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Maddie Schramm

@thewildflowermind.bsky.social
275 followers 1.8K following 86 posts

I'm Maddie, author of The Wildflower Mind. #Autistic, #ADHD, and done pretending otherwise. Honest thoughts, unfiltered observations, and real talk about #neurodivergent life. Notes from a different kind of mind.

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Maddie Schramm @thewildflowermind.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
It's widely presumed that #autistic people and other #neurodivergents lack #empathy. In reality, we just have trouble understanding #neurotypical people, just like they struggle to understand us. This is called the double empathy problem. How do we solve it? #psychology substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com
Seeing Through the Mind’s Eye
What is the double empathy problem? And how do we fix it?
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Reposted by Maddie Schramm
🦋 Phenomenally Autistic 🦋| Ayanna Sanaa Davis @ayannasanaa.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
We’re creating space for Black autistic voices this September. Join our virtual summit for stories, lived experience, and community. Seeking speakers, self-advocates, parents, educators, clinicians & allies. 📩 BlackAutismAcceptanceDay@gmail.com Please share!
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Maddie Schramm @thewildflowermind.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
This may come as a shock to some of you, but #neurotypicals have many invisible privileges that #neurodivergent people aren't afforded! I've shared some of the double standards we face in my article below. #disability #disabilityjustice #blog thewildflowermind.substack.com/p/the-other-...
thewildflowermind.substack.com
The Other Side of the Coin
What neurotypical privilege actually looks like - Part 1
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Maddie Schramm @thewildflowermind.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
With #DEI and its related concepts becoming a hot topic nowadays, a lot of people are wondering, "What do these words mean?" and "What do they look like?" Join me on a deep exploration of these ideals and how they affect our world! #diversity #equity #inclusion #blog substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com
Beyond The Buzzwords: Understanding the Words That Shape Our World
Equality, diversity, equity, accessibility, acceptance, inclusion and belonging - what does it all mean?
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Maddie Schramm @thewildflowermind.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Internalized #ableism made me hate myself in high school for being #autistic. But now I see things differently than I did as a teen. Read my story and message for all the disabled people out there below! open.substack.com/pub/thewildf... #disability #mentalhealth #neurodivergent #autism #blog
open.substack.com
“I Would Give Anything to Be Normal”
Internalized ableism made me hate myself for being autistic - here’s how I see it now
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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 09/07/2026
Today in Autistics Deserve Better: Decades of "overlooking autistic women had huge consequences. Left undiagnosed, they were being 'othered and called weird' while facing serious mental health challenges." CN for suicidal ideation. www.bbc.com/news/article... #autism #neurodiversity
bbc.com
The autistic women writing books to unmask their hidden world
Late-diagnosed autistic women explain the need to fill knowledge gaps after decades of being hidden.
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History: Reviews of New Books @histbooks-reviews.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
📚️Family and Disability Activism: Beyond Allies and Obstacles doi.org/10.1080/0361... ✏️ Editors: Pamela Block, Allison C. Carey, Richard K. Scotch ✏️ Reviewer: David Carey Jr. #HRNB #DisabilityRights #PolicyStudies
Family and Disability Activism: Beyond Allies and Obstacles. Edited by Pamela Block, Allison C. Carey, and Richard K. Scotch
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Reposted by Maddie Schramm
AAPD - The American Association of People with Disabilities @aapd.com · 07/07/2026
The ADA’s legacy is still being written. Join AAPD on July 22 at the Westin DC Downtown as we celebrate 36 years of the ADA, honor the leadership of Rep. Steny Hoyer and gather in community for the work ahead. Tickets: ow.ly/6HR550ZlcZH #ADA36 #DisabilityRights
Graphic promoting  AAPD's ADA Celebration honoring Rep. Steny H. Hoyer on July 22 at 6:30pm EST in Washington DC.
