Autism & ADHD Strengths

Autism & ADHD strengths. We hear so often about the challenges of ADHD and autism, so today I want to celebrate our strengths.

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A little bit about me:
Hi I'm Purple Ella and my family is an autism family with three out of five of us on the autistic spectrum. I also have a connective tissue disorder (hypermobile Ehlers-danlos syndrome). So life can be a challenge but also a lot of fun.

Helpful links

[amberrichards]

I love that you focused on the upsides of autism and ADHD. Having being diagnosed late in life I realised last month that people focus on negatives and I felt like a child. I had to remind myself all the great things I have achieved in my life, and the responsibilities I have had. It's good all the other stuff about autistic traits and learning about tools that may help and support on offer, but it would also be nice to get some balance and look at positive things people have achieved, and how to use our strengths. Everyone has talents.

[bogeyworman]

My favourite trait which I share with other ND types is my curiosity!

We seek to understand things at a deeper level, will ask claritive questions and think deeply on a subject.
It feeds into the detail-orientedness, problem-solving and hyperfocus, but I love it most because of how it's used to understand people without judgement. And the delight n discovery!

[artwithmamafairybreadd]

“We hate injustice, we hate unfairness “…I so get this…it screams ME…..especially the fairy cakes example…
LUV this…..what a fantastic video 💋❤️💜💕

[BeyondHex]

Fixing code got me, i'm a Software Engineer and i'm glad that after years of hard school and mobbing i am able to use what held me down before to adapt to code super quickly and learn new coding practices/functions etc... in a fraction of the time

Best of this is imagining the people who were Mobbing me working at Aldi tho

[suzyh]

Very encouraging! You are awesome too Ella!!!!

[lesleystacey]

I really enjoyed your video. Especially the statement 'we are really fun to be around.'
Thankyou

[SavageBear_YT]

I've been watching quite a few of your videos lately, and I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for making them. It's nice to have wayfarers out there to help us along our journey.

[Jag]

My son was recently diagnosed with both and it has been hard...but your video really made me smile. THANK YOU.

[amandachapman]

Great to hear about the positive aspects of autism and ADHD. I do get tired of all the negative talk around these, as if that's all there is. I'm not denying the difficulties; I just think people need to hear about the positives more often.

[sohvs]

Thank you for this video! Now I could just share this with everybody who stops talking to me when I tell them I'm autistic.

[MCVBRLE]

I have been told myself that because of my autism and ADHD I can be very annoying or a chatterbox especially around friends or loved ones. It's caused me to silence myself if I do ever end up like that in the future so I cannot really be the me I want to be in conversation. I will have days where people don't mind me talking for ages as it allows me to express myself freely from judgement, but the days I cannot be myself are the worst more around when I'm on my really overly hyperactive days as I'll always be told I'm annoying or that I should calm down. From my own experience with having both ADHD and Autism it's harder on some days than others

[PhoebeK]

Being Autistic and Dyslexia is really good for doing a PHD including finding a solution for a problem which has been argued for 30 years, but different way of seeing the universe also makes it interesting when trying to get people see just how much has been contributed as so many cannot see beyond what they know.🙄 As I was growing up I said my Dyslexia meant I was working Windows on an Apple computer which since my Autism diagnoses I have realised is a good way of describing trying to work in a neurotypical way when it is just not how I am.

[ZenaraX]

I love that you were wearing a Hufflepuff top while talking about how fair and caring being neurodivergent can make us. I wonder if anyone has ever looked into where we usually fall house-wise, especially since so many of us have Harry Potter as a special interest! I'd guess Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw!

[lauranixon]

Love this! I feel like my autism is a fairly good thing, when I have a special interest, I'll learn absolutely everything about it and then move onto something new. I've done this so many times that I have a really great knowledge on a lot of subjects. I'm an extremely fast learner, particularly with physical tasks and computing, super handy! I'm always honest which makes me a good friend and my clients love that about me.

The ADHD is more challenging for me, I'm soooo easily distracted and my memory is terrible. The only things I tend to remember are when people do something wrong or it's special interest related. I also have a love hate relationship with my oversharing, sometimes it's really funny and other times I feel embarrassed.

[DontAssume]

I've had people say so many times "thank you for your honesty". Creative refreshing solutions to problems. Fairness: less likely to backstab or compete to get ahead; better team players.

I overshare so that I am more understood and not a mystery. I think that comes from wanting to be a better collaborator.

[Catlily]

I have been told I am too honest but my boyfriend says he likes that I am an "open book"...

[lindaleckrone]

Thank you. My son is really struggling with his recent diagnosis and I hope this helped him a little. He's stuck in an "it's not fair that I'm neurodivegent" loop right now.

[juliusfinkas]

It's always to comforting and stimulaitng to watch your videos Ella, you are a lovely person and I really enjoy the way you go about explaining. Even if I don't feel like I have any of these strengths, despite having ASD and ADD, I know I have some other strengths. I do think it was a great idea to include that you don't have to have these strengths to be good enough. I think it means a lot subconsciously to a lot of people, even if they don't see it. I know it has for me.

[mollysolomon]

I love the editing on this one! Engaging. Love it. Your mix of research and fact sharing mixed with personal perspective and detail is great!

[Autism_Awarenessever]

I’m autistic. And autistics have the upper hand in a lot of categories that neurotypicals don’t know.