Victoria Duncan
@victoriaduncan.bsky.social
Autistic woman writing about autism, neurodiversity and neuronormative culture. She/her.
My current boss helps me prepare for every interview (consultants interview a lot) by reminding me the best answer to the question "do you have experience in X" is never just "no" even when that is the truth. You're supposed to spin a related experience or say how you would do it if you could.
It is kind of amazing to me that the hiring process does a good job of actively weeding out autistic people,
And then when autistic people actually get jobs they're like "wow direct and clear communication and a strong reliable work ethic, just what we're looking for!"
Could've fooled me..
And then when autistic people actually get jobs they're like "wow direct and clear communication and a strong reliable work ethic, just what we're looking for!"
Could've fooled me..
Stop using chatgpt adopt an autistic with special interests TODAY this deal wont last forever mostly cause they get overstimulated pretty fast but hey great for the environment amirite
November 14, 2025 at 5:42 AM
My current boss helps me prepare for every interview (consultants interview a lot) by reminding me the best answer to the question "do you have experience in X" is never just "no" even when that is the truth. You're supposed to spin a related experience or say how you would do it if you could.
Me before boarding the plane: Let's goooo I wanna go whoosh
Me after boarding the plane, crammed in with 150 other people, a scared dog and an upset tiny human: I remember now. The plane is the bad place.
Me after boarding the plane, crammed in with 150 other people, a scared dog and an upset tiny human: I remember now. The plane is the bad place.
November 14, 2025 at 1:14 AM
Me before boarding the plane: Let's goooo I wanna go whoosh
Me after boarding the plane, crammed in with 150 other people, a scared dog and an upset tiny human: I remember now. The plane is the bad place.
Me after boarding the plane, crammed in with 150 other people, a scared dog and an upset tiny human: I remember now. The plane is the bad place.
Reposted by Victoria Duncan
Having a mental illness is so funny because you'll explain your thought process to someone and they'll be like, "Well that doesn't make sense," and you're like, "Right, yes, you've grasped the basic concept of mental illness."
November 13, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Having a mental illness is so funny because you'll explain your thought process to someone and they'll be like, "Well that doesn't make sense," and you're like, "Right, yes, you've grasped the basic concept of mental illness."
I contacted a university disability/accommodations office for my dyslexic husband to see if he could get any of these fabled student supports.
"IS HE PERMANENTLY AND IRREPARABLY UNABLE TO FUNCTION?" they inquired.
Upon learning he in fact functions sometimes, they said no to supports.
"IS HE PERMANENTLY AND IRREPARABLY UNABLE TO FUNCTION?" they inquired.
Upon learning he in fact functions sometimes, they said no to supports.
I find myself increasingly wondering how able bodied people appear to believe that being disabled is"easy."
Getting accommodations in school, uni and/or work: easy, a breeze, even!
Getting a doctor to write you a certificate supporting your needs: EASY!
Working from home: EASY!
Getting accommodations in school, uni and/or work: easy, a breeze, even!
Getting a doctor to write you a certificate supporting your needs: EASY!
Working from home: EASY!
November 14, 2025 at 12:23 AM
I contacted a university disability/accommodations office for my dyslexic husband to see if he could get any of these fabled student supports.
"IS HE PERMANENTLY AND IRREPARABLY UNABLE TO FUNCTION?" they inquired.
Upon learning he in fact functions sometimes, they said no to supports.
"IS HE PERMANENTLY AND IRREPARABLY UNABLE TO FUNCTION?" they inquired.
Upon learning he in fact functions sometimes, they said no to supports.
True story, I was someone's workplace GPT and they got a cash recognition prize, a raise and a promotion off of my help before I un-adopted myself on the grounds they were interfering with my work. Things have been pretty steadily downhill for them ever since.
Stop using chatgpt adopt an autistic with special interests TODAY this deal wont last forever mostly cause they get overstimulated pretty fast but hey great for the environment amirite
November 13, 2025 at 11:51 PM
True story, I was someone's workplace GPT and they got a cash recognition prize, a raise and a promotion off of my help before I un-adopted myself on the grounds they were interfering with my work. Things have been pretty steadily downhill for them ever since.
