Show Notes
In this solo episode of UnShaming auDHD, host Jes Diverges unpacks the complex world of disability models, offering a nuanced exploration of how society understands neurodivergence. Critically examining the medical, social, and holistic models, Jes challenges deficit-based thinking and shares her preferred holistic approach that recognizes disability as an intersectional experience shaped by biological, psychological, and societal factors. Drawing from personal insights and scholarly research, she advocates for a balanced perspective that celebrates neurodiversity, challenges systemic barriers, and provides meaningful accommodations. This episode, which serves as an introduction to her upcoming book, offers listeners a compassionate and empowering view of disability that goes beyond traditional diagnostic frameworks.
(episode description & transcript generated by otter.ai)
Links & Other Resources:
Book mentioned: Decolonizing Therapy by Dr. Jennifer Mullan
Creator mentioned: Rebecca, 15 Tenets of White Supremacy series & LOTS of other great content: https://patreon.com/whitewomanwhisperer
Models of Disability Article: https://autistictic.com/2020/02/14/the-holistic-model-of-disability/#:~:text=The Holistic Model of Disability recognizes that every disabled person's,and could improve their life.
Autistic vs. Allistic Morals Study (TW for strong deficit language against autists): https://autistictic.com/2020/02/14/the-holistic-model-of-disability/#:~:text=The Holistic Model of Disability recognizes that every disabled person's,and could improve their life.
Join The Combo Platter: https://www.patreon.com/jesdiverges
Jes’s Website: https://www.jesdiverges.com
Jes’s Email: [email protected]
Join My Email List: https://www.jesdiverges.com/newsletter
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jesdiverges
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jesdiverges
Substack: https://substack.com/@jesdiverges
Transcript Document: https://tinyurl.com/UnshamingAuDHDTranscripts
More from Unshaming AuDHD
In this episode of UnShaming AuDHD, hosts Jes Diverges and Javelin Laurence explore how neurodivergent individuals can avoid burning out while attempting to recover from or prevent AuDHD burnout. They unpack how traditional self-care or recovery practices often turn into rigid expectations that compound exhaustion and prolong recovery. The hosts define AuDHD burnout as a deep mismatch between demands and capacity, contrasting it with standard career burnout and highlighting severe impacts like skill regression. To catch approaching burnout early, Jes and Javelin share personal yellow and red flags, including apathy toward favorite hobbies, difficulty cooking, and heightened irritability. They discuss practical, low-demand strategies such as "no expectation days" and "task tiering" to safely lower life's difficulty volume and dismantle all-or-nothing thinking. Finally, the hosts emphasize radical acceptance, releasing artificial urgency, and honoring one's individual capacity without guilt or shame.
In this two-part episode, Jes and Javelin explore how growing up Catholic and evangelical (respectively) shaped their beliefs, and how they each found their way into witchcraft, tarot, and more expansive, queer-affirming spirituality. They talk about magic as “science we haven’t explained yet,” the power of placebo, talismans, and ritual, and why neurodivergent brains often thrive on phases instead of rigid consistency. Together, they unpack shame, “good vs bad person” thinking, capitalism, and the myth of being fundamentally broken—offering play, silliness, and wholehearted choice as deeply spiritual practices.
In this two-part episode, Jes and Javelin explore how growing up Catholic and evangelical (respectively) shaped their beliefs, and how they each found their way into witchcraft, tarot, and more expansive, queer-affirming spirituality. They talk about magic as “science we haven’t explained yet,” the power of placebo, talismans, and ritual, and why neurodivergent brains often thrive on phases instead of rigid consistency. Together, they unpack shame, “good vs bad person” thinking, capitalism, and the myth of being fundamentally broken—offering play, silliness, and wholehearted choice as deeply spiritual practices.
New co-host Javelin Laurence joins Jes to talk about all things hobbies as an autistic ADHDer. They discuss what makes a hobby a hobby, how auDHDers tend to interact with their hobbies (or not), and Javelin shares their three rules for sustainable, long lasting hobby-having.
In this episode, I dive into what I actually mean when I say “unshaming auDHD.” I discuss how shame is not an emotion, but a lens through which we learn to view ourselves. I also talk about where shame comes from, and how to acknowledge and work with it by developing a counteractive voice called a loving witness.