The Observer is a student-run, daily print & online newspaper serving Notre Dame, Saint Mary's & Holy Cross. Learn about us.
-20 posts tagged "Autism"
Jack Griffiths | Friday, April 28, 2023
Neurodivergence is a crucial aspect of humanity that often goes unrecognized. However, it is imperative to not merely evaluate neurodivergence in a vacuum but also in the context of other aspects of one’s identity. Last semester, I explored how particular racial identities influenced experiences of neurodivergence. In a different piece, I sought to learn more
Jack Griffiths | Friday, April 14, 2023
There are now several starry-eyed high school seniors who have received their acceptance letters to Notre Dame. You might be one of these seniors, excited to see the campus landmarks, find out your dorm and plan out your first-semester schedule. However, you might still have questions about how to navigate Notre Dame’s academic and social
Jack Griffiths | Wednesday, March 8, 2023
All right, I’m looking into his eyes. Good. Now he knows I’m paying attention … Wait, it’s been 10 seconds. What if he thinks I’m staring at him? Maybe I should just look at something else for a split second so I don’t stare. Good! There’s a tree over there. Let’s look at the tree.
Jack Griffiths | Thursday, March 2, 2023
For today’s column, I wanted to finally place ADHD at the forefront. For me, the main difficulty with writing a full article about ADHD was general nervousness about misrepresenting or misunderstanding aspects of others’ experiences. Eventually, I determined that I could alleviate this concern by interviewing one of my friends from the Liturgical Choir who
Jack Griffiths | Thursday, February 16, 2023
Autistic people are often incorrectly thought of as passionless. One might meet an autistic person who seems anxious or reserved and misinterpret her demeanor as a sign that she’s simply not someone who feels very strongly about anything. This could not be further from the truth. Autistic people are still invested in the topics and
Jack Griffiths | Friday, January 20, 2023
Welcome to the second semester of NeuroDivergent! While I know that my final column last semester may have given the impression that I was done as a columnist, I still have the desire to do more deep dives and tell more stories. So, to kick things off in a new year, here’s a (hopefully well-structured
Jack Griffiths | Friday, December 2, 2022
Head spectrum is the cognitive carnival. Your neurons have soared off the rails. So hold on to your everything, ladies and gentlemen. Behold the hidden wonder of the world and watch as thoughts bounce on all the cranium walls. Getting the opportunity to (metaphorically) spill ink about my personal experiences and about neurodivergence more broadly
Jack Griffiths | Friday, November 11, 2022
Being a white man, I fit within the general population’s preconceived idea of what an autistic person looks like. When asked to picture an autistic person, many people will automatically conjure images of young white boys playing with trains. This conception overshadows the perspectives of those who do not fit this expected mold; in an
Jack Griffiths | Friday, October 7, 2022
In my columns, I’ve primarily focused on my own experiences to provide insight into neurodivergence. However, while I’ve enjoyed sharing my thoughts and personal history, there are obvious limitations to this approach. Neurodivergence can manifest itself differently from person to person, and one’s other identity factors can also contribute to unique experiences. Hence, this week
Jack Griffiths | Monday, September 26, 2022
Your six-year-old self timidly clings to your mother’s hand as your eyes are bombarded with harsh rays descending in deluges making you feel like a sweaty performer for the world’s worst stage show as your reddening ears start to swell with the cacophony of babies crying, scanners beeping, suitcases rolling and intercom blaring as you