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A comprehensive guide to understand Tourette's in children and adults < Back Neurodiversity Tourette Syndrome: Symptoms, causes, management & support A comprehensive guide to understand Tourette's in children and adults MMS Staff 7 Jun 2024 4-min read Tourette Syndrome is a nervous system condition characterised by involuntary sounds and movements, called ‘tics’. While the core symptoms remain the same throughout life, how Tourette's syndrome presents itself can differ between children and adults. Tics typically appear between ages 5 and 9. ADHD and OCD are more prevalent in children and adults with Tourette’s. Signs and traits of Tourette Syndrome Tics are the defining characteristic of Tourette syndrome. These are sudden, brief bursts of movement or sound that can range from mild to severe. In some cases, severe tics can make it difficult to communicate, do daily activities. This might affect overall well-being. Types of tics: Motor tics: These involve involuntary movements of different body parts. Simple motor tics: These are quick and repetitive, affecting a limited number of muscles. Examples include blinking, head jerking, shrugging, or twitching the nose. Complex motor tics: These involve more coordinated movements of several muscles. Like touching or smelling objects repeatedly, copying someone else's movements, hopping, or making obscene gestures. Vocal tics: These are involuntary sounds a person might make. Simple vocal tics: These are brief, simple sounds like grunting, coughing, throat clearing, or barking. Complex vocal tics: These are more elaborate vocalisations. Like repeating your own words or phrases (echolalia), repeating what someone else says (coprolalia), or using swear words (copropraxia). Understanding tics: Tics can vary in terms of how often they happen (frequency), how strong they are (severity), and what kind of tic they are (type). Factors such as illness, stress, anxiety, tiredness, or excitement can make tics worse. They can even occur during sleep. Tics can change throughout a person's life. Often, they worsen in the early teenage years and improve as one transitions into adulthood. Before a tic happens, some people might feel an uncomfortable sensation in their body, like an itch, tingle, or tension. Performing the tic can actually relieve this feeling. Some people can suppress a tic for a short time, but it takes a lot of effort. Myths vs facts: Demystifying tics and Tourette Syndrome Myth: Everyone with Tourette syndrome yells swear words all the time. Fact: Only about 10-15% of people with Tourette syndrome experience coprolalia, the involuntary use of swear words. Myth: Tics are caused by bad parenting or a lack of discipline. Fact: Tourette syndrome is a neurological disorder, likely with a genetic component. There's no link to upbringing or a person's character. Myth: People with tics can easily control them if they try hard enough. Fact: Tics are involuntary, though some people can suppress them for a short while with significant effort. This suppression often leads to a stronger tic later, and might be severely uncomfortable for the person. Myth: Tics are a sign of intelligence problems. Fact: Tourette syndrome has no bearing on intelligence. Many people with Tourette syndrome are highly intelligent and successful. Myth: Tics only affect children. Fact: While tics often start in childhood, they can persist into adulthood. However, symptoms often improve as individuals transition into adulthood. Myth: Tics are contagious. Fact: Tics are not contagious. You cannot "catch" Tourette syndrome from someone else. Myth: Everyone who has tics has Tourette syndrome. Fact: Tics can be a symptom of other conditions as well. Tourette syndrome is a specific diagnosis with stricter criteria, including both motor and vocal tics lasting for more than a year. Myth: Stress causes tics. Fact: Stress can worsen existing tics, but it doesn't cause them. The underlying cause of Tourette syndrome is still being researched. Myth: People with tics are always frustrated or angry. Fact: While some people with tics may experience frustration due to their symptoms or negative biases, Tourette syndrome itself is not a mental health disorder and doesn't dictate emotions. How to interact with someone with Tourette Syndrome Sometimes social interactions can be exhausting for people with Tourette’s because of negative biases, ableist comments, and a general lack of awareness among people. Here are some things to remember if you want to be mindful of the experiences of someone who has Tourette’s: Tics are involuntary: Tics are uncontrollable movements or sounds. Scolding or asking someone to stop their tics is not cool. Focus on the person: Treat the person with Tourette’s just as you would anyone else. Engage in conversation, share interests, and build a rapport based on who they are, not their tics. Avoid prying: Skip questions like "What's wrong with you?" or "Can you control that?" These can be insensitive and embarrassing. Open communication: If appropriate, consider explaining Tourette syndrome to a child with TS. This can help them understand their own body and feel less anxious. Also try and sensitise their peers and friend circle. Empathy and support: Help the person with Tourette’s feel comfortable and accepted. Avoid stares or making them feel like their tics are a burden. Managing tics: Stress reduction techniques: Offer support through relaxation techniques