ND-Affirming Resources

Curated for clinicians, students, and the neurodivergent community — with a focus on women and late-diagnosed adults.

 

📚  BOOKS

Affirming reads centered on neurodivergent voices, lived experience, and identity — not fixing.

 

1. Unmasking Autism — Devon Price, PhD — The essential guide to masked autism, why so many women are missed, and how to live authentically. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/688819/unmasking-autism-by-devon-price-phd/

2. Laziness Does Not Exist — Devon Price, PhD — Dismantles the productivity myth and reframes 'laziness' as an unmet need, profoundly relevant to ND women. https://www.amazon.com/Laziness-Does-Not-Exist-Devon/dp/1982140100

3. Divergent Mind — Jenara Nerenberg — Groundbreaking examination of how neurodivergence presents uniquely in women and AFAB individuals. https://www.amazon.com/Divergent-Mind-Thriving-World-Designed/dp/0062876805

4. Self-Care for Autistic People — Dr. Megan Anna Neff — 100+ ways to recharge, de-stress, and unmask. Written by a late-diagnosed AuDHD psychologist. https://www.amazon.com/Self-Care-Autistic-People-Ways-Recharge/dp/1648481329

5. The Autistic Burnout Workbook — Dr. Megan Anna Neff — A guided workbook for identifying, recovering from, and preventing autistic burnout. https://www.amazon.com/Autistic-Burnout-Workbook-Personal-Recovery/dp/1648483984

6. The Neurodivergence Skills Workbook for Autism and ADHD — Jennifer Kemp & Monique Mitchelson — ACT-based workbook for AuDHD adults, written by late-diagnosed clinicians with lived experience. https://www.newharbinger.com/9781648483073/the-neurodivergence-skills-workbook-for-autism-and-adhd/

7. Women and Girls on the Autism Spectrum (2nd ed.) — Sarah Hendrickx — Comprehensive life-span look at autism in women and girls, from childhood through older adulthood. https://www.amazon.com/Women-Girls-Autism-Spectrum-Second/dp/1787754677

8. A Neurodiversity-Affirming Approach to ADHD — Dr. Amy Marschall — Clinician guide with 100+ tools grounded in lived experience and affirming frameworks. No shame-based models. https://www.amazon.com/Neurodiversity-Affirming-Approach-ADHD-Interventions-Assessment/dp/1683738977

9. A Clinician's Guide to Supporting Autistic Clients — Dr. Amy Marschall — Practical ND-affirming interventions for clinicians; moves beyond deficit models. https://www.amazon.com/Clinicians-Guide-Supporting-Autistic-Clients/dp/1683738985

10. Unlearning Shame — Devon Price, PhD — Follows Unmasking Autism; explores how shame keeps neurodivergent people from living fully and how to dismantle it. https://www.amazon.com/Unlearning-Shame-Culture-Internalized-Oppression/dp/0593472780

 

🔬  RESEARCH & ASSESSMENT TOOLS

Validated instruments and screeners for ND-affirming clinical assessment. Tools should supplement — not replace — clinical judgment.

 

1. CAT-Q (Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire) — 25-item self-report measuring masking and camouflaging. Especially useful for adult women who score low on traditional autism screeners. https://neurodivergentinsights.com/a-review-of-autism-screeners-for-adults/

2. RAADS-R (Ritvo Autism Asperger Diagnostic Scale–Revised) — 80-item adult autism screener validated for identifying adults with subclinical or masked presentations; focuses on internal experience. https://embrace-autism.com/raads-r/

3. DIVA-5 (Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in Adults) — Structured ADHD diagnostic interview normed for adults; captures childhood and current symptoms across multiple domains. https://www.divacenter.eu/DIVA.aspx

4. AQ (Autism Quotient) — 50-item autism screening questionnaire for adults; widely used as a first-step screener in clinical and research settings. https://embrace-autism.com/autism-quotient/

5. Embrace Autism — Free Online Screeners Hub — Comprehensive collection of validated autism & ADHD screening tools with scoring guides and clinical context. ND-affirming framing throughout. https://embrace-autism.com/autism-tests/

6. Neurodivergent Insights — Free Screener Roundup (Dr. Neff) — Dr. Neff's curated guide to free online ADHD and autism screeners, with clinical notes on use and limitations. https://neurodivergentinsights.com/a-roundup-of-free-online-adhd-and-autism-assessments/

7. NovoPsych Neurodiversity Assessment Suite — Clinical platform offering CAT-Q, RAADS-R, AQ, MAIA-2, and more with automated scoring for practitioners. https://novopsych.com/news/neurodiversity-autism-asd-assessments/

8. Aspie Tests (RAADS-R online) — Free online RAADS-R administration portal widely used for adult self-exploration prior to formal evaluation. https://www.aspietests.org

9. Psychology Today ND Filter — Therapist Finder — Searchable directory to find neurodiversity-affirming therapists and assessors by specialty and location. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/neurodivergent

10. NeuroDirect Free Autism Test Suite — Free online RAADS-R, AQ, and CAT-Q with instant results; designed to help adults explore traits ahead of formal assessment. https://neurodirect.co.uk/screening-tests/online-autism-tests/

 

🏛️  TRAINING & ORGANIZATIONS

ND-affirming professional development, advocacy organizations, and clinical communities. No pathology paradigm. Nothing about us without us.

