Squirrel Space

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Squirrel Space

Squirrel Space is a disabled, female, and minority owned nonprofit that creates allies, resources, and advocacy for people with AD(H)D or Autism Spectrum.

Squirrel Space is a better, kinder space: We can change the world, one acorn at a time.

04/23/2026

There was never anything wrong with me.

There was a brain that processed information differently.
A nervous system that felt everything more intensely.
A person who spent decades trying to fit into a shape that was never designed for them.

Understanding that changed everything.

Not because life got easier overnight.
But because I stopped trying to fix something that wasn't broken.

I started working with how I'm built — instead of against it.

That's the shift the Squirrel Steps is designed to create.
Not a diagnosis. Not a label.
Just: understanding. And then, finally, choice.

Book time with Emily to learn more: https://calendly.com/emilykapszukiewicz/squirrel-space
or Register NOW: 3 more spots are free! https://forms.gle/1XUedTrzFHyTSdYe6

04/22/2026

'Have you tried making a list?'

Yes.
I've tried making a list.
I've tried making a list of my lists.
I've tried color-coding my lists.
I've tried a 47-step productivity system I found at 2am.

The issue was never the list.

The issue was that I was trying to solve a nervous system difference with a stationery problem.

Step 3 of the Squirrel Steps is called Understand — and it's where that shift happens.

Not: 'what is wrong with me?'
But: 'how am I actually wired — and what does that mean for how I live?'

It's where shame starts to lift.
Where strengths finally get named.
Where you stop trying to fix something that was never broken.

→ Learn about the Squirrel Steps Discovery Journey. Link in comments.

04/16/2026

85% of college-educated Autistic adults are unemployed or underemployed.

Let that land.

Not because they lack ability.
Not because they lack education.

Because the hiring process, the interview format, the open-plan office, and the unwritten social rules of most workplaces were designed for a neurotypical brain.

The impact is real:

40% of Autistic adults have experienced workplace discrimination.
52% don't feel safe disclosing their diagnosis at work.

And yet: companies with neuro-inclusive hiring practices report 30% higher productivity, 90%+ employee retention, and 28% higher revenue.

The gap between those two realities is exactly where Squirrel Space works.

→ Ready to embrace and grow with neurodiverse talent? Comment "inclusive" to learn more about our corporate & workplace resource groups and workshops

04/15/2026

ADHD and Autism: they can look similar. They are not the same.

ADHD often shows up as:
→ Difficulty sustaining attention on non-preferred tasks
→ Impulsivity and emotional intensity
→ Time blindness and executive function challenges
→ Hyperfocus on areas of deep interest

Autism often shows up as:
→ Differences in social communication
→ Intense, deep-focus interests
→ Sensory sensitivities
→ Preference for predictability and routine
→ Differences in how emotions are processed and expressed

AuDHD often shows up as:
→ Masking to function socially
→ Sensory overwhelm paired with restlessness
→ Shifting between distraction and hyperfocus
→ Cycles of high functioning and burnout
→ Intense emotions with difficulty regulating them

They can both be present at the same time — this is called AuDHD, and it's more common than previously understood.

Why does this matter?
Because support is not one-size-fits-all.
Because a misfit between support and actual needs costs years.

Understanding the difference is the first step to getting support that actually fits.

Follow to learn more.

04/14/2026

You've probably wondered about it more than once.

Why certain spaces feel overwhelming when no one else seems to notice.
Why conversations take more effort than they "should."
Why you can function really well in some areas — and completely fall apart in others.

You don't need a diagnosis to start exploring.
You just need a safe space to ask the questions you've been carrying.

That's what the Squirrel Steps Discovery Journey is for.

We're opening our first 5 spots for free — because we believe everyone deserves access to this kind of support, regardless of where they are financially.

If you've been wondering whether you might be Autistic, AuDHD, ADHD, or neurodivergent — this is your invitation.

→ Link in bio to book. First 5 spots are free. (https://docs.google.com/forms/u/0/d/1y4ezs4HwVdjQ6AhnerpjIWIFGlZ46llDGZiESPVoNr8/viewform?edit_requested=true)

04/13/2026

Is Your Community & Local Business Autism-Friendly?

We don't have all the "right" answers, but we have some tips. This month, we're encouraging communities and local businesses to Embrace Autism and invest in learning about the many Autistic coworkers, employees, neighbors, and customers who don't always feel welcome or comfortable without greater signals of psychological safety & inclusion.

Squirrel Space exists to create a thriving hub and psychologically safe spaces for ND'ers everywhere - in school, work, home, coffee shops, dentist's offices, and outdoor festivals. 70% of Autistic adults have a co-occurring mental health condition largely due to lack of understanding and acceptance in neurotypical workplaces and establishments.

Start where you can (or with Squirrel Space & 's beat), and signal to your community that you welcome and support everyone.

Comment "community" to suggest a business or to gift an Autism-Affirming basket w/ tip sheets & ND Swag to your favorite local business.

04/07/2026

Sensory overload is not about being dramatic

It is what happens when everything comes in at once
and nothing can be filtered out

The noise
The textures
The movement

Now imagine living in that every day

This is why so many neurodivergent people experience anxiety
Not because they are weak
But because the environment was never built for them

Understanding this is how we start building spaces that actually work for people.

04/03/2026

Awareness tells people autism exists.
Acceptance makes room for it.
Embracing autism means celebrating it.

This April, Squirrel Space is shifting the conversation around Autism Acceptance Month. There's a meaningful difference between knowing something exists and truly making space for it.

Throughout this month, we'll be sharing real stories, real stats, and practical ways to show up for the autistic community. In workplaces, classrooms, and everyday life.
Because every mind deserves to shine. ✨

What does genuine autism acceptance look like in your space?

We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

04/02/2026

Every mind deserves to shine. 🌟

This World Autism Acceptance Day, we're
moving beyond awareness — swipe to see why
embracing autism matters for all of us. 👉

04/01/2026

This April, Squirrel Space celebrates Autism Acceptance Month.

And for us, this is not just awareness.
It is personal.

Too many neurodivergent individuals grow up thinking they are the problem,
when really they have been navigating spaces that were never built for them.

Did you know that what looks like repetitive behavior can actually be a way to self regulate?
Or that many autistic individuals can read social cues, but only with intense effort and energy?

These are not deficits.
They are different ways of experiencing the world.

This is why we do what we do.

This month, we are partnering with Jasmine's Beat to create spaces where people can move, express, and show up without having to mask who they are.

We are kicking this off with a FREE Adaptive Dance Class this Saturday.

And throughout April, we are inviting you to share your insights and your acorns with us. The small moments. The lived experiences. The things people do not always see.

Because embracing autism is not just about understanding.
It is about showing up differently.

Embracing Autism, where every mind deserves to shine.

Join us this Saturday.
🔗 Register here: https://lnkd.in/gP8jYinn

03/31/2026

Being seen should never come at the cost of feeling safe 💛🐿️

Today is Transgender Day of Visibility.

A moment to recognize and celebrate trans lives, while also acknowledging that visibility can feel both empowering and vulnerable.

Because being visible is not always simple.
And it is not always safe.

Everyone deserves spaces where they can show up as who they are without fear, without pressure, and without needing to explain or justify their identity.

Spaces where people are not just seen, but respected, supported, and understood.

Days like this remind us how important it is to keep creating environments where people can exist fully as themselves.

03/29/2026

Earth Hour is a simple reminder that small, intentional actions still matter.

Turning off the lights for an hour is a pause.
A moment to reflect on the world we share and how we care for it.

Tonight, we’re joining that pause.

Address

Portland, OR

Website

http://www.squirrel-space.com/

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