Rachel
@rachelneedsanap.bsky.social
Religious Studies & Hebrew Bible PhD student📚/Jewish✡️/ADHD & Autistic🎧/Myth & Religion Nerd🏺/Recovering Attorney ⚖️/Perpetually Sleepy💤
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Rachel
@rachelneedsanap.bsky.social
· Oct 18
A little about me:
I’m an #Autistic #PhD student in #ReligiousStudies, researching myth & ritual in the Hebrew Bible. I was an attorney for 10yrs, until I hit autistic burnout & decided to build a new career around my special interests in myth & religion. Nice to meet you all!
I’m an #Autistic #PhD student in #ReligiousStudies, researching myth & ritual in the Hebrew Bible. I was an attorney for 10yrs, until I hit autistic burnout & decided to build a new career around my special interests in myth & religion. Nice to meet you all!
Reposted by Rachel
PSA to neurotypicals - asking “why” is not arguing. “Here is how a thing is.” “Why?” Is not an argument. It’s a request for more information. Why is the thing that way? Teach me.
November 27, 2025 at 12:14 AM
PSA to neurotypicals - asking “why” is not arguing. “Here is how a thing is.” “Why?” Is not an argument. It’s a request for more information. Why is the thing that way? Teach me.
Reposted by Rachel
was talking to pals there about neurodivergence and how you notice it absolutely everywhere when you’ve discovered it about yourself. So I said these are the sections of society I firmly believe are 90% neurodivergent people:
- nuns
- pearly kings and queens
- anyone doing a PhD
- nuns
- pearly kings and queens
- anyone doing a PhD
November 27, 2025 at 10:45 PM
was talking to pals there about neurodivergence and how you notice it absolutely everywhere when you’ve discovered it about yourself. So I said these are the sections of society I firmly believe are 90% neurodivergent people:
- nuns
- pearly kings and queens
- anyone doing a PhD
- nuns
- pearly kings and queens
- anyone doing a PhD
I’m grateful for my incredible daughter, with her glittering energy & her artist’s soul.
I’m grateful that I get to go to graduate school & study Torah professionally. תלמוד תורה כנגד כולם.
I’m grateful for the roof over my head, while so many people in my city (LA) don’t have one. #Thanksgiving
I’m grateful that I get to go to graduate school & study Torah professionally. תלמוד תורה כנגד כולם.
I’m grateful for the roof over my head, while so many people in my city (LA) don’t have one. #Thanksgiving
November 27, 2025 at 11:49 PM
I’m grateful for my incredible daughter, with her glittering energy & her artist’s soul.
I’m grateful that I get to go to graduate school & study Torah professionally. תלמוד תורה כנגד כולם.
I’m grateful for the roof over my head, while so many people in my city (LA) don’t have one. #Thanksgiving
I’m grateful that I get to go to graduate school & study Torah professionally. תלמוד תורה כנגד כולם.
I’m grateful for the roof over my head, while so many people in my city (LA) don’t have one. #Thanksgiving
Reposted by Rachel
Selflessness does not mean self-SACRIFICE. It's not selfish in a toxic way to watch out for your own wellbeing. If you're not TAKING from other people, or refusing to contribute at all, then you deserve to include yourself in generosity.
November 27, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Selflessness does not mean self-SACRIFICE. It's not selfish in a toxic way to watch out for your own wellbeing. If you're not TAKING from other people, or refusing to contribute at all, then you deserve to include yourself in generosity.
Reposted by Rachel
A lot of society is built around teaching people to curb their selfish impulses. These messages can be counterproductive, however, for people who are already radically selfless.
We need more messaging encouraging selfishness among activists in order to reduce burnout rates.
#HelpSky #NEISVoid
We need more messaging encouraging selfishness among activists in order to reduce burnout rates.
#HelpSky #NEISVoid
November 27, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Reposted by Rachel
Autistic people aren’t “bad at following instructions”
Many autistic people are actually excellent at following instructions
The problem?
