This isn't how I wanted to spend my year....

I'm doing what I can to fight for myself and those like me, but it's all I've got, and part of me is crying out, begging for someone to save us from this hell.

This might be the most heavy and emotional piece I’ve ever written. I don’t even know what “warning” I could put on this, other than… “these are heavy thoughts.” Reader discretion is advised.

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This (turning my blog into a news media outlet, covering current events in America) isn't how I imagined my year would start. I knew there was a very good chance we'd end up here, but I'd desperately hoped I'd be wrong about this one.

I want to do my book projects... but they're taking a back seat.

As 2024 came to a close, I was working on sharing the news about the release of my most recent book collaboration, Autism, Identity, and Me (an inclusive book to help Autistic children learn about their own minds). I'm still working with my colleague, the amazing Rebecca Duffus, to promote that launch, though recent events have recently overshadowed the project.

In fact, I just received my first box of Autism & Me workbooks, and I need to shoot an unboxing video soon so I can show them off today or tomorrow.

Before the Angry Orange took office, I was also mostly done with my rough draft for book 3 (my baby and a sequel to my best-selling business ethics book, Workplace NeuroDiveristy Risning, about NeuroDiverisity in the broader world, which I've not shared the title of yet). I've wanted to write this next NeuroDiversity book for many years, even before my workplace manual, so I hope I can return some of my attention to it before long. However, this project has been put on pause for now.

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Once Upon a Time...

Prior to January 20th, my primary day job was working to support organizations that wanted to be more inclusive or NeuroDivergent (and sometimes Queer People). These days, I'm booking far fewer DEI&A clients (people forget the A is accessibility), and more of my focus (and funding) is starting to come from the coverage I'm doing on the current unfolding constitutional crisis in America.

Now, I find myself at a crossroads.

The life I wanted to live this year, all my hopes, dreams, and wishes, are now spiraling down the drain in front of me. I don't know what my future looks like anymore, and that (for me) is the hardest part.

Despite the upheaval, I find solace in the fact that I genuinely DO believe that I'm where I'm meant to be right now, doing what I'm meant to be doing in these crucial moments.

My commitment to keeping my rapidly growing community safe and informed remains unwavering (and has filled me with a new sense of meaning and purpose).

I've been studying Christian Nationalism in America for years.

In this work, my NeuroDivergence is a great asset.

My hyper-active AuADHD means I'm living for the adrenaline and happy chemicals my brain crates when I'm chasing down information about a topic and a problem I'm hooked on (and hooked is the right world).

Because I am Hyperlexic, I can read and understand most legal jargon easily.

My lightning-fast typing skills and ability to read faster than most people I know, combined with my Autistic mind's stereotypical way of hyper-focusing on a problem, of seeing patterns in things, and how my brain synthesizes data, make me uniquely skilled in a critical area—media consumption, summarization, and communications.

Because I advocated for bills supporting Autistic Rights at the Texas state capitol years ago, I know enough about how our government works (firsthand) to speak about the processes from experience.

I also know how to convert legal, government, and academic speak into more easily digested content (that sneaks around Meta's filters and can be distributed to millions across social media in ways traditional news outlets cannot due to algorithm repression).

So, to fight back, I'm using my platform to "stick it to" those in power as much as possible (while they pay me to destroy them).

Because I have these skills, I feel it would be negligent if I not put them to use in this critical time, regardless of what I “rather be doing” right now.

Paid subscribers have access to the rest of this one first (everyone else will get it later). Thanks to every one of you for supporting my work.

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I hope this helps,
- Lyric