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Maddie Schramm @thewildflowermind.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
LET'S GOOOOOOO There's still not nearly enough disability representation in today's media, much less positive or activist views! This is a giant step forward towards getting our own spotlight! Congratulations and best of luck to the filmmakers! #disability #disabilityrights #disabilityjustice
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Maddie Schramm @thewildflowermind.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
My entire life, I've been told I had to change things about myself in order to "fit in". The way I speak, how I behave, my emotions and expressions. And I did, until a few years ago, I started asking "Why?". Now I'm finally saying "No". I'm not broken, the system is. Let's change that. #autism
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Maddie Schramm @thewildflowermind.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
This is amazing! One of the hardest parts about being #neurodivergent is feeling left out from things like live entertainment because they don't meet our needs. And almost no one thinks or talks about it! It's about time that started to change. Thank you, Live Nation and KultureCity!
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Maddie Schramm @thewildflowermind.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
This is really interesting to me! Anyone can be #autistic, regardless of race, #culture or background. But culture is also a large part of our identity! So what do you do when those two things come into conflict? How do you find harmony between 2 different worlds? 🤔 #autism #autismcare #thoughts
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Maddie Schramm @thewildflowermind.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
Damn. Such a legendary voice. I listen to "Holding Out For a Hero" all the time. And Total Eclipse of the Heart is iconic. May Bonnie Tyler rest in peace. She's singing with the angels now. Her voice will live on forever. #BonnieTyler #RIP #RestInPeace #ThankYouBonnieTyler #ThankYouBonnie
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Maddie Schramm @thewildflowermind.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
Happy #DisabilityPrideMonth! Let's keep uniting and raising our voices until they can't ignore us or drown us out anymore! A more equitable and accessible world IS possible! Never stop speaking up! #disabilityrights #disabilityjustice #disabilitypride #disability #pride #thewildflowermind
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🦋 Phenomenally Autistic 🦋| Ayanna Sanaa Davis @ayannasanaa.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
The latest episode of Black Girl Diagnosed is premiering live now 🩷 youtu.be/tkUJGFUBOO4?...
youtu.be
Black Girl Diagnosed - Tiara Henderson
YouTube video by Black Girl Diagnosed
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Reposted by Maddie Schramm
fravery.bsky.social @fravery.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
“Every day I discover more and more beautiful things. It’s enough to drive one mad.” ― Claude Monet Art by Claude Monet, The Cliff Walk at Pourville (1882)
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Maddie Schramm @thewildflowermind.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
#Libraries are one of my favorite places in the world. And in this day and age, they're incredibly valuable! You can find accurate, credible, drama-free information on any subject with no ads or brain rot! And they're quiet spaces! We really need to appreciate our libraries more. #loveyourlibrary
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Maddie Schramm @thewildflowermind.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
I was fortunate enough to be diagnosed as a toddler, but a workbook like this would've been really helpful when I was teen and trying to figure myself out! And since I follow Rebel on Substack, I know she writes incredibly well! This is definitely something to check out! #autism #workbook
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Maddie Schramm @thewildflowermind.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Once again, The Autistic Coach is 100% right. I wouldn't be where I am today, or even still here, without my support system. Having people I can always go to when needed has saved my life and taken me far. Listen to and believe your ND loved ones. You could be saving their lives.
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Maddie Schramm @thewildflowermind.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
On Monday, I wrote about my dreams for the future of #DisabilityPride. But it's important to remember the past when thinking of the future. Join me in exploring the #history of Disability Pride and our flag! #DisabilityPrideMonth #disability #disabilityrights #blog substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com
Our Pride, Our Flag, Our History
An exploration of the history and flag of the Disability Pride movement
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Autistic Realms (Helen Edgar) @autisticrealms.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
Disabled people are damned-if-we-do, damned-if-we-don’t. Survival, or existence, is damnation by a deeply ableist society from @stimpunks.org Inspired by Grue, J. (2023). The double bind of social legitimacy: On disability, the sick role, and invisible work. stimpunks.org/glossary/dis...
stimpunks.org
Disability Double-bind
In so many ways, disabled people are damned-if-we-do, damned-if-we-don't. Survival, or existence, is damnation by a deeply ableist society.
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Maddie Schramm @thewildflowermind.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
A few weeks ago, I attended my first #lgbtq PrideFest in my city. The things I noticed and the fact that it's now #DisabilityPrideMonth has got me thinking about what it would be like to celebrate #DisabilityPride. Here's my ideas on how it would work! #pride #blog substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com
What If We Had a Disability PrideFest?