like deep breathing or mindfulness. These can help manage stress and potentially reduce tic frequency or intensity. Focus on solutions: If someone with TS has tics that could cause harm, focus on collaborative solutions. This might involve finding fidget toys or adapting activities to reduce risk. Remember: Everyone experiences Tourette’s differently. Be patient, understanding, and create a space where the person with TS feels comfortable being themselves. Disclaimer: This article is intended for general awareness and understanding only. It is not written by medical professionals and should not be considered as medical advice. For professional diagnosis or treatment, please consult a qualified healthcare provider. Much much relate? Share it now! WhatsApp Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Copy link < Back SHORTS

Centre partners with institute for early integration of accessibility into education < Back Disability, News, Education IIT KGP to offer course on disability accessible design Centre partners with institute for early integration of accessibility into education MMS Staff 15 Jul 2024 2-min read Civil engineering students at Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT-KGP) will soon have the opportunity to study accessible building design, thanks to a new partnership between the Centre’s disability affairs department and the institute. This course - currently an elective - will be available to students in the sixth and seventh semesters starting from the 2024-25 academic session. Two professors from the institute’s Department of Architecture and Regional Planning, Subrata Chattopadhyay and Haimenti Banerjee, are reportedly working on developing the Accessible Built Environment course, along with the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD). The course will cover such topics as smart and inclusive habitats, accessibility and infrastructure-driven liveability, and inclusive urban planning. The Centre subsequently plans to introduce the course in 27 other institutes, including other IITs. Presently, the course will carry 30 credits, and it aims to integrate accessibility into education early so that future engineers can incorporate it into their building designs. Accessible infrastructure - the need of the hour - still remains a distant dream in India despite the Rights for Persons with Disabilities Act of 2016 (RPwD Act) mandating all existing public buildings become accessible within five years of the passing of the act. Over the next three years, the course will be an elective at IIT-Kharagpur and will likely become a mandatory subject thereafter. Rajesh Aggarwal, Disability Affairs Secretary, emphasised the importance of this initiative, stating, “The objective is to integrate accessibility into education early so that students incorporate it into building design.” Previously, IIT-Kharagpur collaborated with the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) on the Building Accessible Safe and Inclusive Indian Cities (BASIIC) initiative. In addition to IIT-Kharagpur, the disability affairs department is in discussions with the Council of Architecture to include this subject in their curriculum as well. A senior official from IIT-Kharagpur highlighted the need for this course, saying, “Constructing accessible buildings needs experts and it is important that our future infrastructure builders have professional training about the same.” This initiative is part of the government’s Accessible India 2.0 campaign, which aims to achieve universal accessibility for persons with disabilities (PwDs). The Accessible India campaign focuses on making buildings and transport systems across the country accessible for people with disabilities. Under this campaign, access audits were conducted on 1,671 buildings across 48 cities, and retrofitting work has been sanctioned for 1,314 buildings, with 623 buildings already retrofitted in 20 states. The norms for retrofitting, as specified in section 44 of the Persons with Disabilities Act, include creating ramps in public buildings, modifying toilets for wheelchair users, and installing Braille symbols in elevators. Much much relate? Share it now! WhatsApp Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Copy link < Back SHORTS

Kartik Aaryan-starrer Chandu Champion is a tribute to the 1965 war hero & para athlete from India < Back Disability, News New film celebrates paralympic gold medalist Murlikant Petkar Kartik Aaryan-starrer Chandu Champion is a tribute to the 1965 war hero & para athlete from India MMS Staff 14 Jun 2024 3-min read Bollywood - at long last - seems to be going big on disabled stories. After the release and success of the Rajkumar Rao-starrer Srikanth, based on the life of visually-impaired entrepreneur Srikanth Bolla, director Kabir Khan and producer Sajid Nadiadwala have teamed up on Chandu Champion, which hit theatres today. Chandu Champion is a sports drama starring Kartik Aaryan. The film is based on the life of Murlikant Petkar, an ex-jawan in the Indian Army who went on to become India's first Paralympic gold medalist, tracing his journey from soldier to ace sportsman. From Sangli to the global stage Born on November 1, 1944 in Peth Islampur, Maharashtra, Petkar developed a keen interest in athletics early on in life, particularly wrestling and hockey. Even after joining the Indian Army, he continued to excel in sports. According to his website , the 1965 Indo-Pakistan war left him severely injured and with a