NJEF: Neurodivergence

Three incredible community members share about their journeys in neurodivergence, first as kids who needed support and understanding, and then as adults who provide their students with that support and understanding. Join Charon Henning, Libby VanWhye, John Muir Laws, and the Nature Journal Educator's Forum for this deeply meaningful conversation.

[@Gilren1]

This is the perfect way to communicate, to find out what we and others are struggling with and how we can learn and develop together! 😍 Not just in nature journaling, but in all aspects and topics in our lives! #johnmuirlaws is a perfect teacher and provider of community. 💚 Thank you so much! Yvea you did a wonderful job, hosting this event.

[@nancydunn5818]

This has been both beautiful and hard to watch. I'm not alone and I'm wonderful -I know that now. I'm grateful for having survived my childhood and adolescence in spite of all the adults in my life thinking I was retarded, not worthy of help. I'm 58 now. An artist, birder, teacher, mother, wife, Grandma, a dancer. The world (and especially Mexico) wasn't ready for people like me, especially girls. I masked my way to adulthood and found my strength, my worth, my myself. I wish no girl or boy has to endure what many of my generation had to. Bless you all for this.

[@alexandrawalters8953]

I am grateful beyond measure that you all have created this gathering; and broken hearted that I didn’t know about it in time to be there for the live chat. I wish upon a star that you might consider creating another event like this - I feel so alone, yet I can hear how many of the participants here have also felt this way. THIS IS SO IMPORTANT ☮️

[@JohnMuirLaws]

@alexandrawalters8953 There will be a part 2. We will talk about this again. And we would love to have you there.

[@raspberrythief-naturejourn6583]

I don't get chance to attend the educators forum, or often watch the videos. But thank you so much for sharing this important subject. Thank you for sharing your stories, its good to know we're not alone.

[@justincamozzo1337]

Thank you for being brave enough to share these stories with everyone!

[@1zelcat]

So helpful but also so interesting to watch all these neurodivergent people making the effort to focus on each other's stories.

[@lizgorley]

Incredibly grateful for this program. I could relate with a lot of what was said. It brought me to tears, but yet your resolve and caring community is such a wellspring of hope, peace and forgiveness. I hope to be able to catch more of your videos. This truly was profound, cathartic, and life-giving. Beyond grateful. 💜🦋

[@bekahjanthevintagedreamer]

This video is so wonderful! I'm so thankful you all spoke. I didnt realize I had adhd until I was in my 30s after researching why I was struggling so much. The older I got, the harder it was to cope. I wish I had someone who was able to help me as a child. Even now I feel so alone because I am not surrounded by others who understand my struggles... but The moment I realized I had adhd I remember just bawling because I realized I wasnt really slow and stupid. All of a sudden my struggles made sense. My daughter is on the spectrum and most likely has adhd also. I really loved how you all described why a proper labels are important. I would get kick back from parents who would insist its wrong to label and refused to get their kids diagnosed even though they suspected they were on the spectrum. I strongly disagree with that because if your not diagnosed... you cant get the help you need! Also, the moment I realized what my "label" was, was the moment I felt free and the burden lifted. It was the moment I was able to search for strategies to help me. I finally had scientific reasons for why I was struggling so hard with life. I would much rather be labled as having adhd than being labeled slow or stupid.

[@katjabozarth4654]

Thank you all so much for being so brave and sharing, I am neurodivergent too and it was so healing to hear from all of you. For Laura: I’d just skip drawing, write more and glue in photos or other people’s illustrations,who says you have to draw yourself? It is still a nature journal! ❤

[@mariehughey5390]

I’m a highly sensitive person. And think that maybe it might be included in neurodivergence. Are there other things? You all represent 3 forms. Just curious.

[@aurorastorm9842]

Don't overpathlogise and reduce the Internet exposure