Neurokin means “someone who shares your neurotype.” Those of us who diverge from neuro-normativity are whole, beautiful humans who want to enjoy life, but too often we find ourselves isolated and unable to effectively access community or other resources. I am hopeful that you may feel a greater sense of kinship and belonging (to your neurokin, your local community, and to yourself) through engaging in our offerings.
In the future, my hope is that this will be a bigger project with more resources, especially as so many disabled people are not receiving adequate resourcing in North Carolina. But for now, I am starting small. I want to build safely and gradually on a foundation of neuroqueer, liberatory values and optimism. It is my belief that the settler colonial United States disables everyone who touches it (whether in our soul, mind, or body), and creating compassionate, supportive relationships is integral to our survival.
I dream that Neurokin Community will become a space of “neuroqueering” and rhizomatic connection and change-making in all of its forms. This is less about identity and more about putting hopeful, liberatory values into tangible action but not becoming another nonprofit! Below are examples of this type of action I hope to see:
- organize a meal train for a disabled community member
- help with transportation for someone who cannot drive or doesn’t have a car
- establish a buddy system for going to overstimulating places
- host a plurality support/social group
- host an accessible nature-related event
- learn together how to move through healthy conflict and repair in relationships
- collaborate on events with other justice-centered, mutual aid organizations
I have many neuroqueer and disabled folk that I am in relationship to personally and professionally in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area and SC/NC who I’d love to add here! Please reach out via email at neurokincommunity@gmail.com or the sign up page if you are one such person and want to share in the vision via co-creating resources or advertising ones you already offer.
**Please note that I will only be adding people who are committed to practicing values of intersectional disability justice, accessibility, and true mutual aid (not self-abandonment or white saviorism). And I’m unlikely to add resources that are high cost.**
Resources I can recommend in the area:
- Three of Cups – Charlotte area friendship matchmaking services and events created by Iris Hudson (a lovely human), low cost and trustworthy
- Mobile Food Markets – The Bulb – in Charlotte, Mecklenburg area
- Various events for those with disabilities and state-level advocacy projects, started by an autistic woman and now a program within the nonprofit InReach – Self-Advocates of Mecklenburg and their Facebook
- Many types of disability services, especially for those with Medicaid who have been diagnosed with an I/DD – InReach
- Time Out Youth – many free supportive services for LGBTQ+ youth (and allies) ages 13-24
- United Way – 211 – Exhaustive list of services and resources for those in need in the area
- Charlotte Trans Health – limited free therapy and other resources for gender-divergent people 16+ in and around Mecklenburg county, for those who are underinsured or uninsured; trans-affirming healthcare provider directory and a resource page for LGBTQ needs
- kiND Culture Occupational Therapy support pods for autistic teens and adults – a low-cost budding resource for OT coaching and building connections with other autistic people in Charlotte (branches off of Autistic Adult and Teen Consulting created by Rachel Durban)
Online resources:
Disability and Mental Health Resource Masterlist
List of national disability orgs
Finding a therapist or coach: ND Therapists and ND Practitioners and Inclusive Therapists
Kristy Forbes: One of the best educators on PDA whom I have found
Neurokin Consulting and Community Care 