Reposted by Victoria Duncan
Stop using chatgpt adopt an autistic with special interests TODAY this deal wont last forever mostly cause they get overstimulated pretty fast but hey great for the environment amirite
November 13, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Stop using chatgpt adopt an autistic with special interests TODAY this deal wont last forever mostly cause they get overstimulated pretty fast but hey great for the environment amirite
Reposted by Victoria Duncan
“So, do you have any plans this weekend?”
I'm just going to hang out at home.
“Ah, so no plans yet.”
What? I just told you my plans.
I'm just going to hang out at home.
“Ah, so no plans yet.”
What? I just told you my plans.
November 13, 2025 at 7:24 PM
“So, do you have any plans this weekend?”
I'm just going to hang out at home.
“Ah, so no plans yet.”
What? I just told you my plans.
I'm just going to hang out at home.
“Ah, so no plans yet.”
What? I just told you my plans.
Reposted by Victoria Duncan
A good reminder for myself and others with ADHD: when you are struggling with it, the first step is ALWAYS forgiving yourself.
So much of why we get trapped and find ourselves unable to act or change is that we get trapped in our shame and guilt spirals...
So much of why we get trapped and find ourselves unable to act or change is that we get trapped in our shame and guilt spirals...
November 13, 2025 at 1:44 PM
A good reminder for myself and others with ADHD: when you are struggling with it, the first step is ALWAYS forgiving yourself.
So much of why we get trapped and find ourselves unable to act or change is that we get trapped in our shame and guilt spirals...
So much of why we get trapped and find ourselves unable to act or change is that we get trapped in our shame and guilt spirals...
If you want to help autistic employees, pay for them to get Lean Six Sigma (process improvement) training. It's our birthright and it will pay dividends. ✌️
November 13, 2025 at 1:56 PM
If you want to help autistic employees, pay for them to get Lean Six Sigma (process improvement) training. It's our birthright and it will pay dividends. ✌️
Reposted by Victoria Duncan
🏕️✨
What if someone had been there to hold space for you to heal after childhood sexual abuse?
Help give that to a child now.
lusidpsychcare.org/donate
Help give that to a child now.
lusidpsychcare.org/donate
Donate now to help children heal with nature adventures after sexual abuse — LUSID
LUSID Psychological Care exists to take children who were sexually abused on nature adventures with counselors and veterans to help keep them safe and remind them that they do have the skills to not o...
lusidpsychcare.org
October 30, 2025 at 10:54 PM
🏕️✨
I unlocked a little piece of healing today.
I have baggage around choosing clothes to wear. Growing up I didn't get to wear what I wanted and it was sensory hell sometimes. I had one of my few childhood meltdowns over it and, later, severe anxiety symptoms, all around choosing & wearing clothes.
I have baggage around choosing clothes to wear. Growing up I didn't get to wear what I wanted and it was sensory hell sometimes. I had one of my few childhood meltdowns over it and, later, severe anxiety symptoms, all around choosing & wearing clothes.
November 12, 2025 at 4:59 AM
I unlocked a little piece of healing today.
I have baggage around choosing clothes to wear. Growing up I didn't get to wear what I wanted and it was sensory hell sometimes. I had one of my few childhood meltdowns over it and, later, severe anxiety symptoms, all around choosing & wearing clothes.
I have baggage around choosing clothes to wear. Growing up I didn't get to wear what I wanted and it was sensory hell sometimes. I had one of my few childhood meltdowns over it and, later, severe anxiety symptoms, all around choosing & wearing clothes.
Linguists talk about the correct order of adjectives in English. It's a small mocha latte with whip. Any other word order sounds heckin weird. A native speaker knows this intuitively.
But my brain eats language rules for breakfast 💪 especially when I'm flustered 💪💪 which I often am 💪💪💪
But my brain eats language rules for breakfast 💪 especially when I'm flustered 💪💪 which I often am 💪💪💪
Normal people: "There's no wrong way to order a coffee."
