Neurodiversity inclusion minimising difficulties

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It’s neurodiversity celebration week so many positive messages are popping up on social media at the moment.
I saw the one below about changing the narrative- in my view this type of thinking minimises the difficulties and stops people getting the support they need.
For example fidgety turns to energetic. To me it’s not about being energetic , it could be being over stimulated or uncomfortable with a situation.
Quiet changes to thoughtful. It’s important to look at why someone is being quiet, why aren’t they making themselves heard. Stating they are thoughtful brushes over the underlying difficulties.

I am happy to accept I’m wrong if I am, perhaps I am looking at this the wrong way.

I have autism and can assure (generic) you that it's no superpower.

“Resilient” 😂

I don’t see how lack focus or distracted has been reframed as forward thinking or engaging. If I’m meant to be focusing on something I’m doing right now and I start thinking about what someone said or did yesterday or thinking about a conversation I’m overhearing has no relevance to me how does that play into being forward thinking or engaging? 🤔

Similarly with disorganised - that often renders me feeling stuck and not doing anything because I feel in a muddle or I go round in circles. So no not proactive 😂

there are aspects of myself I like such as creativity and hyper-focus (when I’m not being distracted!) which might tie into my tendency to do things my own way and think a bit differently to others due to being ND but it’s also OK to recognise that some things are a bit of a struggle for people eg. I’m in my 30s and still trying to learn to drive/swim despite having achieved a lot in my career and other areas of my life.

This poster was probably well intentioned but poorly judged and does trivialise some peoples experiences. I wonder if the person /people behind it were ND or NT.

As the parent of a neurodivergent child, who I'm always told is just so clever (yet academically behind!) I couldn't agree more. It absolutely minimises their challenges and the cynic in me thinks some of it is to reduce funding/help!

It's so misplaced, all under the umbrella of checking the inclusivity box, and always at the expense of those genuinely struggling. Sometimes it's better to admit that inclusiveness isn't about being open to all, but about being able to adapt services to needs and I've appreciated every person/service who has had the balls to say to me that they just don't have the skills and expertise to be fully inclusive, it's kinder!

The paper is a font example of toxic positivity imo.

I hate that poster and a lot of what comes out of nd week tbh, very unrepresentative for lots and this whole Jazz it up, it's a superpower narrative 🙄just isnt helpful.

100% agree with this.

It very much fees like othering them. Dehumanising any behaviours they exhibit as different to what they are or may be.

I know quite a few autistics who say it and genuinely appear to feel that way about it.

Their feelings about their own condition are valid.

I work with neurodiverse kids. Whoever did that poster has had no experience at all.

Most of the people I know who go on about superpowers are self diagnosed "quirky" people tagging on the latest cool tik tok trend.

I haven't got a fucking superpower. I wouldn't have been diagnosed autistic if I was fantastic at life and never had any problems.

It just makes me feel even more of a massive failure at life than I already do.

I have adhd. I have all of the qualities on this poster. None of them cancel each other out or can be used as synonyms.

As part of this week, I'd been sent something linking to the national autistic society website. I was having a look at their guidance for women and girls, as I'm aware it can be much harder for women to gain a diagnosis...I was shocked and fuming at this, as it reads as being so fucking sexist

"Some of the core characteristics of autism are having ‘repetitive behaviours’ and highly-focused interests. Stereotyped examples of these include rocking backwards and forwards, and a fascination with trains. However, in autistic women and girls these behaviours and interests may be similar to those of non-autistic women and girls, such as twirling hair"

Yes my LinkedIn is full of what a superpower autism and ADHD is.

My son is non verbal.... Significant challenges and needs round the clock support. It's so minimising. I have no idea if he will even be able to be independent let alone have a job.

I do feel lots of ND spokespeople have only one message, and they don't speak about those that are really disabled by their ND

I don’t see how lack focus or distracted has been reframed as forward thinking or engaging

"It's ok, I will feel like doing it tomorrow" - forward wishful thinking

DD (autistic) tells me that in preparation for Autism Awareness Month some people feel there should be an 'Autism Awareness Month Awareness Month' to fortify autistic people against all the nonsense which will be spouted.

Those of us on the spectrum should know our place, eh.

I'm sorry I'm not disabled enough for you, @doadeer.

I laughed out loud at DIFFICULT = DIFFICULT

Yeah buddy, you ain't got a positive for that have you. Fucking assholes. Piss off. Sorry for the swearing.

Personally rooting for "difficult".

Not fair or inclusive!

#team difficult

The feminism board have taught me to ask the question, “Who benefits from this reframing?”

Because I don’t think it’s neurodiverse people.

I’m autistic. For me, it brings benefits - I’m articulate, academically very strong and there are a number of things I’m unusually good at - but also massive challenges. Social issues. Executive functioning issues. Acute anxiety. Meltdowns and harmful stimming. I’ll never be able to drive because of sensory overload.

I’m all for celebrating the Pros but we absolutely must not deny the Cons and pretend that many/most neurodivergent people don’t require extra support and understanding at times - even those of us who hide it really well. For some, that support is required ALL the time and always will be. To deny that situation is just neglectful of a whole section of society.

Forced positivity erases people’s real world experiences and suggests that anyone not succeeding in life is either failing because of their mindset, or being failed by those around them. Sometimes that may be true. Most of the time, it’s bullshit.

The truth is usually that people are doing the best they can in a variety of difficult situations, with varying degrees of support and success. Trying to pretend that something like uncontrollable emotions or rampant executive dysfunction is just a different way of operating seems to totally miss the point - it creates real world difficulties.

I guess the part where a more positive framing might help is a) by building confidence amongst neurodivergent people about their own future and the potential positives of certain traits and b) by shifting how society at large understands and responds to differences - but honestly, if we keep framing it entirely positively then I can’t help but think we’ll end up with less understanding and patience in the long run. The danger is that people will think “hey, if it’s so positive then why do you need all this help?”.

[thumbs up]

I'm obviously not saying that. I'm saying that the discussion is dominated by particular voices. I'm not saying they don't have a valid voice, that goes without saying. On my LinkedIn this week, there hasn't been any diversity of opinion or writings by those who are non speaking. I do follow non speaking adults on instagram.

Difficult =

singleminded
tenacious
forthright
dogged
determined
resolute

would all fit in with the theme.
Is there a reason why they left difficult?