👉 The instructions are unclear, vague or inconsistent
What’s important is:
- clear steps
- clear expectations
- clear outcomes
- clear deadlines
#inclusion
Many autistic people are actually excellent at following instructions
The problem?
👉 The instructions are unclear, vague or inconsistent
What’s important is:
- clear steps
- clear expectations
- clear outcomes
- clear deadlines
#inclusion
November 27, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Autistic people aren’t “bad at following instructions”
Many autistic people are actually excellent at following instructions
The problem?
👉 The instructions are unclear, vague or inconsistent
What’s important is:
- clear steps
- clear expectations
- clear outcomes
- clear deadlines
#inclusion
Many autistic people are actually excellent at following instructions
The problem?
👉 The instructions are unclear, vague or inconsistent
What’s important is:
- clear steps
- clear expectations
- clear outcomes
- clear deadlines
#inclusion
Reposted by Rachel
This is why autistic people have an ~83% unemployment rate.
They even laughed me off, because I had no clue how to discuss salary and low balled myself...
Job interviews are literally the "anti-autism" kryptonite... You should lie, but not too much, you you have to do 3 ordane tasks in a set time limit that you know you can do by heart. Eye contact... Ugh
Job interviews are literally the "anti-autism" kryptonite... You should lie, but not too much, you you have to do 3 ordane tasks in a set time limit that you know you can do by heart. Eye contact... Ugh
November 27, 2025 at 4:28 PM
This is why autistic people have an ~83% unemployment rate.
You know what really grinds my gears? I’ve been vegetarian for…I think 7 years now? And my family still doesn’t bother to make sure there’s food for me on holidays. They act like I’m imposing on them by asking.
Thanksgiving for me = mashed potatoes. I’ll microwave a frozen dinner for myself later 😞
Thanksgiving for me = mashed potatoes. I’ll microwave a frozen dinner for myself later 😞
November 27, 2025 at 4:26 PM
You know what really grinds my gears? I’ve been vegetarian for…I think 7 years now? And my family still doesn’t bother to make sure there’s food for me on holidays. They act like I’m imposing on them by asking.
Thanksgiving for me = mashed potatoes. I’ll microwave a frozen dinner for myself later 😞
Thanksgiving for me = mashed potatoes. I’ll microwave a frozen dinner for myself later 😞
Reposted by Rachel
If you ask about the hats, they scream at you & act as if you’re insulting them for some reason. Everyone knows about the hats, you’re only saying you don’t know as an excuse!
November 27, 2025 at 4:11 PM
If you ask about the hats, they scream at you & act as if you’re insulting them for some reason. Everyone knows about the hats, you’re only saying you don’t know as an excuse!
Reposted by Rachel
Imagine you have to work in a different country. Every fourth day, everyone at work arrives wearing a strange hat. You don't know if it's religious or cultural or just your work. Do you try to wear a similar hat, knowing you'll get it wrong? Or not wear a hat, and get judged? Or just not go to work?
November 27, 2025 at 3:02 AM
Imagine you have to work in a different country. Every fourth day, everyone at work arrives wearing a strange hat. You don't know if it's religious or cultural or just your work. Do you try to wear a similar hat, knowing you'll get it wrong? Or not wear a hat, and get judged? Or just not go to work?
I’m #autistic, & people often assume I’m angry or upset when I’m not. I can’t imagine how much worse it would be if I were Black. All my love & respect to my Black autistic friends. You put up with an incredible amount of bullshit.
November 26, 2025 at 10:41 PM
I’m #autistic, & people often assume I’m angry or upset when I’m not. I can’t imagine how much worse it would be if I were Black. All my love & respect to my Black autistic friends. You put up with an incredible amount of bullshit.
