Portfolio & Experience
Experience and Background
“I know how challenging life can be without the accommodation you deserve and need, and how hard it can be to feel misunderstood and misrepresented. I know what it’s like to go through those hurdles of living in a world that feels as if it wasn’t designed for you, and I hope to provide a light and support to those who have gone through what I have. My means of doing this is through my advocacy work as a writer, an activist, and a consultant. I have created this space to provide services for all neurodivergent folks, family members, businesses, and educators.”
-Dani Noreen, Neurodiversity Unbound
Founded and led by Dani, widely recognized as the Punk Rock Autistic across various social media platforms, our organization is at the forefront of disability advocacy, education, and consultancy. Dani is not your typical advocate. As an autistic self-advocate and educator and a fierce proponent of neurodiversity, Dani has channeled their personal experiences and unique insights into becoming a trailblazing neurodiversity self-advocate, educator, consultant, and writer with an intersectional focus on trauma informed care.
A graduate of the University of Maryland with a BS in Psychology and Sociology, and with over 15 years of experience working directly with not only the disabled community, but other marginalized and disenfranchised groups, Dani comes from a background in special education, case managament, social work, and direct support care prior to founding Neurodiversity Unbound.
Dani’s journey is not just about advocating for change—it’s about living it and embracing it. Their captivating dedication to authentic representation has resonated with countless individuals. Through their words, they’ve become a powerful voice, offering hope, inspiration, and valuable guidance to those seeking to understand and embrace the beauty of neurodiversity.
Portfolio
Community Advocacy and Education Experience:
- NeuroClastic: Consultant and community advocate
- Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST): Community Consultant, review research materials for appropriateness, accessibility, and inclusivity, as well as assisting in the development of original survey items
- Oklahoma State University Virtual Disability Cultural Center: Development team member
- The Punk Rock Autistic: Founder, writer, and neurodiversity educator
- Swallow Hill Music: Curation of sensory-friendly space during events and music therapy sensory kits
- Clyfford Still Museum: Neurodiversity accommodations and training workshop.
Community Networking, Mentorship, and Personal Consulting Experience:
- Neurodiversity Unbound: Currently serving over 25 families and individuals who are disabled, providing insight, support, and guidance on the autistic and neurodivergent experience
- Chicken Yogi: Podcast guest – “Meditation, Tea, and Neurodiversity with the Punk Rock Autistic.”
- David’s Divergent Discussions: Podcast guest – “David’s Divergent Discussions: David with The Punk Rock Autistic.”
- The Info Dump Files: Podcast guest- “Episode #35 Dani, The Punk Rock Autistic. Autistic Advocate/Musician/Gamer.”
The Punk Rock Autistic
Neurodiversity and Disability Community Advocate and Activist:
Dani began The Punk Rock Autistic in 2019, as a platform to share their first-hand experiences to help foster a deeper understanding of what it means to be autistic. Dani’s goal has always been to offer first-hand perspectives in order to bring a change in the cultural consciousness and promote acceptance and understanding through education.
The humble beginnings of their advocacy work started on their Facebook page, where they shared their own experiences of being autistic and queer and focused on spreading acceptance, solidarity, and understanding of neurodiversity, all through the lens of intersectionality and that angsty DIY punk ethos. With an outreach of nearly 1.2 million people each month, TPRA is a community resource for what life is for Dani’s personal experience with being chronically ill, disabled, autistic, and queer.
As their advocacy grew, they began seeing opportunities to take their experiences and insight to a level where they could help more people, and started Neurodiversity Unbound.