permanent spinal cord injury as well as memory loss. Acquiring a disability Within 2 years, Petkar was well on the road to recovery. In 1968, he was already participating and making a mark in state-level sports such as shot-put, javelin throw, discus throw, weightlifting, table tennis and archery. During this time, Petkar trained vigorously, mastering the freestyle swimming technique with just one functional arm. And sure enough, he clinched gold in the 50-metre freestyle swimming event at the 1972 Summer Paralympics held in Germany, showing the world that success in sport isn’t reserved only for those who fit a traditional athletic mould. Petkar also set a world record with a time of 37.33 seconds, one that stood for many years. Petkar has continued to be involved in sports and has been an advocate for sports and the rights of disabled individuals in India. He has received various awards and recognition, though many feel his contributions and achievements have not received the level of recognition they deserve. In 2018, the government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri, one of the country's highest civilian awards, acknowledging his contributions and achievements in sports. Recognition and representation Chandu Champion releases at a crucial time in history, when discussions around the portrayal of disabled individuals in media are increasingly becoming more and more prominent, and disability advocacy is at the highest it has been. But all said and done, as a society we still need to deeply reflect on how disabled athletes - and people in general - are represented in our films and TV. While the stories of disabled people need to be told, we also need to make sure that their portrayals do not oversimplify their lives but instead offer a nuanced view of their lived experiences. It is now more crucial than ever to discuss the delicate line between celebrating achievements and veering into the territory of inspiration porn. It is also very important to remember that disabled people do not exist only to make the able-bodied feel better about their own lives. If you’ve watched Chandu Champion, we’re keen to hear your thoughts about the disability representation in the movie. Much much relate? Share it now! WhatsApp Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Copy link < Back SHORTS

The Mexican lawyer’s journey to success highlights the power of accommodations, access and community support < Back Disability, News, Education Ana Victoria Espino De Santiago: World’s first Down Syndrome lawyer The Mexican lawyer’s journey to success highlights the power of accommodations, access and community support MMS Staff 22 Aug 2024 1-min read Ana Victoria Espino De Santiago, a young woman from Zacatecas, Mexico, has recently become the world’s first lawyer with Down Syndrome. She recently graduated with a degree in Law from the Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas (BUAZ). Born in 1999, Ana Victoria’s journey to this milestone is testament to what accommodations, accessibility and the right support systems can do for disabled people. From a very young age, Ana Victoria’s parents, Marisol and Jesús, instilled in her a deep love for education and the arts. They created a nurturing environment that allowed her to flourish and pursue her passions. This support system proved crucial as Ana Victoria navigated the challenges of an education system that was not equipped to meet her needs. Determined to avoid the discrimination she might face in a traditional classroom, Ana Victoria completed her high school education online. She then enrolled at the Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas to study law. It was here that she encountered one of her greatest challenges: a legal education system unprepared for her specific needs. With the help of a dedicated shadow professor, known as a ‘maestra sombra,’ who provided personalised support, she went on with studies. But even before Ana Victoria completed her law degree, she was making her mark as an advocate for disability rights. She actively participated in legislative forums, sharing her story and advocating for the inclusion of people with disabilities. Her contributions to these discussions were a vital part of her growing understanding of the legal field. Ana Victoria, also an accomplished artist, has held several painting exhibitions since 2014, showcasing her talent at prestigious venues, including the lobby of the Congress of the Union in Mexico City. Her collection, titled “Desde mi cielo” (“From My Sky”), was met with acclaim. Ana Victoria says her goal is not just personal achievement but to pave the way for others with disabilities to occupy decision-making spaces in society. A fervent advocate for disability rights, she is using her platform to push for greater inclusion and disability representation in all sectors. Much much relate? Share it now! WhatsApp Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Copy link < Back SHORTS

