The Neurodiverse Lens™

The Neurodiverse Lens examines neurodiversity through neuroscience, developmental theory, and family systems—supporting clinicians, families, and individuals in understanding relational patterns and nervous system safety.

Neurodiverse Families and the Co-Occurrence of Autism and Attention Neurodivergence (ADHD): Insights from Recent Studies

Neurodiverse Families and the Co-Occurrence of Autism and Attention Neurodivergence (ADHD): Insights from Recent Studies

Neurodiverse Families and the Co-Occurrence of Autism and Attention Neurodivergence (ADHD): Insights from Recent StudiesAnne MacMillan, MLA
Published on: 06/12/2025

Discover how autism and attention neurodivergence (ADHD) frequently co-occur within neurodiverse families. This blog explores key research, including a 2017 study and the 2021 discovery of the SHANK2 gene, linking autism and attention neurodivergence.

Foundations & Frameworks
From Misdiagnosis to Clarity: Level 1 Adult Autism in the 21st Century

From Misdiagnosis to Clarity: Level 1 Adult Autism in the 21st Century

From Misdiagnosis to Clarity: Level 1 Adult Autism in the 21st CenturyAnne MacMillan, MLA
Published on: 26/08/2024

Anne MacMillan explores the challenges faced by undiagnosed Level 1 autistic adults who make up a "lost generation," highlighting their journey to self-discovery and the importance of accurate diagnosis for improved mental wellness and support. Essential reading for understanding Level 1 adult autism.

Foundations & Frameworks
Level 1 Autistic Adults in Our Families and Communities: Unseen Challenges and Neurodiverse Communication

Level 1 Autistic Adults in Our Families and Communities: Unseen Challenges and Neurodiverse Communication

Level 1 Autistic Adults in Our Families and Communities: Unseen Challenges and Neurodiverse CommunicationAnne MacMillan, MLA
Published on: 19/08/2024

Recognizing Level 1 autism adults in our communities is crucial, yet many go undiagnosed. Neurodiverse communication exists all around us due to the ways autistic and non-autistic brains interact. It has a major unknown impact on our daily lives.

Foundations & Frameworks

Reading Pathways

Guided Explorations by Topic

Foundations & Frameworks

A structured orientation to neurodiverse family systems—what they are, why they matter, and how this framework differs from traditional models.

Empathy & Nervous System Science

How empathy, sensation, and nervous-system processing actually work—and why differences in these systems shape relationships.

Development, Identity & the Self

How identity, autonomy, and selfhood form—and fracture—within neurodiverse developmental pathways.

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Neurodiverse Relationship Dynamics™

Recurring relational patterns that emerge when different neurologies interact—and why they’re so often misunderstood.

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Trauma, Safety & Protection

Understanding trauma as a nervous-system outcome of chronic misattunement, not a narrative or diagnosis.

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Neurology-Based Power™

How narrative control, emotional influence, and institutional authority shift based on how one’s neurology is perceived

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Power, Institutions & Harm

How neurological differences are interpreted, magnified, or exploited within families, systems, and institutions.

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Neurodiversity & Sexuality

Emotion, sensory processing, intimacy, consent, and desire across different nervous systems.

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Lived Experience & Meaning Making

Interpreting neurodiverse experience to restore coherence, agency, and self-trust.

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The R.E.A.L. Neurodiverse™

10-Step Approach

A research-informed, systems-based framework supporting neurodiverse individuals and families across the lifespan.

Clinical Insights for Providers

Mechanism-based perspectives for clinicians working with neurodiverse individuals, families, and relational systems.

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Neurodiverse Intimate Life Partnerships

Understanding love, attachment, mismatch, and choice in intimate relationships shaped by neurological difference.

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Parenting & Neurodiverse Families

Supporting children’s development and safety in mixed-neurology homes, from early childhood through adulthood.

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Neurodiversity & Education

Learning, safety, and development in educational systems not designed for neurological diversity.

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Neurodiversity & the Workplace

Why professional environments misread neurodivergence—and how neurological mismatch becomes performance risk.

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Alphabetical Index

A

Adult diagnosis
From Misdiagnosis to Clarity: Level 1 Autism in the 21st Century
Level 1 Autistic Adults in our Families and Communities: Unseen Challenges and Neurodiverse Communication
Allism
Understanding Body Empathy: The Non-Autistic Sense Supporting Connection

Arousal vs overwhelm

Asynchronous development

Attachment differences

Attachment in neurodiverse families

Attachment and sexuality
Attention Neurodivergence (A-ND or ADHD)
Neurodiverse Families and the Co-Occurrence of Autism and Attention Neurodivergence (ADHD): Insights fro Recent Studies
Autism Neurodivergence (AS-ND or ASD)
Neurodiverse Families and the Co-Occurrence of Autism and Attention Neurodivergence (ADHD): Insights from Recent Studies

