Laura van Dijk sparks my joy, my creativity and my heart.  She is one of the amazing advocate friends I have made along the way on Instagram and she is truly a blessing in my life.  We have fun sharing a word where we each write about it from our own unique perspective and share it with one another and our IG communities.  “Spark” is one of those words. 

Go check out each of our posts on this word you will enjoy the different ways we each approached it.

Laura’s Spark: https://www.instagram.com/p/CY8Zg9ps3tU/

My Spark: https://www.instagram.com/p/CY8jMQZMudL/

I’ve learned and shared so many beautiful moments with Laura and she shows up sharing her journey as a late identified autistic ADHD adults in ways that will touch your heart too.

 Meet Laura… 

Social Autie: What is your specialty or focus area of Autism Advocacy? 

Laura:  I guess my specialty is describing and explaining autistic and autistic/ADHD traits and triggers in my life and how I deal with things in daily life in compare to the neurotypical world around me, without painting colors on others peoples canvas with opinions or advice. Just show the real deal without the confetti..The reason why I'm always trying to flip the switch to a positive mindset instead of let events or life dragging me down. Uplifting others works better, always.

Social Autie: Why did you begin advocating for yourself and others?  What makes this personal to you and Your Big Why? 

Laura:  I couldn't find real life stories and find peers. I could only find books, which were mostly written by neurotypicals about neurodivergent and it made me feel not a typical autistic, I did not have every struggle as they described and I found it so narrow-minded for a spectrum that is so large. We got diagnosed and my son got help, I didn't. It felt like getting your graduation of college, but when you walk out the door nobody told you what it is your grade is for. Finding likeminded people helped me so much, reading their stories, the recognition, the open minded and kind and patience people who understand ...helped me find the last piece of myself back. I wish that I knew there was a whole community, especially when I was diagnosed 8.5 years back. It definitely would have helped me in the process and could even prevent the burnout of 5.5 years...

Social Autie: What is/are the top tip(s) or insight(s) you have discovered for advocating for a) others and b) yourself?

Laura:   A:I discovered that there are so many people going through the same struggles and to support and vent it in a way that not says: "autistics" or "all of us" etc., but making it the story where you are open about life and tell about struggles, positives, give empowerment, is something that people appreciate. I am my authentic self here, and the more I did that, the easier it got in daily life as well. As if I was able to practice in a safe place, to grow and learn and get insights in the "why's and how's"

B:I noticed that if you are keeping it about yourself and your own journey, people will not be so harsh or try to provoke, because it is about yourself... my tip is to not give or push your ideas and desires about how people should be called, don't give unsolicited advice and don't call out others but focus on your journey, your message and dot on the horizon. You can help others hepling themselves by sharing your life, not opinions. Let them choose their own colors and please don't judge what you don't know...let every person be themselves, just like you would like to be treated ;)

Connect with Laura van Dijk on Instagram @Autistic.Lautie

https://www.instagram.com/autistic.lautie/?hl=en