Different, Not Less: A neurodivergent's guide to embracing your true self and finding your happily ever after

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Also, I'm not a Disney person. Not like, in a big way, like some people are Disney people. This book is written by a Disney person and for me, the constant references to Disney characters as a tool for illustrating points about neurodivergent experience - was beyond jarring. That's not me shaming anyone for what they love - I just *don't* relate to the genie from Aladdin in a very significant way, nor do I necessarily agree that Rafiki in The Lion King is coded as having ADHD. a b c d Topsfield, Jewel (24 September 2022). "Chloé Hayden channels her anger at Sia into scriptwriting gold for Heartbreak High". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 28 May 2023.

An empowering lived-experience guide to celebrating and supporting neurodivergence from 24-year-old actor, social media star and disability advocate Chloé Hayden Watson, Meg (28 February 2023). "Marvel Stadium announces changes after alleged ableism at Harry Styles show". The Age . Retrieved 28 May 2023. Eloise, Marianne (30 October 2022). "I Didn't Expect To See Real Autistic Representation On Screen. I Was Wrong". HuffPost UK . Retrieved 28 May 2023.I thought that was good for me at the time, at least. Now, I struggle with crippling identity crises every other day and I still have a lingering fear that someone is looking over my shoulder on the train and judging me for whatever I’m doing. For years my stims were physically harmful because I couldn’t stim the way I wanted to – slapping or punching my thighs is still something I struggle to deal with. I don’t know where Tiana begins and where she ends. Is she the well-mannered and attentive girl who is ‘oh so mature’? Or is she the silent girl who looks like she’s zoning out every two seconds and mentally dying inside, but somehow manages to pull it together when the situation calls for it? This book reminds me that I deserve to feel comfortable in society. Neurodiverse and ‘different’ people are taught that you need to grow up or get out. We’re told that educational and employment institutions don’t have room for us. We’re given the impression that there is something fundamentally wrong with us for simply existing as we are, so we need to hide anything that screams being abnormal. It’s not fair. Reading Different, Not Less brought me a sense of reassurance that there was a place for me in this world, that I would find my happily ever after. Whilst I was not able to relate to every single experience of Chloé, I was able to see myself in her, a little girl afraid to tell people who she was in fear that they would reject me, seeing me only for my diagnosis.

At the age of 13, she had attended ten different schools and had severe depression and anxiety as a result of severe bullying, [5] leading Hayden to be homeschooled. [6] [7] She was diagnosed with autism at age 13, and ADHD at age 22. [8] [7]Hayden's performance as Quinni in Heartbreak High was universally well-received, with many commending her for portraying a well-represented autistic character that isn't stereotyped. [17] This is a moving, at times funny story of how it feels to be neurodivergent as well as a practical guide, with advice for living with meltdowns and shutdowns, tips for finding supportive communities and much more. Gulla, Emily (14 September 2022). "Heartbreak High viewers are all praising the show for one important reason". Cosmopolitan . Retrieved 28 May 2023. Chloe's sense of optimism combined with her no-nonsense ability to call out people, companies, or the world itself for being unjust is undeniably infectious. When I first got diagnosed, I found her YouTube channel and I thought "FINALLY, someone who is autistic in the same way I am autistic" and it made me much more comfortable accepting my diagnosis. I've even had friends of mine watch her videos and TikToks of her openly stimming while seeing sharks and say things like "I'm not saying that you two are the same person, I'm just saying we haven't ever seen the two of you in the same room."

Now, Chloé is a power house in advocacy and a worldwide known name, with platforms of half a million followers and nearly half a billion views, in-person presentations at seminars, conferences, schools and her own tours in three continents to over a hundred thousand people, as well as starring as one of the worlds first autistic characters, Quinni in Netflix’s Heartbreak High. Your Happily Ever After is coming- I promise you. No fairytale can exist without a Once Upon A Time, without dragons to fight… And, likewise, no fairytale will close without a Happily Ever After. You’re going to be okay, I promise you. Your book is structured with lots of headings, pull-out quotes, and even an index –What made you decide to format it this way? Since April 2023, she has hosted the podcast Boldly Me on Nova, in which she interviews several guests. [14] [15] [16] Public image and activism [ edit ] Hayden wishes to break existing autism stereotypes by talking about her experiences. She has stated, "I see autism as a superpower, if you look at people at the top of their fields, so many of them are on the spectrum." [5]

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Additionally I noticed that Hayden tries to use Disney fairytales as an analogy and stylistic device throughout the book but she’s not very consistent with it. Geelong Youth Awards 2020". City of Greater Geelong. 29 July 2020 . Retrieved 28 May 2023– via YouTube. Whether you or someone you know is neurodivergent, or neither and you simply want to better yourself by being educated by someone who ACTUALLY has firsthand experience with being neurodivergent, this is the book for you. a b c d Boseley, Matilda (23 May 2020). " 'It's a superpower': an autistic young woman takes her message of inclusion to TikTok". The Guardian . Retrieved 28 May 2023.