Live Learn & Play

07/01/2025

Sharing for The Neurodiverse Collaborative Foundation!

DM if you'd like more info!

01/14/2025

10/06/2024

Tis the season for giving out spooky treats and spreading silly fun among family and friends!

Here are some tips from the Teal Pumpkin Project that can help make this Halloween season magical and inclusive for everyone!

- Offer non food items as treats (some children have severe allergies to certain foods products )
- Add your address to the Teal Pumpkin Project map so our kiddos know your home is allergy friendly ( https://www.foodallergy.org/our-initiatives/awareness-campaigns/teal-pumpkin-project/map )
- Download and print your very own Teal Pumpkin Project Sign for the families to see your home is allergy free ( download here : https://www.foodallergy.org/resources/get-your-teal-pumpkin-project-printables )

You can also use the same link above to search in your neighborhood for participants who have food allergy friendly treats !

Unsure of what to offer instead? Here’s a list from foodallergy.org

https://www.foodallergy.org/resources/ideas-non-food-treats

* Glow sticks, bracelets, or necklaces
* Pencils, pens, crayons or markers
* Bubbles
* Halloween erasers or pencil toppers
* Mini Slinkies
* Whistles, kazoos, or noisemakers
* Bouncy balls
* Finger puppets or novelty toys
* Coins
* Spider rings
* Vampire fangs
* Mini notepads
* Playing cards
* Bookmarks
* Stickers
* Stencils

And as always we here at Live Learn and Play hope you have a happy and safe Halloween !!

07/25/2024

This is a helpful illustration that speaks to my (Svend's) condition as a ND person.

Why is your own existence so damn exhausting?

Yes, everyone carries their own mental load. Yes, everyone has problems and trying times. But what if you consider that as an ND all those things that are tiring for everyone aren't even your baseline mental load? What if you factor in everything you say, do? How you walk, talk, speak? Navigating situations that are at best confusing and at worst intolerable? Those situations that NTs breeze through without thinking?

What if you factor in constantly feeling uncomfortable or overwhelmed by sensory issues? What if you consider the constant noise in your brain or hauling round years of unresolved trauma? What if you could show those who aren't ND all the extra mental load you carry ever single day? And then you're told just to 'put it down', 'let it go', 'not worry about it's? Like those same people with that advice could simply put down their own mental load?

And if you're late diagnosed and carried it for years or decades already? Or don't even realise you're ND and just assume you aren't as good at coping at being human as everyone else?

Simply existing as an ND is EXHAUSTING! Period. Please, stop telling us it's any different.

What else would you add to this doodle as the mental load of an neuro divergent?

https://diversitydoodleprint.etsy.com

05/22/2024

Friendly reminder that an Autistic meltdown is not a tantrum. It's a response to overwhelm, over- or under-stimulation, or other unbearable conditions.

05/22/2024

When addressing "problem behavior," ask yourself: What is the problem with the behavior? What makes this behavior become a problem? For whom is it problematic? What are the root causes of the behavior, and how can those causes be addressed? Behaviorism is very seldom the solution. Sometimes, the environment, or the attitude of another person, is the problem instead.

09/06/2023

Must see documentary from our nonspeaking community!

Sat, Sept. 23 at 11am at The Movie Tavern Trexlertown
Get tickets today: https://spellingrocks.ticketleap.com/spellers/

Please share to help us spread the word!!

08/07/2023

Community Poll-- How can we help?

Let us know in the comments below or PM us

05/20/2023

Neurodiversity is an important part of what we do here at LL&P. We have always been Autism-affirming, Autism-accepting, and strive to be Autism-competent. As an Autistic person myself, I strive to learn more and more about the lived experiences of my fellow Autistics and their communities.

I mean this post to be an encouragement to my fellow Autistics and allies as we strive to know better and do better every day. Thank you for affirming us and learning with us, from us, and for us, as you and we strive together to become neurodiversity-competent.

Professionals working with neurodivergent people need to be competent with regards to culture and experience.

Tanya Adkin - Autistic consultant, trainer, advocate. calls this "Neurodivergence Competency"

"The business of autism is littered with buzzwords and catchall phrases and strategies. Largely dictated by non-Autistic people. Perhaps one of the most common terms you will encounter as an Autistic person or parent/carer to an Autistic person is “Best Practice” or “Framework”. Both of these terms have an intrinsic relationship with each other, with best practice being dictated by frameworks, which then (in a circular leap of logic) is used to justify frameworks again."

https://emergentdivergence.com/2023/04/11/creating-autistic-suffering-autistic-safety-and-neurodivergence-competency/

workers

02/25/2023

We continue to seek volunteers, donations, and potential Board members. Every little bit helps! -Svend