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A BLOG FOR SELF-ADVOCATES IN BC
Are you a BCPF Member who wants to be featured on the blog? Send us an email to share your ideas for a blog post or get support from BCPF to write your own blog post. The blog is a great place to share information with others about your experiences living with disability or about your advocacy work.
Summer Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): When Sunshine Doesn't Improve Mental Health
Written by Jenine Lillian, #ActuallyAutistic Neurodiversity Consultant & Educator (www.jeninelillian.com) and BCPF Society Board Member: Regional Director - Kootenays When we hear about Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), the conversation almost always centers on winter — the short days, the grey skies, the way darkness seems to seep into everything. And that's real. But it's not the whole story. I have Summer SAD. And every year, as the world starts buzzing with energy abou
Beyond Awareness: Why World Autism Acceptance Day Matters
Written by Jenine Lillian, #ActuallyAutistic Neurodiversity Consultant & Educator ( www.jeninelillian.com ) and BCPF Society Board Member: Regional Director - Kootenays March 27, 2026 World Autism Awareness Day happens every April 2nd. But awareness alone isn't enough. We need acceptance and authentic inclusion of autistic people as we truly are. I received my autism diagnosis very late in life. For five decades, I masked my differences and questioned why everything felt har
Stress Management for Entrepreneurs: Building a Business That Works For You
Written by Jenine Lillian, #ActuallyAutistic Neurodiversity Consultant & Educator and BCPF Society Board: Regional Director – Kootenays January 2026 Entrepreneurship is demanding. For those of us navigating disability, neurodivergence, chronic illness, or trauma histories, it often comes with an added layer of complexity. We bring powerful strengths to our work, alongside very real needs. I call this the Triple Burden : running a business, stewarding our health and energy, an
Neurodivergent Holiday Survival Tips: Protecting Your Peace During Peak Stress Season
Written by Jenine Lillian, #ActuallyAutistic Neurodiversity Consultant & Educator, BCPF Board: Regional Director - Kootenays December 2025 The holidays can feel like a pressure cooker—broken schedules, sensory overload, difficult conversations, and expectations everywhere. For neurodivergent folks, this peak stress season demands more than just pushing through. It demands real strategies for survival. Self-care right now isn't about being festive or fitting in. It's about mak
Busy Isn't a Badge of Honour: Self-Care as Survival for Disabled Folks
Written by Jenine Lillian, #ActuallyAutistic Neurodiversity Consultant & Educator September 30, 2025 In today's world, "busy" often gets celebrated as a kind of modern-day badge of honor. We hear it all the time: "How are you?" — "Busy!" As if being overscheduled, exhausted, and constantly in motion somehow proves our worth. For many people, this grind culture comes with costs. But for disabled folks, it can be devastating. I want to say it clearly: Busy is not proof of val
Real Talk & Resources for Disabled Self‐Advocates
Written by Jenine Lillian, BCPF Board: Regional Director - Kootenays, and Neurodiversity Consultant & Educator August 15, 2025 If you're reading this, chances are you're already out there making things happen—advocating for accessibility for yourself and your community, growing a small business, or leading change in ways that matter. As a disabled adult involved in self-advocacy, entrepreneurship, or community leadership, you already know how important it is to build real, la
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