Maddie Schramm

Hi, I’m Maddie! Welcome to The Wildflower Mind! I’m a 26 year old neurodivergent living in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. I was diagnosed with autism when I was 3 years old, and later also diagnosed with ADHD and anxiety. 

Growing up as a low-support needs (LSN) neurodivergent was tough. On one hand, I was so “high-functioning” and adaptable to the neurotypical world that I felt like I didn’t truly belong within the neurodivergent community, because my needs and struggles were different than theirs, and the “supports” offered didn’t work for me. On the other hand, there were certain quirks I had that I couldn’t mask, like my stimming and struggles with expressing myself verbally. So that made me too “weird” to fit in with my neurotypical peers, and I was outcast because of it. Not to mention, back when I was growing up in the 2000s and 2010s, neurodivergence and disability as a whole were still poorly understood and looked down on. And it didn’t help that I was the only autistic person in my entire family! In spite of the odds and obstacles thrown my way, I succeeded academically and in life. But I wish there had been someone around who truly got me, somewhere where I could belong as my full, authentic self instead of feeling trapped between two worlds. 

Fortunately, I’ve been blessed with the gift of writing, so I’m going to use it to tell my story and share my experiences! Expect to see posts about growing up neurodivergent, living as an autistic woman in this modern world, the little things I observe, and my thoughts, feelings and experiences. This blog is for any neurodivergent of any support level who feels lost or out of place and needs someone who gets it. Neurotypicals looking to support a neurodivergent or just satisfy their curiosity are also welcome!

So why The Wildflower Mind? Like neurodivergents and neurotypicals, a wildflower is distinctive from a garden flower in many ways, yet they are equally beautiful and essential for the natural world. But living as a neurodivergent wildflower is difficult, because people prefer neurotypical domestic flowers, and build garden worlds for them. When a wildflower is planted in a space meant for garden flowers and is tended to like a garden flower, it struggles. But if it’s given the right conditions and has its needs met, it grows and blooms into something lovely and vibrant to rival any domestic flower! 

If you’re a neurodivergent looking for someone who understands, you’re right where you belong. Enjoy the perspective of notes from a different kind of mind.