8 Ways You Can Be an Ally of the Neurodiversity Movement
A diagnosis brings mixed emotions for parents. Relief at having a better understanding of their child. Grief for the struggles their child might endure. Hope that there are things they can do to help. Some diagnoses, such as autism, ADHD, and dyslexia, can be classified under the umbrella term of neurodiversity.
What is the Neurodiversity Movement?
Neurodiversity means that people’s brains and nervous systems operate differently. Some of us are neurotypical, while others are neurodivergent, and all of us are okay as we are. The neurodiversity movement supports these brain differences as a normal part of the human condition. People have different eye colors, different heights, different interests, and similarly, differently wired brains. While society tends to see some people as disordered, deficient, and needing to be fixed—the neurodiversity movement sees all neurotypes as worthy of equal respect and acceptance.
Neurodiversity and the Autistic Community
One of the best examples of this movement is the autistic community (autistic adults)*. The autistic community advocates for neurotypical people to accept autistic people as they are and to take more responsibility for accommodating neurological differences—rather than forcing them to change or mask who they really are to fit into society. Autistic adults of all types, including speaking and non-speaking, can reach their potential if they are supported and appreciated. In fact, teaching autistic children to act as if they are neurotypical can have serious consequences for their mental health. Although not all autistic people share the same views on every issue, the community has been vocal about certain topics.
8 Ways to Be an Ally of the Neurodiversity Movement
Here are some of the beliefs around neurodiversity and how you can be an ally!
Although individuals may choose to identify themselves differently, as a community the preference is to be called autistic (identity first language) rather than a “person with autism” (person first language). Many autistics believe that autism is part of their identity and cannot be separated from them. In other words, there is no neurotypical person hiding inside an autistic person waiting to be freed. Note that there are other disability communities, such as the Deaf community, who prefer this type of identification.
Instead of the puzzle piece, which many autistics find offensive due to its history**, use the infinity symbol. A rainbow infinity symbol can be used for neurodiversity in general, while a gold infinity symbol can be specific to autism. Autistics also like using the element designation for gold, which happens to be Au (the first two letters of the word autism).
Support organizations that are led or co-led by autistics. Autism Speaks is not one of these organizations and is not endorsed by the autistic community. Instead, support organizations like the Autistic Inclusive Meets and Neuroclastic.
Make sure your child’s therapy does not aim to teach them to behave like neurotypicals through social skills training. This encourages masking, which is the suppression of autistic qualities to appear “normal.” Masking is exhausting and over time can cause anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts***. Be sure that any social skills therapy is neurodiversity affirming. Examples include: learning to self-advocate, self-regulate, and solve problems.
Avoid therapies that emphasize compliance training. While being conditioned to do whatever a therapist asks them to do, children are rewarded for ignoring their own thoughts and feelings. They are then more vulnerable to being taken advantage of in the future. Therapies that are child-led and based on the connection between child and therapist will help your child build upon their current strengths and access new skills naturally using their interests and preferences.
Functioning labels, such as “high-functioning” and “low-functioning” are harmful to the autistic community. Those labeled “high-functioning” often are overlooked when they do need support. Those labeled “low-functioning” may be seen as incapable of things they can do independently. Autistic people have a variety of strengths and challenges just like everyone else. In addition, needs can vary greatly day to day, and even at different times throughout the day depending on the activity. Imagine if someone asked you if you were a “high-functioning” or “low-functioning” neurotypical person. It would be a hard question to answer. Instead of labeling autistic people as high- or low-functioning, you can describe the type of support that the person benefits from.
The autistic community finds April to be a stressful time, due to the prevalence of old and inaccurate messages about autism (e.g. autistic people do not have empathy—this is not true) saturating social media. Slogans such as “Autism Awareness Month” and “Light it Up Blue” originated from neurotypicals who defined what they thought autism was and how it should be publicized. Instead, join us in celebrating Autism Acceptance Month (as the mom of an autistic teenager, I prefer to call it Autism Appreciation and Adoration Month!).
To learn more about the neurodiversity movement and autistic advocacy, check out some of these resources:
At Synapse Pediatric Therapy, we support the autistic community and strive to be an ally. Our therapy practices are neurodiversity affirming and relationship-based. We do not see your child’s diagnosis as a tragedy. We see it as a first step to helping you guide your child through their life journey. Please join us in appreciating and uplifting people of all neurotypes.
Special thanks to Courtney Hayes, MS, CCC-SLP and to the members of the ND community who collaborated on this blog post. We appreciate you!
* Note that this is a separate community from the “autism community.” The “autism community” is made up of parents of autistic children who tend to see autism as a tragedy and want their child to be cured. Autistic adults have been clear that they do not want to be cured—they want to be themselves.
** See article: The Ableist History of the Puzzle Piece Symbol for Autism
*** See articles: Anxiety Disorders in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Population-Based Study and Premature mortality in autism spectrum disorder
