The Language of Inclusion: A Guide to Neuro-Affirming Communication
A comprehensive overview of Neuro-Affirming language principles and best practices to support and respect Neuro-Marginalized Peoples, promoting inclusivity and acceptance.
Sometimes, personal growth involves updating and removing words from your vocabulary.
Over the past ten years, I've changed how I describe and speak about various topics.
When you know better, you do better. That's growth.
What is Neuro-Affirming Language?
The language and symbols used to describe groups of people will impact how members of society treat group members (and how they see themselves).
Neuro-affirming language is a way of communicating that respects and validates the experiences and identities of NeuroDivergent People, who are members of the NeuroMinority (a neurological and brain-based minority).
Neuro-affirming language is vital because it promotes inclusivity, reduces stigma, and supports the mental well-being of NeuroDivergent (and all) people.
What IS NeuroDiversity, and Why Does it Matter?
NeuroTypical is not the "default state of humanity." It is simply an average our society is designed to cater to.
When talking about people who are not NeuroDivergent themselves, it is crucial to AVOID saying NORMAL person; instead, say NeuroTypical Person or Neuro-Average person.
When comparing marginalized people to those in the majority, it is NEVER a good idea to call those in the majority "normal" simply because there are "more" of them. They're not "normal" - they're "average," which is one reason I often call NeuroTypical people "Neuro-Average."
For example: When talking about Autistic and non-autistic people, another word for non-autistic is allistic. You would never say "an Autistic Person and a normal person" because this implies the Autistic Person is NOT normal.
NeuroDiversity: Refers to the idea that there is a natural and broad spectrum of differences within the human brain and nervous system, including variations in cognitive, sensory, and emotional experiences that can vary significantly from person to person.
NeuroDiversity recognizes and celebrates these differences as natural variations of the human experience that should be supported. It asks Neuro-Average people to examine their biases towards those in the neuro-minority, which includes the language we use to describe NeuroDivergent People.
NeuroDivergent (coined by Kassiane Asasumasu) refers to anyone "whose neurocognitive functioning diverges from dominant societal norms." I've also seen the terms NeuroVaried and NeuroDistinct floating around as alternatives. These new terms may eventually catch on but haven't gained traction yet.
NeuroDiversity is crucial because it gives us a new, more balanced, human way of viewing people with brain differences (more compassionately, as part of a human spectrum of brains) instead of blaming us for struggling against systemic barriers.
Neuro-Inclusion (brain inclusion): is inclusion and accessibility for everyone with a brain.
By embracing NeuroDiversity and Neuro-Inclusion, we aim to create inclusive environments that support and empower individuals of all brain types, promoting equal opportunities for everyone's participation, support, and well-being (NeuroTypicals too).
Language has Power
How we describe various groups of people matters because our language can shape how people think and behave.
Our chosen language and words can destroy negative stereotypes (or reinforce them).
Neuro-affirming language means using respectful, person-centered, strength-focused language that avoids enforcing stereotypes and stigma about those in the Neuro-Minority.
We know it's important to be affirming, but how do we ensure our language is neuro-affirming?
Avoid stigmatizing language or language that enforces assumptions and stereotypes like "suffering from" (Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, etc.), which can further stigmatize and marginalize NeuroDivergent people by only focusing on our problems and struggles.
We also need to stop seeing and describing NeuroDivergent People (or our 'behaviors') as problems to be solved and instead examine the issues that hinder NeuroDivergent success.
On NeuroDivergence and Disability
While not every NeuroDivergent Person sees themselves as Disabled, many forms of NeuroDivergence can be disabling, and many NeuroDivergent People do identify as Disabled.
You can say a person is Disabled. It's okay!
Disability isn't a dirty word, but euphemisms like "differently abled" or "special needs" can come across as patronizing. Our needs aren't "special". They are individualized (as all human needs are).
While you should always ask the individual what they prefer (and if they consider their NeuroDivergence to be a disability or not), most Disabled people would prefer if people would just say the word "disability" or "disabled."
