Hey, David here (yes, enthusiastically tapping away). I wanted to drop you a newsletter update with three upcoming events that seriously align with our shared interests around neurodiversity, lived experience, systems critique, and neurodivergent-competent frameworks. If any of these speak to you, or you know someone who’d benefit, please pass them on. I’ll keep it clear, direct, with a little flourish.
🎤 What’s Happening
1. Autistic, Schizophrenic, And In Drug And Alcohol Recovery
When: Tue 18 Nov, 6 pm – 7:30 pm GMT (online) Humanitix
Why it matters: This event features lived experience + professional insight. The speaker, David Gray‑Hammond (yes, me) will explore the overlap between being Autistic, navigating psychosis/schizophrenia-labelled experiences, and long-term recovery from substance use. Key themes: the burnout→psychosis cycle, why Autistic people may turn to substances, and how mainstream care systems often fail our neurodivergent selves. Humanitix
Who it’s for: Autistic folks, people in recovery, practitioners who want to understand better, people interested in neuroqueer/anti-pathologising frameworks.
Bonus: Online, so you can join from home.
Link: Tickets & Info
2. Embracing Our Autistic Selves
When: Three dates: Wed 7 Jan, 14 Jan, 21 Jan 2026 – each 6 pm-7.30 GMT. Online. Humanitix
Why it matters: Over three one-hour sessions, we’ll unpack what we know about being Autistic, how we feel about it, and what it means to me. The aim: to shift from “having to deal with” Autistic identity toward “making friends with” it, aligning beautifully with my work on the Chaotic Self and neuroqueer theory. Humanitix
Who it’s for: Autistic people (especially those exploring identity), allies who want to understand Autistic experience from a neutral/strengths-centred standpoint, anyone tired of deficit-models.
Link: Tickets & Info
3. Neurodivergent Burnout: Neurodiversity in Discussion...
When: Thu 15 Jan 2026, 6 pm–7:30 pm CEST (online) Humanitix
Why it matters: Burnout among neurodivergent folks, especially Autistic, ADHD, AuDHD, is rarely clean or straightforward. This event dives into the messy reality: shutdowns, hyperactivity, emotional flooding, misdiagnoses, the collapse of systems that assume “normal” recovery. It’s rooted in lived experience and explores identity + survival + what thriving could mean in a world not designed for us. Humanitix
Who it’s for: Autistic/ADHD/neurodivergent folks who’ve experienced burnout (or are afraid of it), researchers/practitioners who want to challenge conventional models, those invested in neurodivergent-competent care.
Link: Tickets & Info
Why I’m Sharing This
Because of our shared focus: neurodiversity as more than diagnosis, as relational, as political. My writing on the Chaotic Self, lilipadding, neurodivergent-competence; all of this intersects with what these events aim to move forward.
If we can shift from “What’s wrong with me?” → “What systems failed me (and how do we change them?)” then we’re in the territory of transformation. These events offer spaces for precisely that.
Next Steps
If one (or more) of these resonates: Register soon (online seats).
If you’re part of a community, team, or institution: share the link, these aren’t just “one-person” talks; they scale up to culture shift.
If you attend: I’d welcome a quick chat afterwards to capture reflections (you know me, always gathering insights).
If you have questions or want to workshop how to integrate themes into your teaching, writing, or service design, let’s connect.
Thanks for reading (and for engaging with this work).
Looking forward to chatting with you about whichever event you pick, or if you pick none yet, that’s totally fine too. We’ll keep making space, together.
In solidarity and constant becoming,
David