Why "Neurodiversity" is wrong

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I think people need to get beyond the simplistic 'Severely disabled' vs ' I'm a higher being because I'm on the spectrum" thinking that dominates current thinking on this issue .

Heading in either direction based on that results in a a bad state of affairs - severely disabled people not getting something that would improve life for them vs the possible eradication of strengths that a person has .

It SHOULD not be “ret*d” vs “superpowers” and indeed most ND advocates are not supremacists but unfortunately that is how it is widely perceived. A cure would weaken the ND movement because there would be less autistics. What remains of the ND movement would be the extremists.

But what is a movement if it doesnt represent the people it claims to represent - just an elitist club?

Whats more important as a priority for people with disabilities curing them of a major disability or an identity movement and label?

If the suppremist extremists are the last ones left that would be a great outcome, since they tend to be of the highest functioning and most able.

If they reject a cure because they think they are the next stage of evolution or have alien dna good for them.

Ill personally wave them on with a smile and wish them luck while i and many others get the treatment to live a normal existance.

A cure for the highly disabled who have severe sensory issues would be good. People might find it hard though to distinguish between low functioning and high functioning. Some deaf people get neural implants some don't. Does that mean we should stop having close-captioned TV? I live a normal life and I prefer a library to a big party.

It seems this debate (like many on WP) goes in circles over the years. Eventually we come back to disability Vs functional tag which is the crux of the disagreement over why there isn't a ND community like you have for other forms of disability like deafness, blindness, wheelchairs etc....

Think of "functional privilege" where autistic people who "pass" as functional in NT society (married, have a job, kids a home, friends etc) claim to represent the best interests/speak on behalf of all people on the spectrum but actually don't have clue what's like to live with moderate to severe sensory problems that interfere with nueral processing.

People on the Aspie end of the spectrum also indulge in criticising NT parents (usually be battering Autism Speaks) and claim to know more about what autistic kids need yet have no clue what it's like to take care 24-7 of a child/children on the moderate-severe end of the spectrum. Indeed 90% of those claiming to advocate for an ND community would run a mile if they had to look after a severely autistc child/adult.

So lets call it for what it is....an ND community is really a modern euphemism for an online Aspergers community.

The interests and welfare of children and adults on the "lower" half of the autism spectrum will always be in hands of NT parents and their NT carers (plus those Aspie parents who have "lower" functioning kids).

Those advocating need to stop pretending there is an ND community.

I have an Asperger's dx . For me,personally, I don't see myself at the severe end of the spectrum . Equally I don't see myself as a mega high functioning superhuman . I'm lucky that I can live independently , but there's a marked difference between how well I do that with support vs without it .

Carlos, I would like to live a life that would produce the most happiness for myself and less of a burden on others. I can't do that with the concentration problems, executive functioning issues, motor coordination issues, getting tongue tied all the time, etc. These things aren't caused by society or discrimination by society. These are internal to me and I still have major issues with things whether I'm around people or not.

This whole ND comes from the idea of being yourself. But what if "myself" sucks? Wouldn't it make more sense to change the self to something better? Do you get what I'm saying?

I'm fine being an AS person. I wouldn't want to have changed myself.

My parents, on the other hand...if I could have "changed" them...

Yes i understand perfectly and agree 100%.

It angers me when a group that claims to speak for me activly works against my best interests in frustrating efforts to find medical solutions to an obvious problem and whitewashes the suffering of others.

Im for personal choice like i say if someone thinks their brain is the future of humanity or gods will or whatever good luck to them just dont dictate to others.

Most movements do not or partially represent the people they represent because they are usually lead by the elites of said group.


Depends on the disabled individual.


They are not as able as they think they are, just delusional.

Stereotypes. A bunch of the leaders are not or were not aspies as children.

The problem is not shiny aspies, the problem is lack of agreement and knowledge of what Autism is. Building a community is very difficult without these basics.

Then we wait to find out what it is...until then...

Whats a "shiny aspie"?

What is a shiny Aspie?

I disagree, and agree at the same time.

I get what he is saying.

The NT majority is not gonna meet us halfway anytime soon. So its up to us to conform to them, rather than expect them to accomodate us. It aint fair. But that's life. And like that.

I am cautiously optimistic that things will get better in coming years. Society maybe become more accommodating. Some industries may seek to hire autistics, for example, and may make the workplace more autistic friendly . But in the near term don't hold your breath.

We are all subject to the free market and have to hope educators and employers will see the benefits and accommodate differences when teaching/training and employing.

Advocating only gets people so far....I agree we have to meet the NT world halfway and look for opportunities to integrate.

Here's one model that I think worked that relied on the good will of a Canadian entrepreneur (she is an angel) and the love of a father. These are the people I admire in the world.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/shows/20 ... -work.html