 

1. Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) — Run by and for autistic people. The gold standard for nothing-about-us-without-us advocacy. Policy, resources, and community. https://autisticadvocacy.org

2. Therapist Neurodiversity Collective (TNC) — Vetted directory of ND-affirming therapists + professional education grounded in the neurodiversity paradigm. Free articles and training for clinicians. https://therapistndc.org

3. NeuroAffirm Institute (formerly Neurodiversity Training Center) — CE training for clinicians on high-masking clients, late diagnosis, autistic burnout, and affirming assessment. Led by ND clinicians with lived experience. https://neuroaffirminstitute.com

4. Neurodivergent Insights — Clinician Training (Dr. Megan Anna Neff) — Self-paced and live training for clinicians on ND-affirming care, AuDHD, burnout, and masking. Resources for clients too. https://neurodivergentinsights.com

5. Neurodiversity Training (Therapist Neurodiversity Collective) — Live and on-demand CE courses for therapists and educators on neurodiversity-affirming, trauma-informed practice. https://neurodiversity-training.therapistndc.org

6. Neurodiverse Counseling Services — Training & Workshops — NBCC-approved CE workshops on neurodiversity-affirming supervision, therapeutic frameworks, and community inclusion. https://www.neurodiversecounseling.com/neurodiversity-affirming-workshops

7. ADDA — Attention Deficit Disorder Association — National nonprofit for adults with ADHD. Virtual support groups, clinician resources, and community including women-specific programming. https://add.org

8. CHADD — Children and Adults with ADHD — Major national org with clinician training, local chapters, and online community. Includes women-specific resources and late-diagnosis support. https://chadd.org

9. Divergent Futures — Therapist Training (Monique Mitchelson) — Live and on-demand ND-affirming training for psychologists and therapists, delivered by AuDHD clinicians with lived experience. https://www.divergentfutures.com/therapist-training

10. Stanford Neurodiversity Project — Research, education, and programming at the intersection of neurodiversity, employment, healthcare, and inclusion. Strong clinician resources. https://med.stanford.edu/neurodiversity.html

 

🤝  COMMUNITY & REFERRAL

Places to find your people — online communities, peer support, and referral directories for late-diagnosed neurodivergent adults.

 

1. Therapist Neurodiversity Collective — Therapist Directory — The most rigorously vetted ND-affirming therapist directory. Every listing is individually screened for lived commitment to neurodiversity-affirming practice. https://therapistndc.org/therapist-directory/

2. Neurodivergent Insights — The Learning Nook Community — Dr. Neff's digital community for late-identified neurodivergent adults. Resources, community calls, and connection for ND adults and clinicians. https://neurodivergentinsights.com

3. ADDA — Radical ADHD Women Work Group — Peer support group for women with ADHD ready to challenge norms and embrace neurodivergent identity. Facilitated through ADDA membership. https://add.org/radical-adhd-women-work-group/

4. ADDA Virtual Support Groups — Access to multiple weekly virtual groups for adults with ADHD — including women 50+, late-diagnosed adults, and newly diagnosed adults. https://add.org/support-groups/

5. CHADD — Online Community & Chapter Locator — Connect with local CHADD chapters or virtual peer groups. Nationwide network with virtual access regardless of location. https://chadd.org/affiliate-locator/

6. Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network (AWN) — By and for autistic women, girls, nonbinary, and agender people. Community, advocacy, and resources centering marginalized autistic voices. https://awnnetwork.org

7. Julie Bjelland — Late-Diagnosed Autistic Women Support Group — Online support group specifically for adult-discovered autistic women. Facilitated by an LMFT specializing in autistic women and late diagnosis. https://www.juliebjelland.com/hsp-blog/autistic-women-a-support-group-empowering-the-adult-diagnosed-or-self-diagnosed-created-by-julie-bjelland-lmft

8. GRASP — Global & Regional Asperger Syndrome Partnership — Monthly and weekly virtual support groups for autistic adults. Moderated Zoom and community spaces for neurodivergent connection. https://grasp.org/membershipsupportgroups/

9. Women & ADHD Podcast Community — Hosted by Katy Weber — interviews with women who discovered ADHD in adulthood. Resource hub and community space for late-identified ADHD women. https://womenandadhd.com

10. Psychology Today — ND-Affirming Group Therapy Finder — Searchable directory for ND-affirming group therapy and support groups by location. Filter for autism, ADHD, and neurodivergence. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/groups

 

This resource list was curated in connection with a professional presentation on Working With Neurodivergent Women.

Questions? Contact Melissa Weisel, LCSW: intuitiveflowstudio@gmail.com