The Neurodiversity Hive

31/03/2026

We’re so excited to introduce Michelle Mashiane, Educational Psychologist, who is joining The Neurodiversity Hive as an associate of Frances Kaplan.

Michelle brings a warm, thoughtful, and neurodiversity-affirming approach to her work with children and adolescents. She is passionate about supporting emotional wellbeing, learning, and development in ways that honour each individual’s unique way of thinking and being.

Her work includes therapeutic support (including play-based therapy) and parent support, all grounded in an integrative, client-centred approach.

Michelle is also multilingual, offering support in English, isiZulu, isiNdebele, and Sepedi, allowing her to connect meaningfully with a diverse range of families.

Living with Type 1 diabetes has deeply shaped Michelle’s understanding of resilience, and her work is rooted in helping young people navigate challenges while building strength, self-understanding, and possibility.

Michelle creates a space where clients feel seen, heard, and supported, and we feel incredibly lucky to have her as part of our Hive.

📩 To book with Michelle or learn more, please get in touch.

25/03/2026

Back in the 1900's, as the kids would say, there was no autism.

Or was there?

A man who claims that nobody had autism “in his day” is reportedly unaware that he both had autism in his day and that the sun has not yet set on his day.

Gavin Monks, 65 – who books his car in for regular services five years in advance and writes complaint letters to Pizza Express every time their menu changes – frequently laments that “everyone is diagnosing themselves these days”.

Monks explained: “It’s all those young people on TicTac. In my day, we just got on with it, no matter how loudly the washing machine was screaming at us.”

“Has somebody moved a pencil on my desk?” Monks continued, drumming his fingers repetitively. “I need those at perfect intervals – I’m using them to measure the angle of the stars. Now I’m going to have to start all over again.”

Monks could not be reached for further comment, as the incident with the pencil had caused him to immediately need to go and lie down in a dark room.

Read more on our website: https://thedailytism.com/they-didnt-have-autism-in-my-day-says-man-unaware-he-had-autism-in-his-day/

Support our work & get exclusive content on Patreon: https://patreon.com/TheDailyTism

25/03/2026

Autism 101 Workshop
Online | 11 April 2026

Let’s talk about autism, minus the jargon, myths, and outdated thinking.

This workshop is for parents, families, educators, and autistic individuals who want a clearer, more respectful understanding of autism through a neuroaffirming lens. Together, we’ll explore ideas like Double Empathy, Monotropism, and Intense World Theory, and unpack what autistic experience actually looks and feels like in real life.

This isn’t about “fixing” anyone. It’s about understanding, reducing stigma, and making sense of differences in a way that’s compassionate and practical.

Expect an informal, thoughtful, and engaging session where curiosity is welcome, questions are encouraged, and complexity is respected.

Whether you’re supporting someone, reflecting on your own neurotype, or simply wanting to learn, you’ll leave with new perspectives, clearer insight, and ideas you can genuinely use.

23/03/2026

The PDA pressure

Sometimes children are not refusing because they are being difficult. Sometimes they are refusing because the pressure has become too much.

For many children with a Persistent Drive for Autonomy (PDA) profile, everyday demands can build up like pressure inside a jar.

Some demands are obvious:
⚪ Instructions
⚪ Time pressure
⚪ Transitions
⚪ Repeated reminders

But many demands are hidden:
⚪ Questions like “why did you do that?”
⚪ Praise that feels like attention
⚪ Being watched
⚪ Social expectations
⚪ Reminders or prompts

When enough demands stack up, a child’s nervous system can move into stress mode. What we might see then is avoidance, refusal, shutdown, or explosive behaviour. These are often signs that their system is trying to regain a sense of control and safety.

One of the most helpful approaches is reducing pressure and supporting autonomy.

This might look like:
⚪ Offering genuine choices
⚪ Using collaborative language
⚪ Allowing flexible timing
⚪ Reducing repeated prompts
⚪ Lowering expectations during stress

When the pressure reduces, many children find it much easier to engage.

