WTF is neurodivergent media?

Neurodivergence isn't just a topic — it's a lens. So what happens when media is created through neurodivergent minds instead of filtered through mainstream assumptions?

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In an era where media shapes societal perceptions, headlines like 'How to Spot Autism in Your Coworker,' 'This Girl With ADHD Started a Business and Now She’s a Millionaire,' or 'Neurodivergent People Have Superpowers, According to Science' proliferate across mainstream outlets. While these stories spotlight neurodivergent experiences, they often reduce complex lives to inspirational tropes or diagnostic checklists. They represent media about neurodivergence, filtered through neurotypical lenses that prioritise sensationalism over authenticity.

Caves & Bears, however, embodies neurodivergent (ND) media: a platform created by and for neurodivergent individuals, committed to informed, nuanced content that rejects stereotypes and affirms the validity of neurodivergent existence.

Neurodivergence encompasses natural variations in brain function, including autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other cognitive differences, viewed not as deficits but as integral aspects of human diversity. We exist because neurodivergent people deserve narratives that mirror our realities — unflattened, unpathologised, and unapologetic.

As the neurodiversity paradigm posits, these differences are not disorders to cure but variations that enrich society, challenging the medical model's emphasis on impairment.

Neurodivergence is embedded in our cognition, influencing how we perceive, process, and interact with the world — it's not something we 'take off' after a long day. At Caves & Bears, we are collecting and amplifying important ND stories, fostering a space where authenticity thrives over assimilation.

Distinguishing ND media from media about neurodivergence

Mainstream media frequently discusses neurodivergence but rarely engages with it on its own terms. Content 'about us' often originates from neurotypical creators, perpetuating outsider perspectives that overlook our agency and complexity.

In contrast, neurodivergent media emerges from ND minds, infused with ND values, priorities, and storytelling styles.

It's not confined to topics like autism or ADHD; it's defined by the process of creation itself — how we structure narratives, emphasise details, and resist oversimplification.

This distinction aligns with the neurodiversity paradigm, which reframes neurological differences as natural human variations rather than pathologies.

Neurodivergent media prioritises access, such as sensory-friendly formats or unmasked expression, and challenges ableist norms embedded in traditional journalism. It's a perspective, not a genre, demanding representation that honours lived experiences over external explanations.

The imperative of neurodivergent media

For decades, neurodivergent individuals have been subjected to observation, medicalisation, and misrepresentation in media, often stripped of agency, humor, rage, and brilliance.

Studies reveal that portrayals frequently lean on stereotypes, such as the 'autistic savant' or 'cold genius,' underrepresenting social complexities and overemphasising restricted behaviours. This filtered lens fosters self-doubt among ND people, who rarely see their truths reflected — only interpreted by those outside the experience.

Illustration of a pinky-purple infinity symbol against black background. Source: Pixabay

Media narratives often favour tidy arcs: the prodigious child solving puzzles or the overwhelmed parent seeking fixes. Yet these ignore systemic barriers, intersecting identities (e.g., race, gender, socioeconomic status), and the spectrum of support needs.

Authentic ND media counters this by amplifying voices that dismantle ableism in institutions, education, employment, and diagnostics, promoting validation and belonging.

In a world where neurodivergent people comprise 15-20% of the population, such representation is not optional — it's essential for equity and understanding.

Hallmarks of authentic neurodivergent media

Neurodivergent media defies conventional formats, embracing styles that resonate with ND cognition: extended, rhythmic essays; concise, unadorned insights; or multimedia that accommodates diverse processing needs. It foregrounds unmasking burnout as a systemic crisis, not a personal failing, and names ableism in research, policy, and culture.

Examples include platforms like Neurodivergent Media, which offers mentoring for ND creators, or outlets like Neurodiverse Connection, fostering community-driven discussions.

Storytelling incorporates humor, nuance, meltdowns, and joy, without explanatory crutches — because shared resonance suffices. Linguistic flair abounds: parenthetical asides, precise terminology, and vivid prose that delight the senses.

Prioritising access from inception — through alt text, captions, or flexible structures — ensures inclusivity. Editing preserves voice, critiques pseudoscience, and highlights ND-led initiatives, like autistic-run media in Brazil or global advocacy networks.

It's media that stims, hyperfocuses, and loops, capturing stories only ND creators can authentically convey.

Intended audience and inclusive reach

Primarily, this media serves neurodivergent individuals: the underdiagnosed, late-diagnosed, self-identified, and those who've felt perpetually 'different' without explanation. It's for those who've internalised inadequacy from comparisons, reread texts obsessively, or been labeled 'too much' yet persist resiliently.

Allies — family, friends, professionals — are invited to engage, provided they prioritise listening over directing. This approach builds bridges, educating without centering neurotypical comfort, and fosters broader societal shifts toward acceptance.

Embodying the narrative: Caves & Bears in action

Since its inception as a spark of special interest and formal launch during Invisible Disabilities Week in October 2025, Caves & Bears has evolved into a vibrant, independent ND-led platform. We don't merely report stories — we inhabit them. Objectivity yields to honesty; simplification to expansion.

Our name draws from a childhood dice game, a neurodivergent puzzle of patterns and secrets, symbolising resilience and hidden depths. Bears, as metaphors, embody ND cycles: attuned, resourceful, protective, and unapologetically themselves.

Mama bear and two cubs, walking on land with a sunset sky background. Source: Wix

Today, with features like 'The Official Caves & Bears Game' and a growing collection of insights and resources, we amplify authentic voices, challenge stereotypes, and cultivate belonging. No permission required — we're already here, reshaping narratives.

Welcome to the table. The rules may be cryptic, but the truths emerge through attentive engagement.

(Curious about the dice rolls? Delve into our Origin Story.)

Share this piece, tag us, and articulate what neurodivergent media signifies for you.

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