I recently attended my first LGBTQ PrideFest. Could we do something similar for our pride month?
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Maddie Schramm @thewildflowermind.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
With the #FourthofJuly this Saturday, I thought I'd share what popular #American holidays and their traditions can feel like for #neurodivergents. They can be very overwhelming for us! So how do we include #NDs in the celebrations? #America250 #neurodivergent #blog substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com
Red, White and Overstimulated
The Fourth of July and similar holidays can easily cause neurodivergent sensory overload. How do we make them more inclusive?
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Maddie Schramm @thewildflowermind.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
If we spent less time viewing #neurodivergence as a defect or a problem to be solved, and more time solving the actual problems of #ableism and exclusion, then neurodivergence and other #disabilities wouldn’t be a “problem” at all! Isn't that a crazy idea?! #disabilitypride #neurodivergent
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Kira Leigh 🏳️‍⚧️ @kiraleigh.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
sometimes, all I have in me is cocooning under weighted blankets while watching trashy reality TV. and that's okay. doing nothing on low energy days is valid. you're not lesser just because you need to rest.
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Maddie Schramm @thewildflowermind.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
A picture is worth a thousand words, especially if you're #autistic! Memes and other images help us communicate the things we feel, but struggle to put into words. It's why so many autistic people are artists or other types of creators! #autism #neurodivergent #autismart #neurodiversity
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Maddie Schramm @thewildflowermind.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
If we tell you something is #ableist, it is. Because we're the ones facing the discrimination, ignorance, bigotry and supression. We know what our experiences and lives are like more than you could ever. So if you get told something's #ableism, you don't get to decide whether or not that's true.
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Maddie Schramm @thewildflowermind.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
If you have a #neurodivergent or otherwise #disabled loved one, please check in on them and give support. Between the #Trump comments on #Tylenol and #autism, #RFK wanting to make a database of our private healthcare information, and now this, a lot of us are scared and angry. #disabilityrights
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Maddie Schramm @thewildflowermind.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
Is there somewhere I can order a man like this online? Preferably from the same place I buy my books? @barnesandnoble.com do you have any in stock? (My dream is to have Belle from Beauty and the Beast's library!) #BookSky #reading #books #bookhoarder #lovebooks #lovereading #bookworm
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Maddie Schramm @thewildflowermind.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
The reason there was no diagnoses of #autism before 1930? Most autistic people were killed, institutionalized or locked in asylums forever. Because we were assumed to be insane. The few that weren't were just able to mask well enough to merely be "eccentric". #neurodivergent #history #truth
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Maddie Schramm @thewildflowermind.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
Remember it's okay for your special interests to change! You're human, it's natural to become curious about new things. Who you are is always changing and evolving. If you find something new that's piqued your interest, go for it! #autism #neurodivergent #neurodivergence #actuallyautistic
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Maddie Schramm @thewildflowermind.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
Ayanna here makes a really good point! #Autism for white people like myself isn't the same experience as autism for people of other races. Now you have to consider #racism on top of #ableism. Plus different cultures and upbringings and how they shape people need to be considered! #diversity
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Maddie Schramm @thewildflowermind.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
This idea is inhumane and barbaric. People with #disabilities aren't animals to be locked up in cages! Especially in places with a history of negelct and abuse! Condemning my people to a lifetime of torture will NOT solve our problems! Resources will! #disabilityrights #fuckstephenmiller #doj
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Maddie Schramm @thewildflowermind.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
This is why you have to be direct when speaking to an #autistic person! When someone uses phrasing we don't understand, we have to figure out how to interpret it. And sometimes we get it wrong, leading to miscommunication. It also helps to ask if we understand after giving directions! #autism
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Maddie Schramm @thewildflowermind.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
#ADHD people don't perceive time the same way #neurotypical do! Since our brains move faster, everything else seems slower in comparison! So when people really are slow, it seems REALLY slow to us. Like cinematic slow-motion almost. So if we seem impatient, just know we're percieving differently!