Highlighting nature doesn’t discriminate, the Channel 4 ad appends “They’re so good, considering…” with “Considering What?” < Back Disability, Media, News Paralympics 2024 campaign challenges perceptions about Paralympians Highlighting nature doesn’t discriminate, the Channel 4 ad appends “They’re so good, considering…” with “Considering What?” MMS Staff 7 Aug 2024 2-min read British broadcaster Channel 4 has launched its new campaign film ‘Considering What?’ ahead of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Created by Channel 4’s in-house agency 4creative, the campaign seeks to challenge the public's perceptions of Paralympians, encouraging viewers to see them as elite athletes rather than competitors “overcoming” their disabilities. The campaign launched on July 12, and comes after research commissioned by Channel 4 revealed that nearly 60 percent of viewers watch the Paralympics to ‘see athletes overcoming their disabilities,’ whereas only 37 percent watch it for ‘exciting sporting competition.’ The campaign aims to shift this narrative, focusing on the athletes' sporting excellence. The video personifies the elements of the world — gravity, friction, and time — showing that these elements make no exceptions for any athlete, regardless of disability. Gravity is depicted as a taunting, shirtless man, friction appears as an abrasive racer in a yellow sports car, and time is personified as a woman with a stopwatch. The elements, respectively, are shown challenging wheelchair rugby star Aaron Phipps, multi-gold medallist Sarah Storey and sprinter Emmanuel Oyinbo-Coker. The spin here is that the film shows athletes overcoming these elements, not their own disabilities. Simultaneously, the film is capturing the reactions of audiences watching the Paralympics, some of whom - although well-intentioned - say things like: “He’s incredible… for someone like that.” and “They’re so brave, considering…” “Considering what?” the ad asks. Lynsey Atkin, Executive Creative Director of 4creative, explains : “Excellence is excellent, no caveats. How strange that as audiences we watch one of the world’s most elite sporting events with our heads tilted and our amazement seemingly tempered. Gravity, friction, time — the unchangeable forces of our world dictate what it means to be the best on the pitch, in the pool, on the court, on the track. They offer no head starts, no free passes, no patronising pat on the head and another go around.” Supporting the TV campaign is an out-of-home campaign, featuring posters of Paralympians and a mural by disabled artist Florence Burns. These collaterals convey the ‘Considering What?’ message by adding a strikethrough across well-meaning but patronising phrases that are commonly associated with Paralympic athletes. Channel 4’s Chief Marketing Officer Katie Jackson highlights the significance of the campaign: “... The Paralympics is one of the greatest sporting events in the world, drawing many millions of viewers. And that’s just it. This is sport, where athletic prowess takes centre stage and excellence wins above all else. As we show Paralympians battling against the very real forces of our world, we wanted to highlight the pure power and energy of world-class athleticism. Because at the end of the day, sport doesn’t care about disability. Paris, we’re coming for you.” Watch the full film here and let us know your thoughts below. Much much relate? Share it now! WhatsApp Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Copy link < Back SHORTS

Neurodivergence & innovation: How strengths-based support transforms lives < Back Neurodiversity, Parenting, Education Boy with learning disabilities turns entrepreneur making $5K an hour Neurodivergence & innovation: How strengths-based support transforms lives MMS Staff 21 Nov 2024 2-min read At just 14 years old, Tucker Findley is a successful entrepreneur with a six-figure business. But his journey wasn’t straightforward. Diagnosed with learning disabilities and a neurological condition, Tucker couldn’t read, write, or count past 10 by the time he was 9. School was a daily struggle, and he felt like he didn’t belong. Everything changed the day Tucker found golf balls near his Sterling, Virginia, home. Instead of seeing them as just objects, he saw an opportunity. “I found golf balls everywhere,” he recalls. He started cleaning and selling them on Facebook Marketplace, where they sold out — 2,000 in just three days. Tucker reinvested his profits, hiring friends to help and even buying a kayak to collect more balls. From there, he expanded his focus to antiques and collectibles, inspired by TV shows like Antiques Roadshow. With his parents’ support, Tucker opened an eBay store and quickly realized he had a knack for spotting undervalued items. A $6 BMX bike frame turned into $500 in parts. A Barbie doll sold for $1,000. “It wasn’t just about making money,” says Tucker’s mom, Rebecca. “It was about seeing him excited to learn.” Tucker, who has dyslexia and dyscalculia, found ways to improve his math and reading through his business. Counting golf balls, tracking profits, and negotiating deals taught him skills he’d struggled to grasp in traditional classrooms. His online school even built lessons around his business activities. Today, Tucker runs his business - Tucker’s Vintage Treasures - out of a 2,500-square-foot warehouse at home. He sells everything from sneakers to vintage toys through eBay and livestream auctions, sometimes making over $5,000 in just an hour. What sets Tucker apart isn’t just his business success — it’s how he gives back. When he earns big profits from items he buys cheaply, he often returns to the seller and shares the earnings. “I’m honest and fair,” he says. Tucker’s journey underscores the importance of focusing on neurodivergent children’s strengths instead of their challenges. His father, Ryan, left his job to homeschool Tucker, tailoring his education to what he loved. “The most important thing is to find what you’re good at,” Tucker says. Tucker’s story is a reminder that every child has potential. Sometimes, all they need is the right environment to let it shine. Much much relate? Share it now! WhatsApp Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Copy link < Back SHORTS