If this pattern feels familiar in your home, you are not alone. Many families are navigating similar experiences, and understanding how demand pressure works can make a big difference in supporting regulation and connection.

Drop a comment if you’d like to know more 👇

23/03/2026

Its only in my adult life, more recently than I'd like to admit, that I learned about satire. A friend posted an article by the The Onion, and I went full tilt in the comments. My friend messaged me privately to explain the concept of satire - I was mortified at the time, and can now finally laugh about it.

Anyway, this page featured a few days ago, and I almost landed up in the comments as a keyboard warrior again. But, they have a disclaimer at the end of each post, which saved me from a bit of foot-in-mouth.

And now I look forward to every post. I thought I'd share it with you too ❤️

An autistic boy who was greeted by his family with a sarcastic “so nice of you to finally join us” is reportedly planning to spend the rest of his adolescence barricaded in his room.

15-year-old Naveed Azkhat thought he’d pop downstairs after catching a promising whiff of spaghetti bolognese, but his rare appearance was immediately noted by his visiting aunt, 46-year-old Navya Randhawa, who loves commenting on everything her nephew does during the most self-conscious phase of his life.

Azkhat said: “I was hoping Auntie Navya would just take my appearance in stride, but, silly me, I forgot I was born into the goddamn panopticon.”

“I said ‘Hi’ and she crowed ‘He speaks!’, before giving me the third degree about whether I’ve got a girlfriend, whether I want to tutor her kids for free, and whether I’m getting taller – to which the answers are ‘mind your business’, ‘piss off’ and ‘duh’.”

When asked what it would take for him to venture downstairs again, Azkhat replied: “House fire, burglary, or an act of God, and to be honest I’d still hesitate.”

Read more on our website: https://thedailytism.com/so-nice-of-you-to-finally-join-us-guarantees-autistic-teen-will-never-be-seen-again/

Support our work & get exclusive content on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheDailyTism

18/03/2026

It's a soul enhancer

02/03/2026

Autism 101 Workshop: Online
11 April 2026

Let’s talk about autism, minus the jargon, myths, and outdated thinking.

This workshop is for parents, families, educators, and autistic individuals who want a clearer, more respectful understanding of autism through a neuroaffirming lens. Together, we’ll explore ideas like Double Empathy, Monotropism, and Intense World Theory, and unpack what autistic experience actually looks and feels like in real life.

This isn’t about “fixing” anyone. It’s about understanding, reducing stigma, and making sense of differences in a way that’s compassionate and practical.

Expect an informal, thoughtful, and engaging session where curiosity is welcome, questions are encouraged, and complexity is respected.

Whether you’re supporting someone, reflecting on your own neurotype, or simply wanting to learn, you’ll leave with new perspectives, clearer insight, and ideas you can genuinely use.

Info@ndhive.co.za
083 676 1462

26/02/2026

Now this sounds like a great initiative.

You’re warmly invited to our Garden Picnic for Autistic Adults 🌿

Autism South Africa is hosting a garden picnic where autistic adults can meet, connect and socialise with other autistic people in a comfortable, low-pressure environment.

Date: 14 March 2026
Time: 13:00
Venue: Autism South Africa, 24 Sussex Road, Parkwood, Johannesburg

Bring your own picnic food and a blanket — and most importantly, yourself, just as you are. Tea, coffee and cold drinks will be provided.

This is an opportunity to spend time with others who share lived experience, build community, and enjoy a gentle afternoon together in the garden.

19/02/2026

It's the month of love, and we gotta lotta love for this birthday girl!

20/01/2026

Three years of NDH

A hive built by women, inspired by bees, each of us with a role, moving with purpose, creating something bigger together.

This all-female team has been doing the brave, thoughtful work of making honey: neurodiversity-affirming care, built cell by cell.

Grateful for every bee in this hive and the community that lets us do what we love.

Here’s to the buzz, the honey, and three sweet years.

12/01/2026

12/01/2026

How do you make autistic Barbie?

Like this!