Reposted by Rachel
Black autistic people are too often labeled “defiant” or “aggressive” instead of supported and understood. Our communication styles aren’t threats. They’re expressions of who we are
November 26, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Black autistic people are too often labeled “defiant” or “aggressive” instead of supported and understood. Our communication styles aren’t threats. They’re expressions of who we are
My Dad is visiting for Thanksgiving. We don’t get along, but… he just purchased me a LEGO bonsai tree kit, so I’m pacified. Been smiling like a goof about it for the past 2 hours. Apparently I CAN be bought.
November 26, 2025 at 10:13 PM
My Dad is visiting for Thanksgiving. We don’t get along, but… he just purchased me a LEGO bonsai tree kit, so I’m pacified. Been smiling like a goof about it for the past 2 hours. Apparently I CAN be bought.
Reposted by Rachel
No one talks about it, but Cain killing his brother was pretty Abelist.
November 26, 2025 at 9:47 PM
No one talks about it, but Cain killing his brother was pretty Abelist.
Reposted by Rachel
Christians I beg you please stop naming your organizations Hebrew words
like, you have a whole tradition & language(s) & religious culture that's your own
our traditions broke up a long time ago
you have a lane? This is not it?
and it's v confusing for me personally when I click on stuff, ok
like, you have a whole tradition & language(s) & religious culture that's your own
our traditions broke up a long time ago
you have a lane? This is not it?
and it's v confusing for me personally when I click on stuff, ok
November 25, 2025 at 1:47 AM
Christians I beg you please stop naming your organizations Hebrew words
like, you have a whole tradition & language(s) & religious culture that's your own
our traditions broke up a long time ago
you have a lane? This is not it?
and it's v confusing for me personally when I click on stuff, ok
like, you have a whole tradition & language(s) & religious culture that's your own
our traditions broke up a long time ago
you have a lane? This is not it?
and it's v confusing for me personally when I click on stuff, ok
Reposted by Rachel
They sometimes say I’m “privileged.” Apparently, if I think autistic people should exist, if I think we have any redeeming value at all, it proves I don’t have REAL autism. REAL autistics, like their kids, are wretched 24/7 & obviously unworthy of life. 🙄😡
November 26, 2025 at 5:10 PM
They sometimes say I’m “privileged.” Apparently, if I think autistic people should exist, if I think we have any redeeming value at all, it proves I don’t have REAL autism. REAL autistics, like their kids, are wretched 24/7 & obviously unworthy of life. 🙄😡
Reposted by Rachel
A lot of goyische lack of understanding of antisemitism seems in large part rooted in their impression of Judaism as a religion like Christianity, rather than an ethnicity and a culture as well as a religion.
November 26, 2025 at 4:01 PM
A lot of goyische lack of understanding of antisemitism seems in large part rooted in their impression of Judaism as a religion like Christianity, rather than an ethnicity and a culture as well as a religion.
Reposted by Rachel
Your yearly reminder that “holiday” celebrations that only include Christian traditions are not, in fact, inclusive even if you don’t use the word Christmas, so tbh I’d rather you just say it’s Christmas.
Until a few years ago, ugly holiday sweaters didn’t exist. They’re ugly Christmas sweaters, with some generic Jewish iconography to be “inclusive.” But the truth is, when I have to buy one to wear to a work party, I feel like I’m in another culture’s drag.
November 22, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Your yearly reminder that “holiday” celebrations that only include Christian traditions are not, in fact, inclusive even if you don’t use the word Christmas, so tbh I’d rather you just say it’s Christmas.
Reposted by Rachel
Like, it’s pretty rich to hear “everyone has interests like that” when “restricted interests” are STILL a diagnostic criterion for autism in the DSM! #Autistic people are othered, mocked, pathologized & put in intensive therapy for this trait that “everyone” has.
September 22, 2024 at 8:57 PM
Like, it’s pretty rich to hear “everyone has interests like that” when “restricted interests” are STILL a diagnostic criterion for autism in the DSM! #Autistic people are othered, mocked, pathologized & put in intensive therapy for this trait that “everyone” has.
