Growing My ND Identity

NeuroWild panel. Text on a periwinkle blob: 'Helping your kids develop a positive neurodivergent identity'. Below the text, a smiling white cartoon ghost with pink cheeks floats holding a pink flower in one hand and a yellow flower in the other, with small sparkles around it. The NeuroWild logo is at the bottom right.

NeuroWild panel. Text at top: 'Model the value of DIFFERENCE from 2-3 years old'. Three colored blobs each with a speech bubble. Green blob with two purple spotted flowers with blue leaves: 'Wow! I love these flowers! They are so different! I've never seen any like that before!' Yellow blob with a red spotted ladybird and three blue beetles: 'My favourite is the spotty one! It's really different to the others.' Pink blob with a child's legs wearing one green spotted boot and one red boot: 'Ooh! Are you choosing 2 different boots today? That is very fun + colourful!' The NeuroWild logo is at the bottom right.

NeuroWild panel. Text at top: 'Highlight the value of different opinions, preferences, play styles, and ideas from 3-5 years old'. Four colored blobs. Blue, with a banana and two halves of kiwi: 'You want banana? I'll have kiwi. I don't like banana at all! People like different things, don't they?' Lilac, with headphones and music notes: 'Wow, Tom really loves loud music. I wonder if you love loud music too? I'm a bit different to Tom. That music was too loud for me!' Purple, with a book folded into a tent beside toy blocks and a car: 'That's such a fun thing to do with your books! I love that your clever brain thought of that. I have never had that idea!' Pink, with a blond child in a green shirt using a tablet that says 'can I have juice please?': 'Isn't it cool that Sarah uses her iPad to talk. That's such a good option for people who might not want to talk with their mouth.' The NeuroWild logo is at the bottom right.

NeuroWild panel. Text at top: 'Show them what it looks like to self-advocate for your needs (from early on)'. Three green blobs, each beside a small flower drawing (white, pink and purple flowers in grass). 'My tummy is REALLY full now. I won't eat any more of this. My tummy doesn't want to.' 'Oh, this place is too LOUD for me. It hurts my ears. I'm going to wear my headphones.' 'Gee, I do my best learning when my body is moving. It makes me feel good too!' The NeuroWild logo is at the bottom right.

NeuroWild panel. Text at top: 'When assessments happen, explain to your child that you are finding out what kind of brain they have.' Two potted plants of different kinds: one with a light blue trunk and rounded green leaves in a yellow pot with pink dots, and one with a brown trunk and spiky green leaves in a blue pot with white stars. Text below: 'Different brains, like different plants, need different things to grow well. It's important to know what kind we have so we can take care of it properly.' The NeuroWild logo is at the bottom right.

NeuroWild panel. Text at top: 'Share the information with your child.' A large white cartoon ghost hands a pink gift box with a green ribbon and a blue label reading 'INFO ABOUT YOUR BRAIN' to a smaller smiling ghost, against a periwinkle background with sparkles. Speech bubble: 'Hey! You have an Autistic brain! Here's what that means...' Three pink blobs of text: 'Use NeuroWild resource to help share the news (pinned on my Facebook page)'; 'Keep your tone positive and casual. You aren't delivering BAD news-just news.'; 'Knowing your brain means you can look after it properly. It's so great that you know now.' The NeuroWild logo is at the bottom right.

NeuroWild panel. Top text: 'Teach them about fluctuating capacity. They need to understand that they ARE trying hard enough.' Two small scenes of a blue mouse-like character with a row of hearts above each: in a lilac blob it sits happily with four full hearts saying 'Yay! I did it!'; in a mint blob it hugs its knees with three of four hearts and says 'I can't do it...' A cloud reads 'SUPPORT & RADICAL ACCEPTANCE'. Further text: 'Teach them that their social communication style may be different to their peers'. Sometimes others may not understand. This doesn't mean they have to change for them. Their job is to be authentic, happy, and safe.' Below, a light blue cat lines up toy cars on a road while a purple cat plays with toy cars in a different arrangement, side by side on a red rug. The NeuroWild logo is at the bottom right.

NeuroWild panel with a title between two outlined stars: 'Important extras'. Five colored blobs of text. Pink: 'Firm understanding that kids do well if they can (Dr Ross Greene). When your child does not meet an expectation, it is not deliberate or due to a lack of effort.' Green: 'Provide supports for sensory differences and overwhelm-NOT exposure therapy for desensitisation.' Green: 'Talk about their Autistic brain in good times, not just hard times. When they experience deep joy, success, when they are loyal, kind, honest-remind them that their awesome Autistic brain is behind that.' Pink: 'Ensure all professionals involved with your child are neurodiversity affirming. They should be helping them understand and feel good about their Autistic brain, rather than teaching ways to hide it.' Pink: 'Let them know what their strengths are and give them opportunities to explore them. This includes deep interest and social opportunities with likeminded kids.' The NeuroWild logo is at the bottom right.

NeuroWild panel. Text at top left: 'Work hard to get your child properly supported at school.' and at top right: 'Download my FREE IEP document on TPT.' Four colored blobs. Blue, with three pieces of children's art taped up (shapes, a toy vehicle, a night scene): 'Difference is CELEBRATED. Individual Expression is encouraged.' Purple, labeled 'Dr. Ross Greene': 'Replace this' pointing to a color-coded behaviour chart with names Ben, Sarah, Eva and Jack beside sad, neutral and happy faces, and '...with this' pointing to a poster reading 'KIDS DO WELL IF THEY CAN.' Pink, with headphones, cards and a visual timer: 'Accommodations & modified work are always accessible.' Mint, with a light bulb, rainbow and infinity symbol: 'Kids are taught that all Learning styles are VALID.' Green: 'Silence & stillness are not Essential conditions for LEARNING.' The NeuroWild logo is at the bottom right.

NeuroWild panel with a border of colorful doodles (stars with faces, hearts, rainbows, buttons, a bow, a cookie). Text: 'Last but not least... Learn about Autism from Autistic people. Be curious and open-minded. Your child's wellbeing is more important than the opinions of everyone else. Ensure home is a safe space to be authentic. Tell your child you are their biggest fan. Don't assume that they know that already. Give them opportunities to see, read about, and mix with people who are like them. And love them hard.' The NeuroWild logo is at the bottom right.

About The Artist

NeuroWild is a comic strip series created by Emily Hammond. Emily is a speech pathologist with ADHD and Autism herself and a proud mother to neurodivergent children. Click here to learn more about the artists we promote and how to support their work.