My autistic ass: "CHALLENGE ACCEPTED 💪"
My autistic ass: "CHALLENGE ACCEPTED 💪"
A “pioneering” autistic woman has managed to take a social interaction in which a stranger takes a deep-dive into one’s genitalia and make it even more stressful, sources have confirmed.
November 12, 2025 at 4:07 AM
Linguists talk about the correct order of adjectives in English. It's a small mocha latte with whip. Any other word order sounds heckin weird. A native speaker knows this intuitively.
But my brain eats language rules for breakfast 💪 especially when I'm flustered 💪💪 which I often am 💪💪💪
But my brain eats language rules for breakfast 💪 especially when I'm flustered 💪💪 which I often am 💪💪💪
Reposted by Victoria Duncan
November 11, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Autistic people need two types of accommodations:
Type #1: Ear defenders, quiet workstations, note taking apps
Type #2: Decolonized workplaces, justice for all, truly sustainable work
Employers freak out about #1 and never even see #2 coming.
Type #1: Ear defenders, quiet workstations, note taking apps
Type #2: Decolonized workplaces, justice for all, truly sustainable work
Employers freak out about #1 and never even see #2 coming.
November 11, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Autistic people need two types of accommodations:
Type #1: Ear defenders, quiet workstations, note taking apps
Type #2: Decolonized workplaces, justice for all, truly sustainable work
Employers freak out about #1 and never even see #2 coming.
Type #1: Ear defenders, quiet workstations, note taking apps
Type #2: Decolonized workplaces, justice for all, truly sustainable work
Employers freak out about #1 and never even see #2 coming.
Employers are always handwringing about autism accommodations in the workplace and I gotta tell you: ear defenders and quiet workstations are the least of your problems. What autistic people really need is *whispers* for other people to do their actual jobs.
November 11, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Employers are always handwringing about autism accommodations in the workplace and I gotta tell you: ear defenders and quiet workstations are the least of your problems. What autistic people really need is *whispers* for other people to do their actual jobs.
Normal people: "There's no wrong way to order a coffee."
My autistic ass: "CHALLENGE ACCEPTED 💪"
My autistic ass: "CHALLENGE ACCEPTED 💪"
A “pioneering” autistic woman has managed to take a social interaction in which a stranger takes a deep-dive into one’s genitalia and make it even more stressful, sources have confirmed.
Autistic woman somehow manages to make cervical smear test even more awkward
A "pioneering" autistic woman has managed to take a social interaction in which a stranger takes a deep-dive into one’s genitalia and make it even more stressful, sources have confirmed. When Lottie…
thedailytism.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Normal people: "There's no wrong way to order a coffee."
My autistic ass: "CHALLENGE ACCEPTED 💪"
My autistic ass: "CHALLENGE ACCEPTED 💪"
Things I've learned to recognize as the battle cry of my trauma about to make me act irrationally again:
- "I know how this goes. I've seen it before."
- "They always do this"
- "I knew it wouldn't work"
- "I know how this goes. I've seen it before."
- "They always do this"
- "I knew it wouldn't work"
November 11, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Things I've learned to recognize as the battle cry of my trauma about to make me act irrationally again:
- "I know how this goes. I've seen it before."
- "They always do this"
- "I knew it wouldn't work"
- "I know how this goes. I've seen it before."
- "They always do this"
- "I knew it wouldn't work"
I did an interesting thing with my autism disclosure for this workplace. I didn't officially disclose but I reference my autism on my LinkedIn profile and it's pretty prominent: it's in my headline, in my volunteer roles, and in my posts.
BUT: I technically did not tell them I'm autistic.
BUT: I technically did not tell them I'm autistic.
November 9, 2025 at 1:38 AM
I did an interesting thing with my autism disclosure for this workplace. I didn't officially disclose but I reference my autism on my LinkedIn profile and it's pretty prominent: it's in my headline, in my volunteer roles, and in my posts.
BUT: I technically did not tell them I'm autistic.
BUT: I technically did not tell them I'm autistic.
"But if that were true then your life would be impossible" is an entire genre of dismissals of disabled people's experiences.
