Quirky Infinity logo Empowering neurodivergent people through understanding and conversation

More Than Quirky

Empowering neurodivergent people through understanding and conversation

More Than Quirky logo with Infinity symbol blending with the Q

Quirky Infinity logo Empowering neurodivergent people through understanding and conversation

Talking About It: Mental Health Buffering

October is Mental Health Awareness Month, and October 10th is World Mental Health Day. In NSW, the theme for this year’s event is “Let’s Talk About It”. Neurodivergent people are more likely to experience mental health conditions including mood disorders and anxiety. There is no clear evidence as to how much of this is biological or genetic, and how much is resultant of the difficulties of living as a neurodivergent person in a neuronormative society.[…]

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Borderline Personality Disorder

TRIGGER WARNING: Mentions of self-harm and suicide. Like many differences that have been listed in the DSM without objective review for a very long time, Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is not what it sounds like. While the name implies that the condition is a flaw in a person’s personality, the disorder is actually a complex response to trauma.  There is a push to reconsider the name, if only to prevent additional complications caused by negative[…]

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AAC Awareness Month: Assumption Check

October is International AAC Awareness Month. AAC is Augmentative and Alternative Communication. While some people think that AAC is synonymous with speech-generating tablets, it is a literal term: it covers any communication method that is an alternative to speaking with the mouth. There are a lot of assumptions made about people who utilise AAC that aren’t (always, or entirely) accurate. Here are a handful… If You Can Communicate You Don’t Need AAC Some people believe[…]

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Sign Language in Australia: International Day of Sign Languages

Today is the International Day of Sign Languages. While most people are aware that sign language (visual-manual coded language) exists, many are under the impression that “sign language” is a universal language. It is estimated that there are over 200 individual sign languages in the world. Many of these include dialects / regional differences. Sign languages are considered by linguists to be natural languages, in that they have emerged and developed organically. Sign language is[…]

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Patient Safety: Being Heard

September 17th is World Patient Safety Day. While this generally continues to be an area that is improved worldwide, the experience for many neurodivergent people is not always protected by the policies in place. Many neurodivergent people report negative experiences regarding healthcare, including being ignored or dismissed, medical gaslighting, being patronised, misdiagnosis, and not being taken seriously particularly in relation to pain levels. One aspect of patient safety is the initial step of being heard,[…]

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World Suicide Prevention Day 2024

WARNING: This article contains references to suicide, suicidal ideation, and the expression of suicidal thoughts. Please do not continue if this is likely to cause you intolerable distress, or negatively impact your own mental health or wellbeing. If you do read this article and need support, there are phone numbers and links at the bottom of the page. Mental health and neurodivergence go hand in hand for multiple reasons. Firstly, many mental health conditions are[…]

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