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Tech leaders push for merit-based policies, but at what cost to diversity and innovation? < Back Work, News, Gender The MEI vs DEI debate: Is this a step back for inclusion Tech leaders push for merit-based policies, but at what cost to diversity and innovation? MMS Staff 30 Jun 2024 4-min read ‘Scale is a meritocracy and we must always remain one.’ Tech entrepreneur Alexandr Wang posted on X last week saying his company Scale AI was replacing DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) with ‘MEI.’ MEI, Wang added, stands for merit, excellence, intelligence. ‘Talent is our #1 input metric,’ the founder said. Unsurprisingly, Tesla CEO Elon Musk applauded Wang on the move. “Great!” Musk responded, in a reply to Wang. Musk wasn’t alone in the list of company heads congratulating Wang on the move; Sequoia partner Shaun Maguire and Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong hopped onto the appreciation bandwagon as well. Musk and plenty other leaders have been more than vocal about their dislike for DEI. In a post on X earlier, Musk had said: “DEI is just another word for racism. Shame on anyone who uses it.” Alarmingly, there’s a growing community of people actively in support of MEI over DEI. What this community gets wrong is that DEI does not mean prioritising diversity while ignoring other qualifications. Ironically, Wang’s post ends up lending credence to the very cornerstone of DEI hiring. “There are a lot of things in this post that are actually, perhaps surprisingly, aligned with the goals of a lot of DEI practitioners,” said Natalie Johnson, cofounder and managing director of strategy at DEI consulting firm Paradigm, in this story on Fortune. “I think for many, many years now, we have failed to recognize that and have failed to make that connection that, oftentimes, we have the same values, the same principles, that we’re building off of.” Speaking of diversity, in the AI industry alone, women make up just 30% of global roles. This is especially concerning considering how many Large Learning Models (LLMs) have biases in-built because of the lack of diversity within the teams working on them. Ranking high among AI’s biases is gender bias. The Artificial Intelligence and Gender Equality report by UN Women has identified a clear gender gap in access to the Internet, which manifests in the gender bias in AI. This study by the Berkeley Haas Center for Equity, Gender and Leadership analysed 133 AI systems across different industries and found that 44 per cent of them showed gender bias and 25 per cent both gender and racial bias. If AI is trained on data that is biassed, a natural consequence is it will learn and internalise that bias and incorporate it in the results it throws up. And gender bias is not the only kind AI perpetuates. Recently AI also came under fire for discriminating against people with disabilities by ranking CVs of disabled people lower than able-bodied people. DEI policies are put in place not only to ensure the right representation among the workforce but also to make sure every voice is heard, every person has a level playing field, and decision-making is fair and just. As Lisa Simon, chief economist at analytics platform Revelio Labs rightly puts it: “...as soon as you remove (DEI policies), people go back to hiring people that look like them.” Bias and discrimination are the prime reasons DEI came into being in the 1960s . Since then, companies have made significant strides in diversifying their workforce through internal policy reforms and structural changes in their hiring & talent development processes. Lots of data has emerged over time that shows how effective DEI boosts innovation , leads to higher revenues and results in greater employee satisfaction. There is also ample data to show that a large percentage of employees who are dissatisfied by ‘non-inclusive workplaces’ plan to quit within 12 months. And that is the fundamental issue with placing MEI over DEI - a less diverse team means a more homogenous outlook of the world, which severely limits the potential of both artificial intelligence as well as human teams, both of which are crucial in ensuring organisational success in today’s day and age. Not to mention rallying against DEI invisibilises the lived experiences of people who have been systemically marginalised, and denies them the opportunity to present their perspectives to the world. It ensures that systemic oppression is never weeded out. If the pushback against DEI goes on, AI-powered technology and services will evolve to be severely deficient of diverse perspectives. The teams in our workplaces will homogenise and innovation might come to a complete standstill. The gap will consequently result in a lower quality of services as well as biassed decisions about jobs, credit, health care and more. What are your thoughts about the DEI vs MEI debate? Much much relate? Share it now! WhatsApp Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Copy link < Back SHORTS

