Neurodiversity Affirming Reads and Podcasts

By clicking and purchasing from the link below, you will directly support Bridges Development Center, a 501(c)(3) organization. 

Neurodiversity Affirming Reading List- Curated by Bridges Development Center

Neurodiversity Affirming Children's Books

Autism

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Downs Syndrome

Dysgraphia

Dyslexia 

Inclusion

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder 

Synesthesia 

Social Anxiety 

Other Neurodiversity Affirming Titles

Neurodiversity Affirming Adult Books

Podcasts 


Publications 

Local Resources 

Autism Alliance of Michigan

The AAOM is a nonprofit organization that hosts a variety of resources focusing on three pillars: education, employment, and a MiNavigator Program to assist families in finding resources to meet their individualized needs. 

Autism Society of Greater Detroit 

Autism Society of Greater Detroit is a nonprofit organization focused on creating connections, empowering everyone in the autism community with the resources needed to live fully through a variety of community programs and resources. 

Friendship Circle 

Friendship Circle of Michigan is a non-profit organization affiliated with Lubavitch of Michigan. Friendship Circle provides assistance and support to 3,000 individuals with special needs and their families by providing recreational, social, educational and vocational programming. In addition to helping those in need, the Friendship Circle enriches its vast network of volunteers by enabling them to reap the rewards of selfless giving.

Full Spectrum Agency for Autistic Adults 

Full Spectrum Agency for Autistic Adults is a nonprofit organization welcoming all autistic people, including those formally diagnosed, self-diagnosed, or just exploring this part of their identity. This organization has several opportunities to connect and offer support, including virtual peer support meetup, individual coaching, community resources, and corporate counseling. 

Michigan Alliance for Families

Michigan Alliance for Families is a statewide resource to connect families of children with disabilities to resources to help improve their children’s education. This organization helps facilitate parent involvement as a means of improving educational services and outcomes for students with disabilities. Michigan Alliance for Families can assist you in knowing your rights, effectively communicating your child’s needs, and advising how to help them develop and learn. 

The Play Project

An evidence-based, intensive, autism early intervention training for professionals and parents.  The PLAY Project offers professional training programs through parent coaching.




National and Global Neurodiversity Supporting Organizations and Resources 

Autistic Self Advocacy Network

The Autistic Self Advocacy Network seeks to advance the principles of the disability rights movement with regard to autism. ASAN believes that the goal of autism advocacy should be a world in which autistic people enjoy equal access, rights, and opportunities. They celebrate and promote autistic community and culture through policy and legal advocacy, making educational resources, creating advocacy tools, and leadership training for autistic self-advocates. 

Meaningful Speech

This site is dedicated to supporting language development for all stakeholders on their children’s language development journey. Their mission is to educate on gestalt language development and delayed echolalia.  They host a variety of high quality training and resources.  

Learn Play Thrive

Their mission is to provide resources and continuing education trainings that promote the use of strengths-based, ethical, neurodiversity-affirming practices for professionals (including OTs, SLPs, social workers, and psychologists) working with Autistic people. They listen to Autistic voices and recognize that Autistic adults are the real experts on autism. All courses are either developed by or reviewed by Autistic professionals.

Tilt Parenting

Tilt Parenting works to change the way neurodifferences in children — ADHD, learning disabilities, autism, giftedness, processing challenges, twice-exceptionality, and more — are perceived and experienced so these exceptional children, and the parents raising them, can thrive in their schools, their families, and in their lives. There are many resources available on this site to support parenting.  

The International Council on Development and Learning (ICDL) 

The International Council on Development and Learning (ICDL) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting each person's development to its fullest potential. ICDL provides training courses for parents and professionals through the DIRFloortime® Training Program.  DIRFloortime® is recognized as a leading evidence-based approach to helping individuals on the autism spectrum and others with neurodevelopmental differences flourish.  

Neuroclastic 

This organization is a collective of Autistic people responsive to the evolving needs and trajectory of the Autistic community. Neuroclastic platforms autistic voices, prioritizing those who are underrepresented in autistic self-advocacy, and our contributors create free, accessible resources for autistic people and non-autistic parents, educators, service providers, partners, and other people who interact with autistic people.

Autism Level Up 

This is an organization that challenges your thinking around autism to move you beyond awareness into acceptance, appreciation, empowerment, and advocacy. This organization aims to meet people wherever they are in their journey and help them continue forward with a variety of tools and resources to work with autistic individuals.