Include Me Too Please

Include Me Too Please I'm Angel Kirby—a proud mom of three, Counseling Psychology graduate, and founder of a supportive living agency.

When my daughter was diagnosed with autism and global delay, I refused to accept a limited future for her.

**WHY — Why Does Neurodivergent Adult Inclusion Matter? 💙**Children with developmental differences eventually become adu...
09/09/2026

**WHY — Why Does Neurodivergent Adult Inclusion Matter? 💙**

Children with developmental differences eventually become adults.

Yet much of the public conversation about autism, ADHD and other forms of neurodivergence still focuses on childhood.

Adulthood can last 50, 60 or even 70+ years.

That means we need conversations about what happens next.

Where will someone live?

Will they have opportunities to work?

How will they get around?

Can they participate in their community?

Who will support them as parents and caregivers age?

Will they have friendships?

Will their voice be included when decisions are made about their life?

These aren't just service questions.

They're **quality-of-life questions**.

Inclusion matters because every adult deserves opportunities for dignity, connection, purpose, choice and belonging.

Not every neurodivergent adult will want or need the same life. One person may dream of their own apartment and career. Another may need significant lifelong support.

Both lives have value.

The goal shouldn't be creating one definition of independence or success.

The goal should be helping each person build **a life that works for them**.

That is why neurodivergent adulthood deserves our attention.

Not just during Autism Acceptance Month.

**Every month. Every year. Every stage of life.**








**WHERE — Where Do Neurodivergent Adults Belong? 🌎**Where do neurodivergent adults belong?At work.At church.At restauran...
09/07/2026

**WHERE — Where Do Neurodivergent Adults Belong? 🌎**

Where do neurodivergent adults belong?

At work.

At church.

At restaurants.

At concerts.

At community events.

At the gym.

At college.

On public transportation.

In apartments and neighborhoods.

At family gatherings.

At volunteer organizations.

And anywhere else life happens.

Sometimes society unintentionally creates separate spaces for people with disabilities and then begins to believe those are the only places where they belong.

Specialized programs and services can be extremely valuable, but they should help expand someone's world—not automatically become the boundaries of it.

Community inclusion means having opportunities to participate in everyday life alongside people with and without disabilities.

That may require accommodations, preparation, support staff, sensory considerations or patience.

But the question shouldn't always be:

**“Can they handle this environment?”**

Sometimes we should ask:

**“What could we change so more people can participate?”**

Neurodivergent adults don't simply deserve a place in the community.

**They are already part of the community.**








**WHAT — What Does Inclusion Really Mean? 🤝**Inclusion is more than allowing a neurodivergent adult to enter the room.It...
09/04/2026

**WHAT — What Does Inclusion Really Mean? 🤝**

Inclusion is more than allowing a neurodivergent adult to enter the room.

It means making sure they actually have an opportunity to participate.

True inclusion can mean:

🏠 Having choices about where and how to live
💼 Access to meaningful employment
🚌 Transportation that supports independence
🎓 Opportunities to continue learning
❤️ Friendships and relationships
⛪ Participation in faith and community organizations
🎨 Recreation, hobbies and social activities
🗣️ Having their preferences heard and respected
🤝 Receiving support without losing personal choice

Sometimes inclusion requires accommodations. Sometimes it requires additional support. And sometimes it simply requires other people being willing to slow down, communicate differently, or let go of expectations about how someone “should” behave.

The goal isn't to make neurodivergent adults become more like everyone else.

The goal is to build communities where people with different abilities can participate **as themselves**.

**Being present is access.
Being welcomed is inclusion.
Being valued is belonging.**








**WHO — Who Are Neurodivergent Adults? 🧠**Neurodivergent adults are our coworkers, neighbors, family members, friends, b...
09/03/2026

**WHO — Who Are Neurodivergent Adults? 🧠**

Neurodivergent adults are our coworkers, neighbors, family members, friends, business owners, artists, students, parents, volunteers, and community members.

The term *neurodivergent* can include people whose brains process information, communication, emotions, sensory experiences, or learning differently. This may include autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, Tourette syndrome and other neurological differences.

But a diagnosis does not tell you WHO someone is.

One neurodivergent adult may need significant daily support, while another may live independently and have a successful career. Some communicate verbally, some use alternative communication, and others may communicate differently depending on the situation.

There is no single “look” for neurodivergence.

When we see the person before the diagnosis, we create room for strengths, personalities, interests, goals, relationships and dreams.

Neurodivergent adults aren't a category of people living somewhere outside our communities.

**They ARE our communities.**

💙 Inclusion starts with recognizing the individual.








🏠 A Home Is More Than a RoofFor neurodivergent adults, safe, affordable and sustainable housing can be the foundation fo...
08/31/2026

🏠 A Home Is More Than a Roof

For neurodivergent adults, safe, affordable and sustainable housing can be the foundation for independence.

A home is where someone learns to manage a budget, prepare meals, build routines, connect with neighbors and become part of a community. But independence becomes difficult when rent consumes most of a person's income or when housing isn't located near transportation, employment, medical care and support services.

Affordable housing shouldn't simply mean finding the cheapest apartment. Sustainable housing means finding a home a person can realistically maintain long-term—with the right financial and community supports in place.

California's Department of Developmental Services recognizes affordable housing as essential to helping people with developmental disabilities remain in their communities. Supported Living Services (SLS) can also help eligible adults establish and maintain their own homes, although rent and ordinary living expenses generally remain the individual's responsibility.

📍 Los Angeles Resources

🏡 HOPE — Develops affordable housing specifically for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities throughout Los Angeles County. Some residents pay approximately 30% of their income toward rent. Regional Center eligibility applies to many programs.
877-311-HOPE

☎️ 211 LA — Connects people with affordable housing, disability housing, independent living, landlord/tenant assistance and other local programs. Call 211.

