Different, Not Less: A neurodivergent's guide to embracing your true self and finding your happily ever after

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In her autobiographical love letter for the world's outcasts, autistic actress Chloé Hayden guides readers to discover their ‘happily ever after’. In a world where ableism is entrenched in society, neurodiverse people are forced into a painful and humiliating box that they will never fit in. Her recounts of struggling through the Australian education system, mental health issues, severe bullying and other traumatic events are accompanied by witty humour and advice for those feeling lost in similar circumstances. Different, Not Less is a testament to the power of disabled voices in Australian society and defying the barriers that obstruct us. Society often accepts difference in children, but it’s not ‘acceptance’ so much as it is a confidence that those differences will fade.”

Different, Not Less book — Chloé Hayden

Learning to embrace all that you are, finding your place in the world, and creating a world that is more accepting, more accommodating, and more ready to embrace the brilliance of difference. What inspired you to write this book? And were there any times where you felt like giving up on it or felt overwhelmed by writing it?Writing has always been my outlet and my safe space; it’s always been how I was best able to share my thoughts and my mind and everything I didn’t have the voice to say; writing a book felt like a natural progression.

Different, Not Less by Chloe Hayden | Quarto At A Glance Different, Not Less by Chloe Hayden | Quarto At A Glance

In 2023, Hayden and other fans accused Marvel Stadium of ableism after they were barred from a sensory room during a concert for Harry Styles in February 2023. [18] Marvel Stadium then stated that they would be building a second sensory room and retraining their staff. [19] Personal life [ edit ]

What inspired you to write this book? And were there any times where you felt like giving up on it or felt overwhelmed by writing it?

Writing it was immensely difficult- I was filming Heartbreak High at the same time! There was lots of tears, lots of “I can’t do this”, but never once did I feel like giving up. I waited my whole life to see a book like this, and I’m not letting another child go through what I did. I want to make sure that people have resources, they have hope, they have the knowledge that they’re going to be okay… And I hope this book is a remedy for that. In your book, you talk about life in the context of three fundamental stages, which we are taught through fairy tales: Once Upon a Time stage, Adventure stage, and Happily Ever After stage –What advice would you give to those who are currently in their Once Upon a Time and Adventure stages? why are we then determined to change the child, rather than the world around them? Why do we validate the wrong just because it’s normalised, and ostracise the right just because it’s not?” See us for who we are, not for who we’re not. Unlearn your bias, your expectation, your stigmas, and instead learn from the community, from us. We are not your stigmas. Finally, I feel there’s no better way to end an interview with you, than by asking for a fact about the Titanic?

Different, Not Less by Chloé Hayden | Waterstones Different, Not Less by Chloé Hayden | Waterstones

This biography of a living person relies too much on references to primary sources. Please help by adding secondary or tertiary sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. When you are sad, you don’t necessarily feel like you are also funny, and sharp, and clever, and kind. But you still are. You don’t have to feel like something to be it.” Hayden began posting to her YouTube channel in 2016, under the pseudonym Princess Aspien. [10] In 2020, she went viral after she posted a YouTube video criticizing Australian singer Sia's debut film Music for its portrayal of autism. [11] a b "See Chloé Hayden's Moving Acceptance Speech At Marie Claire's Women Of The Year Awards". Marie Claire. 10 November 2022 . Retrieved 28 May 2023. Diagnosed as autistic (and ADHD) at the age of thirteen and feeling ostracised from society, Chloe started an anonymous blog to share her feelings and to find a community, and ended up building something bigger than she ever dreamed.My mind is absolutely magical. I don’t see the world the way a typical person does, and I think that’s brilliant. Autistic people are the makers, the do’ers, the creators. If you could snap your fingers and change one thing about how non-Autistic people understand autism, what would it be?

Different, Not Less by Chloé Hayden by Murdoch Books - Issuu Different, Not Less by Chloé Hayden by Murdoch Books - Issuu

Different, Not Less is a moving, at times funny story of how it feels to be neurodivergent as well as a practical guide, with insights on how autism and ADHD present differently in females, advice for living with meltdowns and shutdowns, tips for finding supportive relationships, communities and workplaces and much more. At the age of 13, she had attended ten different schools and had severe depression and anxiety as a result of severe bullying, [5] leading Hayden to be homeschooled. [6] [7] She was diagnosed with autism at age 13, and ADHD at age 22. [8] [7] Hayden’s view of the world is crafted beautifully. On the surface, her writing doesn’t appear to be all that technical until you inspect it closer. There’s something captivating about the way Hayden writes about her experiences of feeling like she doesn’t belong. They’re absolutely heartbreaking and harrowing, but there’s something about her writing that made me unable to put the book down. Her writing is full of life and the sensorial experience that neurodiverse people are subjected to. It’s not the emotionless and metallic ‘autistic perspective’ force-fed to us in books like The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time where an allistic author writes an autistic character as though they are a robot incapable of empathy (a common stereotype). Her writing is overflowing with personality and an autistic perspective that can only be expressed by someone who is autistic. In a way, it’s so endearing to see someone able to unabashedly express themselves, their needs and advocate for others without a voice (or surrounded by people who aren’t listening). But walking a path alone for a while longer is better than sharing it with someone who’s going to make that path more difficult.”Our identities make us who we are, and all aspects of our identities are important, including (maybe even specifically) our disabilities.” Your Happily Ever After is coming- I promise you. No fairytale can exist without a Once Upon A Time, without dragons to fight… And, likewise, no fairytale will close without a Happily Ever After. You’re going to be okay, I promise you. Your book is structured with lots of headings, pull-out quotes, and even an index –What made you decide to format it this way? Description Description "Fierce, unapologetic and joyous . . . This book is a marvel." - Jordon Steele-John, Disability Rights Advocate and Australian Senator Delivery with Standard Australia Post usually happens within 2-10 business days from time of dispatch. Please be aware that the delivery time frame may vary according to the area of delivery and due to various reasons, the delivery may take longer than the original estimated timeframe.