Jorik Mol

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Jorik Mol: 'Breaking the Boundaries'

Thursday, 20 February, 2025

As part of LGBTQIA+ History Month, BSU has been celebrating with a selection of guest speakers, including writer and autistic mentor for autistic university students Jorik Mol. Jorik will be sharing stories from his new book ‘Breaking the Boundaries’ and talking about his own experiences being queer and neurodivergent.

Originally from the Netherlands, Jorik was diagnosed as being on the Autism Spectrum at the age of eight. Growing up in a society with a lack of understanding towards autistic people’s minds, Jorik was faced with constant struggle. Speaking from his blog he said:  

“When I got diagnosed as autistic, I hated it. It felt like I was not allowed the rights and ease of living everybody else seemed to have. I fought myself for almost twenty years, deeply ashamed of what I couldn’t help but be.”

Consequently, Jorik has now committed himself to breaking the stigma, changing autistic people’s life chances and transforming societies perspective towards autistic people. He believes:

“Activism isn’t just being loud and protesting, its meeting people where they are and having important conversations”. 

His upcoming book is a perfect example of this, highlighting through 14 case studies how autistic people function within the current education system and how Jorik as a mentor can guide them through it. The book acts as a ‘bench’ to put everything he wanted to say in a permanent space. Having worked with BSU students since 2021, he wants the book to be meaningful to the people he mentors. As he states:

“Their existence chafes against the mainstream. It’s how can I address that? It’s someone to be there, to listen and give advice.”

His mentoring group Autwell, which runs at BSU (Thursdays in Commons 106 5:30-7pm and monthly in Locksbrook 201 on Tuesdays 5:30-7pm), as Jorik puts it ‘is one of the best things I’ve ever done’. It’s a space exclusively for people who have a lived autistic experience, where they can unmask. A safe non-threatening environment where people can workshop their thoughts, make each other laugh and be part of a strong community. Members have even come out through attending the sessions which is incredibly powerful. Jorik expressed: 

“We need moments like this to gather together, for the people with lived experiences to step up and speak out, inspire others.”

Jorik’s book will be out later this year. You can catch his talk on Wednesday 26 February, 4pm Locksbrook LR.207. Tickets are free and available here.