🏢 HACLA / LACDA — Public housing and rental-assistance resources for qualifying low-income residents, including people with disabilities.

⭐ Current opportunity: Los Angeles County Development Authority's site-based public-housing waiting lists are scheduled to remain open through September 16, 2026, or until sufficient applications are received.

📍 Ventura • Santa Barbara • San Luis Obispo

💙 Tri-Counties Regional Center (TCRC) — Ask your Service Coordinator about Housing Access Supports, ILS, SLS and subsidized-housing options. Housing Access Supports can assist with locating affordable housing, applications, subsidies and accessibility needs.

🏠 Access Central Coast — Provides Housing Navigation and other independent-living resources throughout the Tri-County region.

☎️ 211 Ventura County — Housing searches, disability services, rental resources and housing navigation. Call 211 or 800-339-9597.

🏘️ Local Housing Authorities — Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo housing authorities maintain affordable-housing and voucher programs; availability and waiting lists change frequently.

The goal isn't simply housing. It's a home where someone can build a life.

Affordable. Accessible. Sustainable. Included in the community.










🟠 Yayoi Kusama: A Lifetime of Seeing the World DifferentlyYayoi Kusama was more than a world-famous artist. She was a po...
08/28/2026

🟠 Yayoi Kusama: A Lifetime of Seeing the World Differently

Yayoi Kusama was more than a world-famous artist. She was a powerful example of how a different way of experiencing the world can become a source of creativity, purpose and connection.

Throughout her life, Kusama spoke openly about intense visual experiences, repetition, fear and mental health challenges. Instead of hiding those experiences, she transformed them into art recognized around the world.

Her legacy matters to the neurodivergent community because she showed that:

❤️ Different ways of thinking and seeing have value.
❤️ Repetition and intense focus can become creative strengths.
❤️ Disability or mental health challenges do not erase potential.
❤️ Adults can continue creating, contributing and influencing others throughout their lives.

Kusama continued making art and inspiring people well into older adulthood, reminding us of something important:

Neurodivergent adults do not age out of having something meaningful to contribute.

At every stage of life, people can create, learn, influence their communities and help others see the world differently.

Different minds don’t make our world smaller. They expand what the rest of us are able to see. 🧡








Picky Eating & Neurodivergence: Healthy Meals Without the Battle 🍽️For many neurodivergent people, “picky eating” may be...
08/27/2026

Picky Eating & Neurodivergence: Healthy Meals Without the Battle 🍽️

For many neurodivergent people, “picky eating” may be about much more than preference.

Texture.
Smell.
Temperature.
Color.
Routine.
Anxiety.
Sensory sensitivity.

All of these can affect what feels safe to eat.

For caregivers, the goal shouldn't be to force someone to “eat normally.” The goal is to support better nutrition while respecting sensory needs, comfort, and choice.

A few strategies that can help:

🥣 Always include a safe food
Make sure there is at least one familiar food they know they can eat.

🌱 Introduce change slowly
Try small variations of foods they already enjoy instead of introducing something completely different.

🥪 Upgrade familiar foods
Whole-grain bread, protein-rich yogurt, fortified cereal, smoothies, or familiar foods with added nutrition can make a difference.

👃 Respect sensory preferences
Crunchy, soft, cold, warm, plain, separated—these preferences matter.

🍓 Offer, don't pressure
Sometimes success is simply having a new food on the plate, touching it, smelling it, or taking one small bite.

🗓️ Keep meals predictable
Regular meal and snack times can reduce uncertainty and anxiety.

🗣️ Offer simple choices
Instead of “What do you want?” try:
“Would you like strawberries or carrots?”

👩‍🍳 Include them in food preparation
Shopping, stirring, washing produce, or choosing ingredients can help make unfamiliar foods feel safer.

And remember: nutrition doesn't have to be perfect at every meal. Look at the overall balance across the day or week.

A simple approach:

1 Safe Food + 1 Protein + 1 Fruit or Vegetable + 1 Optional New Food

Healthy eating should support the whole person—not create another source of stress.

If someone's diet becomes extremely limited, causes weight loss or nutritional concerns, or creates significant distress around eating, consider speaking with a healthcare provider, dietitian, or feeding specialist familiar with neurodivergence and ARFID.










**Who Protects Autistic Students When Their Rights Aren’t Being Met?**A recent CBS News/KFF Health News report raises im...
08/26/2026

**Who Protects Autistic Students When Their Rights Aren’t Being Met?**

A recent CBS News/KFF Health News report raises important questions about the future of federal protections for autistic students and other students with disabilities.

The story highlights a 9-year-old autistic student whose mother says his school repeatedly removed him from class and suspended him instead of consistently providing the support outlined in his educational plan.

Families have traditionally been able to turn to the U.S. Department of Education’s **Office for Civil Rights** when they believe a student is experiencing disability discrimination. But recent federal restructuring has closed regional civil-rights offices and shifted responsibilities among federal agencies.

The administration says these changes are designed to make federal support systems work better. Disability advocates, however, worry the changes could create confusion, longer delays and fewer clear paths for families seeking help.

The bigger issue is **access**.

✅ Access to appropriate educational supports
✅ Access to fair evaluations and diagnoses
✅ Access to disability-rights protections
✅ Access to someone who will listen when those protections aren't being followed

Regardless of politics, autistic students deserve the opportunity to learn, participate and receive the accommodations and support they need.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/autism-trump-education-department-civil-rights/

**Inclusion isn't simply allowing someone into the classroom. It's making sure they have the support necessary to succeed there.**

Source: CBS News / KFF Health News, August 24, 2026











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