The singer, diagnosed in 2022 with Stiff Person Syndrome, teared up belting out an Edith Piaf classic < Back Disability, News, Health Celine Dion makes grand comeback at Paris Olympics opening ceremony The singer, diagnosed in 2022 with Stiff Person Syndrome, teared up belting out an Edith Piaf classic MMS Staff 29 Jul 2024 2-min read Singer Celine Dion’s performance at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics 2024 on Friday left the audience mesmerised. Performing her rendition of an Edith Piaf classic from atop the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Dion’s was the last act of the opening ceremony. With Friday’s event, the Canadian singer-performer (56) broke her three-year hiatus, which she had gone on after being diagnosed with the neurological condition Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS). News of her diagnosis first came in December 2022, when she revealed that she had been having involuntary spasms and muscle rigidity. At the time, Dion had posted a video to her Instagram saying the spasms were impacting ‘every aspect’ of her daily life. “It’s been a struggle. All I know is singing.” Last month, Prime Video released the documentary I Am: Celine Dion , directed by Irene Taylor, which shows what the singer’s journey has been like living with the condition. In one of the scenes, during a physical therapy session, Dion is seen having a seizure. Taylor said she and Dion discussed about retaining the entirety of the scene in the final cut. “‘I think this film can help others understand what it’s like to be in my body… I don’t want you to shorten that scene,’” Taylor said Dion told her at the time. SPS is a rare, chronic neurological disorder that causes muscle stiffness and sometimes intense muscle spasms in the trunk and limbs, affecting posture, balance, and the ability to use certain muscles. It usually has an autoimmune component, and, in some cases, can be progressive and painful. Only one in about a million people gets SPS, and the condition affects twice as many women as men. The condition is diagnosed based on symptoms, through neurological and neuromuscular exams, including electromyography, or EMG, to test muscle and nerve function. Diagnosis also often relies on a blood test that measures the GAD antibody. At the time of her diagnosis, lots of her fans expressed their worry openly about how Dion - one of the top-selling artists of all time with over 200 million albums sold - would never be able to make a mainstream comeback. However, Dion’s Friday evening performance demonstrates that with an accurate diagnosis, timely therapies and the right treatment plans, some conditions can be managed effectively, if not completely reversed. Much much relate? Share it now! WhatsApp Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Copy link < Back SHORTS

A candid conversation with two siblings about rivalry, breaking societal norms, and understanding each other < Back Gender, Neurodiversity Sisterhood with Neurodivergence: Shreya & Roshni’s lived experience A candid conversation with two siblings about rivalry, breaking societal norms, and understanding each other Swara Swami 23 Aug 2024 11-min read Shreya (33, she/ her, neurodivergent) and her sister Roshni (30, she/ her, allistic) speak to Much Much Spectrum about their growing up years. Interviewer: Can you both share a little bit about yourselves and your relationship as sisters growing up and how has your bond evolved over the years? Shreya: Well, I think I should start with the story of this picture. When Roshni was just born, she was on Amma's lap. Actually she's supposed to be on Amma's lap, but I have pushed her away and she's crying and I have taken my place on my mother's lap and I'm feeling very happy about it. So essentially that kind of sums up our childhood. We used to fight a lot. Because that's what siblings do. But we also used to chill a lot together and play on the computer and have Shrewsbury biscuits while we did it. So we had a lot of these rituals, like making midnight snacks together and things like that. But we also fought a lot. But when I moved to Ahmedabad to do my master's, I think that is when we became really close when we started living in different cities. Roshni would come and visit me and stay with me on campus and then in the various other cities I have lived in. So I think that is when we became super close and we both are the first person we go to. At least for me, she's the first person I go to with any major issue. We are very similar yet very, very different people. So I think it is a little complementary and also we have a lot of shared interests. So we definitely bond on that. Roshni introduced me to Taylor Swift. We, in general, all of us enjoy food that is one of the things we bond over. And dogs, books. Yes. A lot of books. Interviewer: Roshni, do you also have something to share about your relationship with Shreya? Roshni: I definitely agree with most of the things that she has said. We were not very close while growing up because I'm the younger sister. Distance makes the heart grow fonder, so I genuinely feel like we had those special special moments when we would be cooking together, rather, Shreya would be cooking and I would be cleaning. Before I became a teenager, things were quite different. I was a little bit scared of her, but we got very, very close and actually became friends after she moved out. Shreya: I forgot to say that I was not nice to Roshni when we grew up. I thought, “Oh, you must bully your younger sister. And it was… not nice. It's an important thing to mention because there are not really very great templates around there for sibling relationships, which are not opposing genders. Roshni: On that note, as Shreya mentioned in the picture, she has pushed me off. You can see I'm crying. And she's very, very happy. Interviewer: Could you tell us about your neurodivergence discovery and the journey? Shreya: It was mostly me reading up. I would say it is thanks to the Internet, but because I was reading a lot about the Autism Awareness Month and I read up a couple of articles and I thought that those behavioural traits in adults correlated to our father. I spoke to Roshni about it, and when we spoke to Amma about it, we were like, ‘Oh my God, this makes sense.’ But this was a year before I asked to be assessed and then I didn't think about it. But it was like a niggling thing in the back of my head. Then I started correlating that behaviour across generations of my family. So then I asked my therapist if she could do an assessment and she was like, sure. And I didn't know what to think going in. And I was like, I don't know why I'm asking for this because do I even deserve to take this? What is this? What am I thinking? So then when the results came, it surprised both of us. I think also my therapist, because she'd been my therapist for four years. Once I got assessed as being autistic, I read up a lot and that also made a lot of sense to me. I understood a lot about my childhood and I read a bunch of books, starting with ‘Aspergirls’ by Rudy Simone and then ‘Unmasking Autism’ by Devon Price. I would share all of this with Roshni and Amma and they would be like, yes, okay, this makes a lot more sense. About a year or so later, I took on the ADHD assessments and that also came about and I was like, this is very true. Interviewer: So Roshni, how has Shreya's discovery/ diagnosis changed your dynamic with her? Roshni: I think this conversation is when I think I really started thinking about autism. And so many years of the last few years have been spent in just educating myself. I am also a music educator. I work in a private capacity, so I do work with a few children with diverse needs. So her assessment really, really did help in a professional sense for me to kind of work with the kids that I do, but, wow, sorry, I'm… I feel like I'm blabbering. Shreya: No, you're not. It's okay. It's completely fine. What you're saying is very relevant. Roshni: I think the biggest thing in the beginning was to educate myself and read up more, so whatever material and resources Shreya was sharing, I was making it a point to read them. It really did make a lot of sense. I think she tried to point it out to me, do you remember when this happened when I was younger or this happened? I was like, no, but I was younger than her. So I barely remember, you know, her experiences and meltdowns, so to speak. But it really made a lot of sense the way she is. Since then, I think I've just wanted to be her advocate, especially, you know, in our immediate family because not everyone is as proactive about educating themselves. I think I'm a lot more sensitive to how she is feeling, especially any sort of overstimulation. I feel like when she's around, it's like my ears are also picking up these frequencies. I need to ensure that, for example, at home when we are sitting together and watching TV anytime the volume spikes, the volume is reduced to ensure that she's feeling okay. Interviewer: Shreya, do you have something to share also? Shreya: No. Oh, I would just say that it has just become, I think, better because the understanding is now deeper. And I feel like I can be a very confusing person to be around for a lot of people, but I feel like the assessment has helped understand some of it. This may be something that Roshni has been doing for a long time, but I feel like now she is… someone you can rely on without having to explain too much when you are overstimulated in, say, family gatherings or generally just sitting at home and watching TV. So that aspect really helps because there are very few people in my immediate family or immediate surroundings who actually understand it. So it is nice to not have to open your mouth and explain it. Interviewer: So how do you both support and care for each other? Shreya: We were visiting family in Delhi in December. And it was super social for about a few days. And the last day I just, I could barely talk. I was like, I'm done. I'm done with this world. So Roshni really took on even talking to the cab guy and telling him where we had to go. And there were some physical tasks to be done. She kind of took it on. She also got me coffee. A lot of that is a big way that she has, I think, shown care towards me. I don't want it to be like Roshni is in service to me constantly, but I feel like I also like it when I'm staying with her. Then I make her chai and meals because for me doing things is showing love and care. Roshni: I think if you have ever met Shreya, especially in a house setting, it doesn't matter whose house it is, you'll definitely have multiple cups of chai, which she will make, and there will be at least one snack. Whatever is there in the kitchen, she'll make something. And that is her love language. It has always been, I think, like all of the midnight snacks also. She bakes, she cooks, for it doesn't matter who comes through the door. Actually, most people. With us also, there are weekly FaceTime calls. Sometimes we call each other and give each other the most random updates. And sometimes we just exist on FaceTime together for about 15 minutes