I keep getting these people! It doesn’t matter how clear I am or which words I use. If I say it’s wrong to screen #autistic people out of the gene pool, some parent WILL jump in to tell me about their benighted child who they apparently wish didn’t exist.
Me: Eugenics is bad.
Autism Mom: You need to remember that not all autistic people are as high-functioning as you are. Your comment doesn’t take into account people like my nonverbal son.
🙃🙃🙃
Autism Mom: You need to remember that not all autistic people are as high-functioning as you are. Your comment doesn’t take into account people like my nonverbal son.
🙃🙃🙃
November 26, 2025 at 4:40 PM
I keep getting these people! It doesn’t matter how clear I am or which words I use. If I say it’s wrong to screen #autistic people out of the gene pool, some parent WILL jump in to tell me about their benighted child who they apparently wish didn’t exist.
Reposted by Rachel
I think it’s time to put this one back out into the ether, friends
Come and learn about how the tropes undergirding anti-Jewish hatred and conspiracy theories as they exist today came to be…
Come and learn about how the tropes undergirding anti-Jewish hatred and conspiracy theories as they exist today came to be…
The Antisemitism Post (tm)
Gotta get the history to know where the tropes live in the discourse today.
www.lifeisasacredtext.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:12 PM
I think it’s time to put this one back out into the ether, friends
Come and learn about how the tropes undergirding anti-Jewish hatred and conspiracy theories as they exist today came to be…
Come and learn about how the tropes undergirding anti-Jewish hatred and conspiracy theories as they exist today came to be…
Reposted by Rachel
It’s pretty funny how often this thing happens where some dogmatic Christian wanders into the replies of a Jew posting about Judaism, says something dumb, gets corrected by numerous Jews, and concludes Jews are just bitter nasty bullies who are too close-minded to understand them.
November 25, 2025 at 11:55 PM
It’s pretty funny how often this thing happens where some dogmatic Christian wanders into the replies of a Jew posting about Judaism, says something dumb, gets corrected by numerous Jews, and concludes Jews are just bitter nasty bullies who are too close-minded to understand them.
Reposted by Rachel
You can look all day for environmental reasons to “blame” for autism but I have never met an autistic kid who didn’t have at least one autistic parent or parents w traits
Not knowing you’re autistic doesn’t make you less autistic; thinking it’s “bad” makes you less likely to want to know it
Not knowing you’re autistic doesn’t make you less autistic; thinking it’s “bad” makes you less likely to want to know it
November 25, 2025 at 4:53 PM
You can look all day for environmental reasons to “blame” for autism but I have never met an autistic kid who didn’t have at least one autistic parent or parents w traits
Not knowing you’re autistic doesn’t make you less autistic; thinking it’s “bad” makes you less likely to want to know it
Not knowing you’re autistic doesn’t make you less autistic; thinking it’s “bad” makes you less likely to want to know it
Reposted by Rachel
DUDE 💀. As someone in the comments said: Parents not realizing they're, in fact, autistic.
We *need* to make people aware that autism is genetic. 😭 we exists because other autistics reproduced 🤷♀️
We *need* to make people aware that autism is genetic. 😭 we exists because other autistics reproduced 🤷♀️
Guys I have terrible news - this post has gone viral on Facebook, promoting hundreds of rage-filled comments from people who have taken it very seriously indeed. And, most annoyingly, the Autism Parents have found it!!
Mary Walker, 9, who has always displayed autistic traits, was miraculously fixed by her parents insisting that she stop it at once.
Read this and other exclusive articles on Patreon: www.patreon.com/posts/119410...
Read this and other exclusive articles on Patreon: www.patreon.com/posts/119410...
November 25, 2025 at 1:12 PM
DUDE 💀. As someone in the comments said: Parents not realizing they're, in fact, autistic.
We *need* to make people aware that autism is genetic. 😭 we exists because other autistics reproduced 🤷♀️
We *need* to make people aware that autism is genetic. 😭 we exists because other autistics reproduced 🤷♀️