Autism, ADHD & Neurodivergent Resources
Neurodivergence can look different from person to person.
For many women, discovering that they are autistic, have ADHD or both can be a journey of understanding themselves, making sense of past experiences and learning to embrace who they are.
Girls and women are sometimes overlooked or diagnosed later in life, particularly when they have spent years masking their difficulties or trying to meet other people’s expectations.
Culture, ethnicity, gender and access to healthcare can also shape how neurodivergence is recognised and understood.
We’ve gathered these resources to help you explore different experiences, find stories you can relate to and discover further support.
You don’t need to read everything at once. Take your time, explore whichever resources feel helpful, and remember that everyone’s experience is different.
Autism in Girls & Women
National Autistic Society – Autistic Women and Girls
Information about how autism may present in girls and women, including masking, diagnosis and social experiences.
https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/identity/autistic-women-and-girls
Autistic Girls Network – Books and Resources
Books and resources covering autism, ADHD, mental health and neurodivergence.
Women and Girls on the Autism Spectrum – Sarah Hendrickx
Explores autistic women’s experiences throughout life, including relationships, diagnosis, family life and challenges that may be overlooked.
Odd Girl Out – Laura James
A memoir about discovering autism in adulthood and making sense of a lifelong feeling of being different.
ADHD in Girls & Women
ADHD Girls – Resources
Information about ADHD in girls and women, including late diagnosis, personal experiences, books and support.
ADHD UK
Information about ADHD, diagnosis, practical strategies and support.
ADHD Girls to Women – Lotta Borg Skoglund
Explores how ADHD may affect girls and women throughout life and why their experiences can be overlooked.
A Radical Guide for Women with ADHD – Sari Solden and Michelle Frank
A book exploring self-acceptance, identity and the emotional impact of living with ADHD.
Understanding Girls with ADHD – Kathleen G. Nadeau, Ellen Littman and Patricia O. Quinn
Explores how ADHD may present in girls, including difficulties that can go unnoticed or misunderstood.
Masking, Identity & Late Diagnosis
Sometimes we spend years adapting ourselves to fit into the world around us.
We might copy others, rehearse conversations, hide our struggles or push ourselves beyond our limits to appear as though we are coping.
Understanding masking can help us recognise why we may feel exhausted, disconnected from ourselves or unsure who we really are.
UNMASKED – Ellie Middleton
Ellie shares her experiences of discovering she was autistic and had ADHD at 24, alongside information and practical guidance for understanding neurodivergence.
https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/457703/unmasked-by-middleton-ellie/9780241652022
How to Be You – Ellie Middleton
A practical book about working with your neurodivergent brain rather than against it, exploring executive functioning, emotional regulation and the pressure to meet unrealistic expectations.
https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/462873/how-to-be-you-by-middleton-ellie/9780241710371
Strong Female Character – Fern Brady
A memoir exploring autism, diagnosis, identity and navigating a world that often misunderstands autistic people.
Unmasking Autism – Dr Devon Price
Explores autistic masking, identity and the pressure to fit into expectations that may not reflect who we really are.
Personal Stories & Lived Experiences
Sometimes the most comforting thing is hearing someone describe an experience you have struggled to put into words yourself.
Personal stories can help us understand our identities, recognise masking and feel less alone.
Emily Katy – Girl Unmasked
Emily Katy is an autistic author and mental health nurse who shares her experiences of growing up undiagnosed, struggling with mental health and discovering she was autistic at 16.
Her memoir explores masking, anxiety, the challenges of being misunderstood and the difference that understanding your neurodivergence can make.
Girl Unmasked – publisher page:
https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/emily-katy/girl-unmasked/9781800961418/
Emily’s blog:
http://www.authenticallyemily.uk/
Ellie Middleton – Personal Stories and Neurodivergent Advocacy
Ellie shares personal experiences of autism and ADHD, late diagnosis, masking, identity and navigating everyday life as a neurodivergent person.
Why personal stories matter
Everyone’s experience of autism and ADHD is different.
Personal accounts are not a checklist or a substitute for professional advice, but they can help us recognise our own experiences, discover new language for what we feel and understand that we are not alone.
You might recognise yourself in someone’s story, relate to only part of it, or discover that your own experience is completely different.
All of those things are okay.
Ethnic Minority & Neurodivergent Experiences
Neurodivergence exists across every ethnicity, culture and community.
However, racism, cultural expectations, stigma and barriers to healthcare can affect how autism and ADHD are recognised, diagnosed and supported.
These resources help bring attention to experiences that are often underrepresented.
SEMA.Scot – Scottish Ethnic Minority Autistics
A Scotland-based organisation centring racialised autistic people’s experiences.
Lived-experience resources:
https://sema.scot/AASF
All the Weight of Our Dreams: On Living Racialized Autism
An anthology featuring writing, poetry, artwork and personal experiences from autistic people of colour.
It explores how race and autism can intersect in people’s lives.
National Autistic Society
https://www.autism.org.uk/
A reminder
There is no single ethnic minority experience.
People’s lives are shaped by many factors, including heritage, language, faith, culture, gender, family and individual circumstances.
Listening to different voices helps us build a more inclusive community.
More Autism, ADHD & Neurodivergence Resources
Scottish Autism
https://www.scottishautism.org/
ADHD Foundation
https://www.adhdfoundation.org.uk/
ADHD Scotland
https://www.adhdscotland.co.uk/resources/
Autistic Girls Network
https://autisticgirlsnetwork.org/
A Gentle Reminder
You do not need to relate to every autistic or ADHD experience you read about.
You do not need to fit a stereotype to be neurodivergent.
You do not have to prove how much you struggle before you deserve support.
And you do not need to have everything figured out after discovering more about yourself.
Our experiences are shaped by our brains, identities, backgrounds and environments.
Every person’s story deserves to be heard.
At Create & Chatter, we want women to feel Safe, Seen, Supported and Included — including those whose experiences have been overlooked, misunderstood or underrepresented.
You deserve to see yourself represented.
You deserve to be understood.
You deserve to belong exactly as you are.
Create & Chatter — creativity, connection and community without judgement.
Create & Chatter resources are intended for general information and wellbeing support. They do not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, treatment or mental health support. Please choose what feels right for you and seek professional support if you are concerned about your physical or mental health.
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