¡No Seas Tan Changa!
Growing Up “Too Sensitive” with Undiagnosed
Autism and ADHD in Puerto Rico
"I spent my life thinking I was changa. It turns out, I was just navigating a neurotypical world with a different operating system."
In Puerto Rico, if a child is too sensitive to the itchy lace of a school uniform or questions an illogical rule, they are labeled changa or malcriada. For Camil, life was a series of variables that never quite added up.
They found sanctuary in the precise world of pure mathematics, eventually earning a Ph.D. and building a life governed by logic. But when a catastrophic hurricane strips away their routines and a new chapter of parenthood pushes their sensory system to its breaking point, the "social algorithm" they spent a lifetime perfecting finally crashes.
¡No Seas Tan Changa! is a final proof of identity. Moving between the reality of being neurodivergent and research-backed interludes, Camil uncovers the missing variables of their own autism and ADHD.
This book is a Narrative Manual—a blend of my lived experience and practical insight designed to help you and your loved ones navigate the complexities of a neurodivergent life.
I have organized this book into three layers:
My Story: Chapters following my journey from growing up in Puerto Rico to my late diagnosis.
Notes on the Experience: Research-backed interludes throughout the narrative that explain the “why” behind neurodivergent traits.
Notes on the Text: Expanded context and frameworks based on research, located at the end of the book.
About The Author
Camil I. Aponte Román, Ph.D., is a neuroinclusive coach and consultant, educator, parent, and mathematician. After navigating decades of an “unsolvable” social equation, their late diagnosis of AuDHD transformed their perspective on identity and advocacy. Today, Camil uses their analytical lens, lived experience, and expertise to help families, schools, and individuals build neuroinclusive maps that prioritize sustainability over “normalcy.” Based in Puerto Rico, they embrace their intensity to help others find the formula for their own success.
Book Details
Publication Date: 04/14/2026
Publisher: Harmonic Divergence Press
Paperback:
Price: $16.99
ISBN-13: 979-8-9951788-0-4
eBook:
Price: $6.99
ISBN-13: 979-8-9951788-1-1
Genre: ADHD, Autism, Disabilities, Parenting, Education, Biographies & Memoirs, Hispanic & Latinx, Advocacy, Neuroscience
Retailers:
Specs:
155 pages
5.8 oz
5×8 inches