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Maddie Schramm @thewildflowermind.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
This is a beautifully written post! It not only taught me more about the #neurodiversity infinity symbol's history and meaning, but also provided a new way to see it if we simply tilt it 90 degrees! I love discovering and exploring new meanings! #neurodiverse #neurodivergent #infinitysymbol
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Maddie Schramm @thewildflowermind.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
I've always noticed that I seem to feel pain differently than others do. Like I have a "higher tolerance" for it, or it doesn't hurt me as much as NTs think it should. Makes it hard to describe. Any other #autistic women have this problem? #autism #autisminwomen #autismingirls #medical #weird
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Maddie Schramm @thewildflowermind.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Over the years, people have called me everything from naive to "braindead optimist" for choosing to look on the bright side. That's not true. I'm well aware of how horrible the world and humans can be. But I also see the beautiful parts of life and the good in people. And that's why I'm positive.
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Maddie Schramm @thewildflowermind.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Resilience is great, but at the end of the day, you're only human. It's okay to feel like you're reaching your limits. And it's okay to ask for help from those who love and care about you. That doesn't make you weak. It means you're self aware and care enough about yourself to get help. So do it.
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Maddie Schramm @thewildflowermind.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
It's officially summer now! My favorite season! 😊 I actually got to see Stonehenge while studying abroad in London in 2022. It was a beautiful place! We weren't allowed to walk through it, but it was neat to walk around and read about it. Got some nice pics! Not as nice as this, though!
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Maddie Schramm @thewildflowermind.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Beautiful! This painting reminds me of the hikes my family and I used to take through the woods. I can almost feel the cool air on my skin, smell the scent of the autumn forest, hear the crunch of the leaves and the sound of footsteps. Incredible how art can take you to another place.
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Maddie Schramm @thewildflowermind.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Never let anyone tell you how to unmask! #Unmasking looks different for each person. Even if we have the same diagnoses, my unmasking won't be like yours, because we live different lives. Don't worry about what anyone else is doing. Unmasking is about being you. #neurodivergent #advice #twm #beyou
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Maddie Schramm @thewildflowermind.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
I have always felt I have a strong intuition! But I also feel like people don't always listen to me...
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Maddie Schramm @thewildflowermind.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
#PrideMonth and other months of identity celebration are largely recognized in the US. But #DisabilityPride gets overlooked. #Diversity isn't truly diverse without disability. Our pride deserves a spotlight too. #Pride #disability #lgbtq #blog #thewildflowermind substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com
Pride Belongs to All of Us
Disability is a part of diversity. It's time we treat Disability Pride like other Prides.
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Maddie Schramm @thewildflowermind.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
🧵/1 Happy (belated) #AutisticPrideDay! I went to my local conservatory with a friend a few days ago and attended their butterfly show. While there, I had a thought. Look at these pictures I took of the butterflies. What do they all have in common?
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Maddie Schramm @thewildflowermind.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
Yesterday I had the privilege of meeting the one and only @tomgrossi.bsky.social during his #Cincinnati stop on his 30 for 30 Part Deux tour! He was incredibly kind and humble! Thank you for all you’re doing for St. Jude, Tom! It was a pleasure to meet you! #GrossiPosse #forthekids #TomGrossi
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Maddie Schramm @thewildflowermind.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
I launched my #blog and created this page a mere 15 days ago. I already have 100+ followers here. Incredible. #thankyou all so much for viewing my page and supporting my writing! I truly appreciate each and every one of you! Let's create a beautiful garden of wildflowers together! #milestone
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Maddie Schramm @thewildflowermind.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
Remember that words have power! When a neurodivergent talks to you nonstop about something, it's because it's something they're passionate about or excites them, and they want to include you because you matter to them. Responding negatively tells us we don't matter as much to you as you do to us.
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Maddie Schramm @thewildflowermind.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
This philosophy would've been so helpful to me and my family growing up! Even as an adult, I struggle with speaking because the way I think is different from the way neurotypicals do, which has caused a lot of confusion and miscommunications over the years. We need to bridge the gap!
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Maddie Schramm @thewildflowermind.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
Ever wonder why neurodivergents stim? And what goes on in our heads and bodies when it happens? Learn about from a real #neurodivergent! #actuallyneurodivergent #actuallyautistic #autism #stimming #adhd #actuallyadhd #thewildflowermind #blog #neurodivergentlife open.substack.com/pub/thewildf...
open.substack.com
Stimming 101
A crash course on a common neurodivergent quirk
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