Neurodiversity Movement/ARM-style Parent's Group or Forum

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Hi folks. I am wondering if anyone knows of a pro-neurodiversity, anti-cure forum or group for parents of ASD kids? I have been seriously considering developing one because the fix-it parents (from chelation fruit loops to psych med promoters) are giving me meltdowns. I'd like to find or create a space for parents who aren't pushing their children towards 'normalisation' but are assisting in an advocacy role and working toward promoting the "truth" of their children whilst assisting their kids to deal with the issues that ASD brings up in an NT-centric world.

I struggle with some of the comments that come from parents across the spectrum. I am looking for other parents who respect the differences in ASD kids and who generally respect kids as people who deserve a voice. I don't want to reinvent the wheel, so if this already exists, could someone please point me to it?

Thanks in advance.

Is WP too middle of the road for you? At least in the time I've been here (about a year) I have found the folks who have been here a long time have the attitude you say you are looking for. From what I can tell, Autism Speaks and any other group that promotes a "cure" are not very popular here. I read much advice about advocating for kids so that they can be just who they are. Not sure what else you are in search of?

Hi Bombaloo. Thanks for responding.

No WP is great. Definitely not middle of the road. I'm just looking for a place specific to what I stated above. There isn't much out there. I know folks here love their kids, etc., but I'm looking for something specific that isn't here (specifically). I lol'd. There are some fabulous parents here with exactly the attitude and outlook I have and I appreciate that a lot.

i think you would be hard pressed to find a forum that fit all these criteria because they are contradictory. to be anti-cure is not to broaden options but to limit them, and restrict the voices of our children. neurodiversity is a wonderful concept to promote, but all too often its not true diversity being pushed but a limited concept of diversity, where those who would choose to change their neurological status are not supported in that option and sometimes even actively worked against.

i havent seen many forums/groups that come close to wp's level of pro-neurodiversity, the majority ive seen are closer to the biomedical model. some are downright scary in their "woo-woo-ness", for lack of a better term. those ones also tend to be more religious oriented on average. i have seen one or two that were more pro-neurodiversity/anti-cure, you should be able to find them if you dig around on the web, but the ones ive seen were very small with nowhere near the membership and thus activity and postings that wp has. a forum isnt much use if it has no activity, unfortunately.

the attitude you are looking for is probably most common coming from parents who are on the spectrum themselves, or from those with other family members on the spectrum besides just their kids. your best chance to find such forums are on any of the sites created by autistics for autistics. hmmm wp doesnt appear to have a links page where you could find such sites, but i bet you would get lots of suggestions if you ask for links to other sites in the general discussion forum.

I don't think you will find what you are after.I definitely don't think you will find many positive groups here in our country either. I have a feeling you read my thread about how proud of my son, I am.

Where in Ozland are you? we could be neighbours and not know it?

Re: "anti-cure": I completely disagree with this theory, but respect that this has been your experience. To me, anti-cure is not being against things that will help folks on the spectrum to feel more comfortable in the world. To me, anti-cure means what the word says literally (most could guess why I take things literally). It means autism doesn't need a cure and that I am against finding a cure for autism. I can understand where you're coming from regarding neurodiversity and diversity in general. The same "attitude" tends to be pervasive in many "liberal" or "radical" parenting circles that aren't concerned with neuro issues, eg "You're one of us as long as you do x,y,z to show how completely liberal and radical you are." It's an irony thing. It's an irony thing I don't have patience for either, so I appreciate your comments there.



Thanks for this. I'm allergic to woo-woo-ness. I break out in a terrible brain rash. I have experienced the woo-woo brain healing itself and Oprah said so too many times to have patience with it anymore.



If there's no call for it except mine then there's no point in creating it or looking for a forum that doesn't have much happening. I was sort of thinking of a "safe space" to discuss some issues and get "positive" feedback regarding parenting on the spectrum, that space may be here or a fantasy I've created somewhere in my own head. Thank you for the feedback, I truly appreciate it.

I did, Solvejg. Will send you a PM.

There is another internet forum, Aspies for Freedom, that is a more advocacy oriented, but their parenting board is a lot slower than the one here. This site has the exposure and the volume of lurkers to make some difference, and I do see some tides turning. There are also some great blogs out there. But actual groups ... if they exist, I don't know them. I think it has to be a process of slowly planting seeds of thought among the more mainstream parents and then letting it spread organically. Well, I hope that works, anyway.

Thanks DW. I hope it works, too. I'm not so patient or diplomatic. I would like to learn how to be gentler in this regard. I find it exhausting discussing things with certain people (not talking about here at WP but generally with other parents of spectrum kids) and attempting to share my opinions without eventually getting angry or shutting down. I understand logically that seeds don't grow if you stomp on them. Biting my tongue when it comes to something I'm passionate about is not my strong suit, but I do need to practice it. I suppose that's what I was hoping for, a "safe space" where I can let it all hang out and not bite my tongue (or sit on my hands as the case may be online). Hmm. I will take this as a lesson I need to learn and something I need to work on....

we have the exact same definition of anti-cure actually =) seems our difference lies in the application of choice. i tend to be an extreme liberal when it comes to personal choice, i believe what we would choose for ourselves is completely separate from what the population should have as options. what i choose for me should not dictate what you should be able to choose for you. while my family would not choose to pursue a cure for any one of us with autism, we have no right to prevent others from taking a cure if they choose. and that ties in with the false diversity often promoted as neurodiversity. what is the difference between forcing an autistic to remain autistic when they want to take a cure, and forcing an autistic to take a cure when they want to remain autistic? there is no difference, it is imposing your will and personal choice on others, and does not promote diversity or acceptance. like the parenting circles you talk about, if you require someone to do x, y, z to be accepted, then its not acceptance.

i'd encourage you to "let it all hang out" right here on wp =) i think the vast majority of the parents here, if not sharing your exact viewpoint, are at least pretty accepting about both autism and parental choice. you are sure to find a few others who hold the same or similar views.

btw, what does ARM stand for? i am not familiar with that acronym.

Hi azurecrayon. Yes, I guess it gets into semantics. I am not into forcing people to not take a cure if they want one, I am anti-cure (perhaps there is a better way to "label" what I am and I haven't found it yet, please let me know if there is one). I am radical when it comes to personal choice as well, but I am not a liberal. The very idea makes me shudder. ARM = Autism Rights Movement

Thanks for the encouragement and the chat.