The Black Spectrum - Diane Laidlaw

Normalising conversations on mental health and neurodiversity for Black and Brown communities in the UK. 🏆2021 Anxiety Podcast of the Year.

[The Black Spectrum - Diane Laidlaw @theblkspectrum]

Is there a phenomenon where you get a diagnosis and your symptoms become worse because you know what it is. Like the ableist within us starts to get tired. Lol

[Afro Futcha ( Diane ) @misslaidlaw]

It’s mad how life can shift in a matter of days. Just a week ago, I had a simple idea for a film. By Wednesday I released it. An emotional story about a little boy who collects shooting stars during a period of war called The Stars.

The response for the film has been overwhelming. I am honoured that it’s touched so many people. But today… I got an email saying that my film has been selected at the prestigious AIMA (Ai Movie Awards) What makes it even more surreal is who’s judging the work:

Tommy Harper — producer of Mission: Impossible, Star Wars, Top Gun, Wednesday, Star Trek

Fab Morvan of Milli Vanilli — 2x Grammy nominated artist

Mike Day — CEO of Palma Pictures, producer of The Crown, The Night Manager, The Mallorca Files

Mike Ho — director for Jennifer Lopez, Bad Bunny, Shakira, Christina Aguilera

Zack London, also known as Gossip Goblin — visionary AI filmmaker (one of my favourite creators)

I’m genuinely honoured to have my work shown at something like this. At this point, it just feels right that I show up and experience it properly. Plus it’s on a beach!

Not only is this a testimony on the speed you can get work out, but also a testimony that story will always win. My work is less about what the tools can do but how it can make you feel. It’s also a testimony to just get your bloody work out. You never know who’s watching

[The Black Spectrum - Diane Laidlaw @theblkspectrum]

Honestly, unless you’re a parent raising an autistic child, you can’t really understand—and that goes double if you’re a neurodivergent parent raising a neurodivergent child. The challenges are on another level.

[The Black Spectrum - Diane Laidlaw @theblkspectrum]

The game changer for me and my ADHD is not just about writing down a checklist of things to do. It also how long things will take. Writing down,
“clean the dishes”
will still overwhelm me but writing down
“clean the dishes - 10 minutes”
has been far more kinder to my brain.

[The Black Spectrum - Diane Laidlaw @theblkspectrum]

Giving thanks to Hiatus Kaiyote for all the music. This year I couldn’t stop listening to Sparkle Tape Break Up - Mndsgn Remix. #SpotifyWrapped https://t.co/7fqiJzgwqv @HiatusKaiyote I’m in the 0.1% of listeners

[The Black Spectrum - Diane Laidlaw @theblkspectrum]

Moving home and packing and decluttering a home is not the most adhd friendly thing to do. I’ve had to take medication today to get me through it #adhd #moving

[The Black Spectrum - Diane Laidlaw @theblkspectrum]

@wildfeminine_ Don’t bother

[The Black Spectrum - Diane Laidlaw @theblkspectrum]

@ClennellMick @RichieBrave For sure.

[The Black Spectrum - Diane Laidlaw @theblkspectrum]

@EdfIssues2023 they just hung up on me after coming back after 12 min on hold
To “read” my account @edfenergy

[The Black Spectrum - Diane Laidlaw @theblkspectrum]

@EdfIssues2023 I’ve been on hold for over 10 minutes. Someone said they are about to look at my account. How can you be reading for 10 minutes.

[The Black Spectrum - Diane Laidlaw @theblkspectrum]

@AdultingADHD When was she taught? 1981?

[The Black Spectrum - Diane Laidlaw @theblkspectrum]

@GabrielleEva @RichieBrave I didn't fully process what had happened until after everything calmed down. I wouldn't have been so polite to her. My son is okay. I told him to make sure he comes home direct if someone is following him. i will deal with them when they get to my house.

[The Black Spectrum - Diane Laidlaw @theblkspectrum]

@RichieBrave The police congratulated my son's way of moving, and I've not seen that woman again.

[The Black Spectrum - Diane Laidlaw @theblkspectrum]

@RichieBrave My son did. We live in a gated community and one day my son decided to go to the community shop. A white woman started following my son asking him where he lived. My son who is stranger danger trained, told the woman to leave him alone, he can't talk to strangers. 1/

[The Black Spectrum - Diane Laidlaw @theblkspectrum]

@RichieBrave The police came and my son thought he was in trouble so hid behind the sofa. The woman came to my door and was apologising saying she had never seen him before. I told the woman, there is only a few black people who live in the community and I've been here over 10 years.

[The Black Spectrum - Diane Laidlaw @theblkspectrum]

@RichieBrave She then decided to call the police, even though he had the key to get in the building and pressed the correct floor. My son refused to walk to the house because he was scared that she would find out where he lived.

[The Black Spectrum - Diane Laidlaw @theblkspectrum]

My son just told me he doesn’t want the children at his school to know he’s Autistic because he doesn’t want people to know the source of his jokes.

[The Black Spectrum - Diane Laidlaw @theblkspectrum]

@Hherrrrrrrrrrro @jdegoes @ilyasut Because the take is lacking comprehension.