connect me to them. And I like to think that mine can do the same.