Welcome to Claudia's Corner

Hello everyone and welcome to Claudia's Corner. If you haven't figured it out already I'm Claudia Martin and I'm the owner and operator of Not Just Quirky. I wanted my first blog post to be memorable and captivating but I haven't put my writing skills to use since high school so here goes nothing.

I'm from a small town on the south coast of NSW, Australia. I am 25 years old and proudly identify as Neurodivergent. I have created this blog as a way to share my lived experience both pre and post-diagnosis and to share my thoughts and feelings about what it's like being neurodivergent as well as raising awareness for my different disabilities.

I have been diagnosed with autism, borderline personality disorder (BPD), complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and various anxieties. I have a few other health issues which my GP and specialists are currently investigating and I will update everyone as I go down this journey.

I live at home with my mumsy and our beloved dogs Luna and Maximus(pictured below). I also share a rabbit named AK (pictured below)with my boyfriend. My brother who is also neurodivergent is away at university but comes home some weekends.

In 2023 I was inspired to launch my own business. I wanted the flexibility of being my own boss and taking things at my own pace, which is very important to me. After consulting with my therapists and a few other individuals I gained the confidence I needed to officially start 'Not Just Quirky'. My passion is to raise awareness about my different disabilities along with educating others, educating myself, and advocating for my neurodivergent community. Starting 'Not Just Quirky' has not been an easy journey, I have faced many trials and blocks that have delayed my progress which I will discuss more in future posts.

'Not Just Quirky' is more than just a business for me to blog and create awareness of my disabilities. I aim to help individuals like me to embrace their disabilities and become self-advocates. I’m currently doing this in an individualized approach as a support worker, but I aim to start group workshops next year. I plan to gain valuable experience in both endeavours to prepare myself for my eventual goal of becoming a consultant for businesses and organizations. I want to help create more inclusive environments for neurodivergent individuals in our communities.

Claudia's Corner is not just a blog, but a place for me to feel empowered and confident to share my lived experience, thoughts, and feelings about being neurodivergent and the challenges and barriers I face every day. I hope that other people like me can find inspiration and empowerment from my blog. I aim to post at least once a month, to begin with, and increase my frequency as I continue to develop my writing skills and confidence to share my story. I encourage my readers to ask questions and share their thoughts and opinions with me and remember to keep Claudia’s Corners a safe and respectful platform.