Life Guides for Autistics

So say we all.

Window Pains by J. David Hall of Neuroguides™

Onward.

Window Pains In the dim light of his room thousands of miles away, I’m a visitor to his world, to a moment in his life journey. We meet each other…

This month, it has been seven years since we became a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization.

In that time, we have worked directly with hundreds of uniquely minded persons and supported and encouraged thousands more worldwide.

Most importantly, we have witnessed undeniable results and positive, transformational differences in the life journey of many people.

Today is the annual Giving Tuesday event in which non-profits like us ask for people to make charitable contributions to their mission.

Last year, the amount of tax-deductible donations made on Giving Tuesday to non-profits was 3.1 billion dollars.

The Foundation for LGFA | Neuroguides raised zero dollars.

And yet, our small but mighty organization continues to demonstrate a positive, transformative impact on many lives worldwide.

This is from a letter we received on Friday morning last week from a former client of ours:

“From the bottom of my heart, thank you for all that you did for me and for Robyn. Your kindness, understanding, and guidance made an immeasurable impact on my life, and I will always be grateful.”

~ Used with permission from a single autistic Black Mom who lives in Washington, D.C with her young autistic daughter.

If you would like to donate to support our transformational work, please consider donating today during the Giving Tuesday campaign.

It’s extremely easy to give - just click the Donate button at the top of our website front page: www.neuroguides.org

Also, we accept gift cards, gifts-in-kind (for a replacement for our trusty, but aging equipment), and disbursements from charitable trusts (our IRS documents provided upon request).

Thanks so much in advance, and please feel free to share our donation request with anyone who you think might be interested in supporting our work.

Notes from the trail for October 2024. Onward ~ J. David Hall

Six years ago, a young woman quietly passed me a note across the table. Written on it were the words, "I can do it."

With overwhelming challenges, struggling to progress in life while grappling with ADHD and profound sensory issues, we worked together to pinpoint her strengths, set goals tailored to her unique neurology and needs, and more.

When my time guiding her ended, the quiet gratitude she expressed was deeply moving. As I read the note, I knew her journey would continue on "firmer footing."

Onward ~ Neuroguides

It's been a few days since one of our organization's Executive Team members mentioned the discovery of our brand used by individuals for their business. I already knew about a pharmaceutical company shamelessly doing the same thing.

We've invested untold hours, and energy into building our brand, and our mission over many years, and to witness others simply taking it for their use is distressing.

Perhaps what troubles me the most is seeing ableists, and advocates of the medical | deficit model using the representation of our work. These are the wrongheaded workers of the very "industry" that has crushed the lives of countless neurodivergent persons over nearly a hundred years. They are the antithesis of who we are, why we serve, and the hopes of those we serve.

Nearly a decade ago, we trailblazed into an empty space, to fulfill a desperate need, and today we remain in place having served hundreds and impacted the lives of thousands worldwide.

Today we go - onward.

J. David Hall, CEO and Chief Guides, Neuroguides | Life Guides for Autistics

"It's exhausting, you know? I mean, I just want to be myself. Is that so bad?"

He said this to me over coffee last week, and I knew exactly what he meant. Every day, untold numbers of neurodivergent people - autistic and otherwise, deplete themselves trying to follow a culturally constructed "social script" in order to survive in a confusing landscape of work, family, and relationships.

Look them in the eyes, shake the hand, laugh at the senseless jokes, pretend to appreciate the guile, the relational destruction...

If you think the adage, "just be yourself'" works, then explain the hostility, cruelty, and isolation experienced by those who disclose their unique minds to the world around them.

In my work, we help many people to navigate around the ugliness demonstrated towards their differences, but real cultural change is still required. This is the reason I've been an ambassador of the Neurodiversity movement for nearly a decade. Stand in the gap, yes - but open the gap.

If you're feeling exhausted by the charade and would like to be known, feel free to reach out for a confidential no-cost dialogue today.

https://calendly.com/neuroguides/insight-consultation-for-lgfa-neuroguides

Not a single day goes by in our work with autistic and other neurodivergent persons, where we do not engage directly with suicidal ideation. It is ever-present, darkly permeates our communities, and ultimately costs each of us the beauty and light of delightful, unique human persons.

Engage, Equip, and Encourage - before it is too late.

Yesterday, as I listened to the lyrics, I was reminded of Steve Silberman. To know Steve was to be in the presence of the words.

“I wanna turn the whole thing upside down
I'll find the things they say just can't be found
I'll share this love I find with everyone
We'll sing and dance to Mother Nature's songs
I don't want this feeling to go away”

~ Jack Johnson, Upside Down

Steve was warm, intelligent, and oh-so-kind. His hunger and thirst for truth was visceral, but for all these things he was curious. Science, nature yes, but he was curious about other humans and in that place, I knew him and felt known.

You were and are my muse, Steve Silberman. Onward, always.

"David, tell me about Neuroguides, and why you're doing it." Steve had bought me lunch that day, and as I told him about Life Guides for Autistics | Neuroguides, his kind eyes lit up, and he said, "It's brilliant, and let me know how I can help."

And help us he did.

Steve was a lovely human being, and I will miss him every day.

Onward, my friend Steve Silberman, August 29, 2024

We continue to serve many low-income people each week at no cost - while struggling as an organization without funds to cover the provision of service.

Last year at this time we were able to provide no-cost service thanks to the NEXT for Autism Grant we were awarded. However, we cannot apply until 2025 for those funds again.

We continue to "stand in the gap" for people desperate to find jobs, grasping at relational understanding and daily hiding, masking their anxiety. We've made a dramatic difference for many.

How can you help us help them? Make a tax-deductible donation today and directly help transform lives for the better. Make a positive difference and stand in the gap with us today.

www.PayPal.Me/Neuroguides

Based on a decade of dialogue with many persons worldwide - neurodivergent and neurotypical, I've witnessed a deeply troubling pattern in many relationships - the serial acceptance of gaslighting behaviors with hopes of the other person(s) changing their harmful conduct.

In particular, I've noticed many authentic neurodivergent persons, become easy targets of persons exhibiting narcissistic personality disorders. To the degree of my using the term, "magnets' of those who wound others.

While there are sadly a myriad of reasons for staying in such destructive relationships, my hope is there will come a moment when the person being brutalized by harmful behaviors will be able to follow the advice of Dr. Stephanie Sarkis (Gaslighting: Recognize Manipulative and Emotionally Abusive People - and Break Free, 2018) and "run away" from them.

It often seems serial abusers, emotional and otherwise, seek people who are in a "tailspin" and quickly seize the moment of the other's emotional needs and pain.

One of the things about being in a "tailspin" is being able to find your horizons and then counter the spin.

In other words - take a hiatus. Breathe deeply, grieve, and get your balance again - or maybe for the first time. A healthy partner will take your turmoil into account and will refrain from rushing you into another relationship.

Is there really someone out there who will love you? Yes, but start with the most important person in the relationship - they can be found in the mirror.