It's not that they don't understand when we say how hard it is. It's that they can't believe we're still functioning at all of it's that hard.
It's not that they don't understand when we say how hard it is. It's that they can't believe we're still functioning at all of it's that hard.
"how do they ever get anything done, then?"
And yea, all praise to ADHD folks for ever getting anything done because it seems it would be impossible without that motivation and reward. The fact that you are ever able to do anything is superhuman!
And yea, all praise to ADHD folks for ever getting anything done because it seems it would be impossible without that motivation and reward. The fact that you are ever able to do anything is superhuman!
November 8, 2025 at 5:47 AM
"But if that were true then your life would be impossible" is an entire genre of dismissals of disabled people's experiences.
It's not that they don't understand when we say how hard it is. It's that they can't believe we're still functioning at all of it's that hard.
It's not that they don't understand when we say how hard it is. It's that they can't believe we're still functioning at all of it's that hard.
Reposted by Victoria Duncan
God, a thousand times this.
That's the thing with dopamine being tied to task initiation - there's a set of gears that won't - CAN'T - engage in my brain, but none of my problems are with analysis.
I can be fully aware of all the necessary steps, and stressing about starting, and just... not.
That's the thing with dopamine being tied to task initiation - there's a set of gears that won't - CAN'T - engage in my brain, but none of my problems are with analysis.
I can be fully aware of all the necessary steps, and stressing about starting, and just... not.
November 7, 2025 at 5:56 PM
God, a thousand times this.
That's the thing with dopamine being tied to task initiation - there's a set of gears that won't - CAN'T - engage in my brain, but none of my problems are with analysis.
I can be fully aware of all the necessary steps, and stressing about starting, and just... not.
That's the thing with dopamine being tied to task initiation - there's a set of gears that won't - CAN'T - engage in my brain, but none of my problems are with analysis.
I can be fully aware of all the necessary steps, and stressing about starting, and just... not.
I have a different take on feelings than many of my colleagues in communications and change management. A lot of professionals in these fields are highly emotional and identify as highly empathetic. In their work they reach for feelings a lot.
November 8, 2025 at 4:07 AM
I have a different take on feelings than many of my colleagues in communications and change management. A lot of professionals in these fields are highly emotional and identify as highly empathetic. In their work they reach for feelings a lot.
"In the real world no one will accommodate you" is trauma talking. It's true that people aren't falling over themselves to help me but my adult life is way more accommodating than my childhood was, because adults get to make choices. I'm accommodating myself.
stop telling your neurodivergent child that in "the real world" people won't accommodate them, so they should suck it up. this is the real world and you shouldn't be your child's first bully
November 7, 2025 at 9:27 PM
"In the real world no one will accommodate you" is trauma talking. It's true that people aren't falling over themselves to help me but my adult life is way more accommodating than my childhood was, because adults get to make choices. I'm accommodating myself.
Reposted by Victoria Duncan
you can't just do your video game dailies, you need to do your life dailies too
November 6, 2025 at 8:28 PM
you can't just do your video game dailies, you need to do your life dailies too
I had to book 16 one-way flights in one sitting while I was prepping for this contract and I don't usually do that many things without making a mistake so this is my solemn promise and hold me to it: If I get through the next 6 weeks without encountering a travel fuckup I get a half day at the spa.
November 6, 2025 at 2:28 AM
I had to book 16 one-way flights in one sitting while I was prepping for this contract and I don't usually do that many things without making a mistake so this is my solemn promise and hold me to it: If I get through the next 6 weeks without encountering a travel fuckup I get a half day at the spa.
Autistic traveling consultant update: I hit the "stress crying on the way to work" stage of this challenge. The rest of the day went better but I just felt so overwhelmed. This consulting opportunity is giving me some great experience but it's really heckin hard some days.
November 6, 2025 at 1:11 AM
Autistic traveling consultant update: I hit the "stress crying on the way to work" stage of this challenge. The rest of the day went better but I just felt so overwhelmed. This consulting opportunity is giving me some great experience but it's really heckin hard some days.