Strengths
11 terms
Divergent Thinking
A cognitive process that generates creative, non-linear solutions by exploring multiple possibilities and making unexpected connections between ideas.
Flow State
A state of deep immersion and effortless concentration where time seems to disappear, skills match challenges perfectly, and peak performance occurs naturally and joyfully.
Hyperfixation
Intense, consuming focus on specific interests, activities, topics, or even people, characterized by an overwhelming need to engage with the fixation to the exclusion of other activities.
Hyperfocus
Intense, laser-like concentration on one activity to the exclusion of everything else. A state where time disappears, the world fades away, and only the task exists—often lasting hours without awareness of basic needs.
Hyperlexia
Advanced reading ability that emerges earlier than expected, often accompanied by intense fascination with letters, numbers, and written language - commonly seen in autistic children who may decode text fluently while still developing comprehension and verbal communication skills.
Pattern Recognition
The cognitive ability to identify patterns, connections, and regularities across various domains, often leading to insights, predictions, and innovative solutions.
Resilience
The capacity to adapt, persist, and thrive despite facing challenges, adversity, or systemic barriers, often developed through navigating neurodivergent experiences in a neurotypical world.
Sensory Intelligence
The sophisticated ability to process, interpret, and utilize sensory information in nuanced and advantageous ways, often leading to enhanced perception and environmental awareness.
Special Interest
An intense, passionate, and often lifelong fascination with specific topics that brings deep joy, expertise, and meaning to autistic lives. Not just a hobby—a core part of identity and wellbeing.
Systems Thinking
The ability to understand how parts interconnect within complex wholes, seeing relationships, patterns, and feedback loops that create the bigger picture rather than focusing on isolated components.
Vantage Sensitivity
The flip side of sensitivity—when your nervous system that suffers more in harsh environments also thrives more in supportive ones. Not just vulnerable; exceptionally responsive to positive experiences, interventions, and enriching conditions. Your sensitivity isn't a weakness that needs fixing; it's a high-performance system that needs the right fuel.