The world we live in is often structured in a way that favors neurotypical ways of thinking but what the system has failed to portray is that some minds paint with colors that others can’t see. For far too long, we’ve trapped differences in a one-size-fits-all mold, leaving neurodivergent individuals to feel as though they don’t belong. We often overlook the fact that specialists no longer view neurodivergence as an illness, but as a distinct way of learning and being — one that can only become a disability in a world not yet open to differences.
Education is key in this transformation, and Raynie Chan, an author and kids’ educator, believes families should be the first anchors that provides stability and grounding for their neurodivergent loved ones. In her debut work, “Brother Bird,” she has published a children’s book in honor of the memory of her brother and as a loving guide to the families of the entire neurodivergent spectrum. Inspiration The Bohol native writer is a little sister to a neurodivergent brother.
“To my brother, Raymond, my Brother Bird, whose light and innocence shone through a challenging time when the world was not yet widely inclusive and who still persevered to love. You are my inspiration and the very heart and soul of this book,” Raynie wrote on the last page of the book. Raynie opened up about the struggles she faced growing up in a family that, though well-meaning, didn’t fully understand her brother’s needs.
“We didn’t.