Autistic adults
Level 1 Autistic Adults in our Families and Communities: Unseen Challenges and Neurodiverse Communication

Autistic children

Autistic–autistic relationships

Autism–non-autistic partnerships

Autonomic dysregulation

Autonomic regulation

Autonomy vs shame

B

Behavioral compliance vs regulation

Body empathy

Boundary confusion

Boundary erosion

Burnout

C

Child-centered planning

Child protection in schools

Child safety

Chronic stress

Clinical authority

Clinical practice (neurodiverse)

Cognitive empathy

Cognitive processing styles

Communication breakdowns

Conflict escalation

Consciousness

Consent and capacity

Courtship differences

Credibility bias

D

Dating and neurodiversity

Desire discrepancy

Desire regulation

Developmental plateaus

Developmental psychology

Developmental trauma
Diagnosis
From Misdiagnosis to Clarity: Level 1 Autism in the 21st Century
Neurodiverse Families and the Co-Occurrence of Autism and Attention Neurodivergence (ADHD): Insights from Recent Studies

Differential development

Documentation abuse

Documentation expectations

E

Educational trauma

Embodied simulation

Emotional awareness

Emotional flooding

Emotional granularity

Emotional interoceptive action

Emotional interoceptive awareness

Emotional interoceptive sensitivity

Emotional intimacy

Emotional labor

Emotional misattunement

Emotional numbing

Emotional overwhelm

Emotional regulation

Emotional safety in sex

Emotional trauma

Empathic-emotion intensity

Empathy
How a Meta-Analysis Ended the "Broken Mirror Neuron Debate" on Autism and Empathy
Understanding Body Empathy: The Non-Autistic Sense Supporting Connection

Empathy & emotion

Erikson’s stages

F

Families (neurodiverse)

Family roles

Family systems therapy

Freeze responses

G

Gaslighting

Grief in neurodiverse relationships

H

High Body Empathetic Neurodivergence (HBE-ND)

Hypervigilance

I

Identity collapse

Identity erosion

Identity formation

Inclusion failures

Initiative vs guilt

Insight without blame

Institutional abuse

Institutional misinterpretation

Intimacy differences

Intimate partnerships

Intergenerational trauma

Intermittent trauma spikes

Interoception

Interoceptive action

Interoceptive awareness

Interoceptive sensitivity

Invisible labor

Intent vs impact

L

Late insight

Legal systems and neurodiversity

Lifespan development

Lifespan effects

Loyalty conflicts

M

Making sense of damage

Masking

Meaning-making

Mechanism vs behavior
Mirror Neuron System
How a Meta-Analysis Ended the "Broken Mirror Neuron Debate" on Autism and Empathy

Misattribution

Misbehavior vs overload

Misdiagnosis

Mixed-neurology households

Mixed-neurology relationships

N

Narrative control

Narrative repair

Neurobiology of relational safety

Neurodiverse clinical work

Neurodiverse families
Level 1 Autistic Adults in our Families and Communities: Unseen Challenges and Neurodiverse Communication

Neurodiverse intimate life partnerships

Neurodiverse relationships
Neurodiverse Relationship Dynamics™ (NRD™)
Level 1 Autistic Adults in our Families and Communities: Unseen Challenges and Neurodiverse Communication

Neurodiversity

Neurodivergence

Neurology

Neurology-Based Power™ (NBP™)

Nervous system harm

Nervous system safety

Non-autistic neurology
Understanding Body Empathy: The Non-Autistic Sense Supporting Connection

P

Parenting autistic children

Parenting neurodiverse children

Parenting non-autistic children

Pathologizing behavior
Pattern and Sequence Reflections (PSR)

Performance misinterpretation

Power asymmetry

Power dynamics at work

Predictive processing

Procedural harm

Professional credibility

Protective strategies

Provider competencies

Provider misinterpretation


R

Reclaiming self

Relational safety

Relational timing mismatch

Relational trauma

Reputation harm

Role confusion


S

School refusal

School systems and neurodiversity

Self-understanding

Sensory differences and sex

Sensory overload

Sensory processing

Sensory safety

Sensory safety in children

Sensory-safe learning environments

Sensory thresholds

Separation as intervention

Separation as safety

Sexual intimacy

Shutdown

Special education

Spiral development

Staying vs leaving

Staircase development

Symptom-based models

Systemic clarity


T

Teacher misinterpretation

Trauma

Trauma-informed care

Trauma-informed sexuality

Trauma misdiagnosis

Trauma without narrative

Trust vs mistrust


U

Unmasking


W

Whole-body emotional experience

Workplace accommodations

Workplace burnout

Workplace misinterpretation

Workplace power dynamics