About Daily Thautism

Who I Am

I'm John Drexler—late-diagnosed autistic/ADHD adult, software engineer, martial artist, and perpetual learner. I discovered my ADHD in my late thirties and received my autism diagnosis in my early forties, which suddenly recontextualized decades of experiences I'd never quite understood.

By day, I work as a software engineer with focus on AI and cybersecurity. By night (and honestly, most other times), I'm training in Chinese internal martial arts, studying Mandarin, writing philosophical papers on consciousness, or diving deep into whatever has captured my hyperfocus that week.

Why This Blog Exists

After my diagnosis, I spent months reading everything I could find about autism and ADHD. What I found was either clinical literature that felt detached from lived experience, or personal blogs that didn't quite capture the analytical, systematic way I process the world.

Daily Thautism bridges that gap. This is where I document:

• Lived Experience: What it's actually like navigating life with this particular neurotype
• Systems Thinking: Breaking down complex experiences into understandable frameworks
• Research-Informed Insights: Connecting personal experience with scientific understanding
• Practical Strategies: What actually works (and what doesn't) for managing daily life

Who This Is For

You might find value here if you:

• Are late-diagnosed or questioning whether you might be neurodivergent
• Want analytical, systematic approaches to understanding autism/ADHD
• Are tired of either clinical jargon or overly simplified explanations
• Appreciate when someone shows their work and cites their sources
• Value honest exploration over definitive answers

My Approach

I write the way my brain works: direct, analytical, and probably too detailed. I don't do inspirational fluff or toxic positivity. Neurodivergence isn't a superpower, and it's not a tragedy—it's a different operating system with its own strengths and challenges.

Every post here is grounded in either research, lived experience, or both. When I speculate, I say so. When I'm wrong, I correct it. When something works for me but might not work for you, I'm explicit about that context.

Beyond the Blog

When I'm not writing, you'll find me:

• Training at Shen Wu Academy (Xingyiquan, Baguazhang, Taijiquan, BJJ)
• Building AI systems and researching consciousness
• Speaking at cybersecurity conferences on healthcare infrastructure protection
• Maintaining my 500+ day Duolingo streak in Mandarin Chinese
• Probably hyperfocusing on some new technical project

I hold a Master's degree in Computer Science from Merrimack College, where I focused on software engineering with a 3.9 GPA.

Let's Connect

This blog works best as a conversation. If something resonates, challenges your thinking, or sparks questions—drop a comment. I read and respond to everything (ADHD willing).

Enough info-dumping.. Welcome to Daily Thautism. Let's think about thinking differently.