to an hour. She is my council, she is my lighthouse. I feel like the reason why I knew I could marry my partner is because Shreya had approved of him. Any major decisions in life, I feel like I need to run by her because she has a very x-ray type scan view of things. And it's great to have such a clear voice sometimes telling you what you might not want to hear or see. So that way I feel like that's how we care for each other. Shreya: When Roshni’s partner is not there, we are just each other’s extended plus ones. And Roshni is also nicer to people than I am. So it's nice to go with her to family functions. People are nice to me also, obviously, but I feel like they're a little scared of me. But everyone is always nice to Roshni, so it's nice to be around her. But I think we balance each other out. There's a fair amount of overstimulation that happens for Roshni also. We have left a lot of weddings and gone to cafes and restaurants and just sat there. Interviewer: Despite being the elder sister, Shreya, you mentioned that your sister is often seen as the older one because of her presentation. Tell us more about the differences in your presentation. Neurodivergent people are often considered way younger than their age because of how we present. How do you both feel about this? Shreya: First of all, we both wear big glasses and we both have short hair. And we both speak in a similar manner. So lots of people also say that we look similar. But I think this really stood out to us once when we were in Chennai visiting some relatives and somebody was like, ‘Oh, I'm pointing to Roshni asking if she's the older one’, which was very strange and she's gotten annoyed and that has just increased in occurrence since then. But because I also almost always have coloured hair, I don't know if people are seeing that and seeing things because of it. And now I have a lot of tattoos. But I don't know why that points to making me look younger. But yeah, it's strange because I'm like, what are the markers of it? Roshni: Yeah, I think it could be, I mean, some people also think it's the height thing. I'm fractionally taller than Shreya. In the beginning I used to get a little annoyed. Because I was like, ‘Oh my God, but look at my face.’ I have such a baby face, but I don't care about it anymore. It's fine. Shreya: That is true. Roshni: Yeah, and I think the way we dress also has something to do with it. I am quite boring in my fashion on a day to day basis. Like when Shreya is around, things get brightened up as a proxy effect, I guess. But because she's always, she expresses herself sometimes through her clothing and the hair colour. The last one of the weddings we went to in 2021 or 22, some people asked Shreya that, and she had a bunch of green hair at that time. It was green, right Shreya? Shreya: Whose wedding? Roshni: This was Varun's wedding. Shreya: Varun's wedding? Roshni: Yeah. Shreya: I had some coloured hair, but it wasn't green. I think it was purple or pink. Life stage wise, as per traditional societal life stage, I am not married and I don't have kids and I'm 33 and there are very few people I know my age who are like this, which is very strange in India. But I feel like that also shows. And the tonality of talking. But I feel like this may also play into why people think I am younger in general. It doesn't make sense. Interviewer: Can you both share a message to families/ siblings where one is neurodivergent and the other is not. Roshni: I'll just repeat what I said earlier, which is, educating oneself is the most important thing you can do as the first step. If anyone in your family is assessed, provide support in whatever way is possible. And, I once brought this up in therapy actually, I don't know sometimes how to help my sister or how to advocate for her. I feel like in some situations it's very sticky and the best piece of advice she's ever given me is to just ask her what she wants. So I think educating oneself and ensuring that you are asking questions and giving the support that a person needs and not just kind of preemptively giving them support based on what you think they need. Shreya: Asking, as you said, but also being willing to listen. Because I feel like when a neurodivergent sibling says something, a lot of what we say is very, very surprising to people because of the experiences, because if everyone has experienced the same thing, the way people experience it can be very, very different. So I feel like sometimes being generally better at listening and believing the other person that, okay, yeah, this is what they got out of the situation… I think that really helps. But I feel like if someone has grown up with a neurodivergent sibling in any case, they would always know that there are a lot of things that their family does, or that they would do as siblings, that are not usual and that are anyway designed to cope with the other person's neurodivergence. So like you have already been living with it. Now when we think about our family and we realise we are so strange, all of us, and we all do these things also that are so strange. And I realised when I talk to my friends' families that they don't have naturally strange families. So… these things. So, just embrace it and believe in the other person. That's all. Shreya is a media professional and podcaster. You can check out her podcast 'At Odds' here . Much much relate? Share it now! WhatsApp Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Copy link < Back SHORTS