NOTE: NeuroDivergent People who've been able to easily have their needs met without going through medical channels are less likely to see their NeuroDivergence as a disability (when compared to NeuroDivergent People who are pushed into medical channels). This COULD be because they have naturally built a life supporting their brain.
Some may also be unfamiliar with what it means to have a disability or may not feel comfortable claiming to be "disabled" when they're not "on disability" or "disabled" to the point of needing medical accommodation (or not being able to work or care for one's self), or they may not feel that being NeuroDivergent "substantially limits one or more" of their "major life activities."
Because NeuroDivergence is a big umbrella, there is a wide variety of experiences needing varied amounts of support to be successful. It's important to remember this variance (because NeuroDivergence is a LOT MORE than just Autism, ADHD, and Dyslexia. It is any variation to the human brain that causes a person to have an experience that is not average).
NeuroDivergent People's brains can diverge from average in many ways.
Many forms of NeuroDivergence are life-long, and many people are born NeuroDivergent, but there are also types of NeuroDivergence that can be acquired through circumstances or events in life.
Additionally, when someone is NeuroDivergent, they are often NeuroDivergent in multiple ways. Many of us have layers to our NeuroDivergence (or multiple NeuroTypes).
Regardless of whether someone's brain differences are ones that they are born with or are acquired later in life (permanent or temporary), the more layers they have, the further they diverge from what is considered "average" and the more support they are likely to need to thrive (and find safety) within in systems that were designed by and for Neuro-Average people.
However these brain differences originate, what matters is that each brain's owner is experiencing the world differently from those around them (because no two humans, even those who share NeuroTypes, will have the exact same experience of the world).
The failure of society to recognize the vast diversity of experiences that humans have harms ALL of us.
Specific Language Guidelines
Medicalized, Disordered Language
When talking about NeuroDivergent People, avoid language that implies NeuroDivergence is disordered, bad, or less desirable than being Neuro-Average.
For example, you can say NeuroDivergent Traits or NeuroDivergent Experiences instead of saying someone "has symptoms" or "suffers from" their NeuroDivergence.
NOTE: Even though some NeuroDivergent People may struggle with being NeuroDivergent from time to time (or most of the time), the assumption that NeuroDivergent People "always suffer" or "suffer by default" is harmful.
Differences vs Deficits
Neurodivergent people have different strengths and weaknesses from Neuro-Average (or NeuroTypical) people. Many NeuroDivergent People have a 'spikey strengths and abilities profile.' This means that the contrast between the NeuroDivergent Person's strengths and weaknesses are often more pronounced than for the average person.
Different is not bad, and other does not mean someone automatically has a "deficit" or is "broken," either.
By shifting our focus to "different, NOT broken," we can celebrate the unique needs, strengths, and perspectives that NeuroDivergent (and all) individuals bring.
Avoid "Superpowers" Language
Having a spiky strengths and weaknesses profile is not about being 'gifted' or having a 'superpower.' It's about having varied strengths and weaknesses (when compared to our neuro-normative peers).
Because many forms of NeuroDivergence have historically been heavily medicalized (with a focus on weaknesses), there is often a disproportional focus on NeuroDivergent weaknesses, ignoring NeuroDivergent strengths entirely. However, overcorrecting by moving from one extreme to another (viewing NeuroDivergent People's strengths as "superpowers") is also not the answer.
Labeling NeuroDivergent People's strengths as "superpowers" is problematic because it reduces complex individuals to simplistic and ableist tropes, ignoring the challenges and struggles often accompanying our strengths.
The "gifted" or "superpowers" narrative is harmful because it ignores our difficulties, overshadows our needs, and dehumanizes us (by valuing our worth only in our usefulness to others).
These narratives are often used to dismiss a person's struggles (or the hard work they do daily to compensate for their weaknesses). They can lead to unrealistic expectations, increased pressure, and feelings of inadequacy. They can contribute to the lack of understanding and acceptance many NeuroDivergent People experience.
Disabled people shouldn't need to "be inspirational" or "super-human" to have value.
Focusing solely on exceptional abilities reduces people's worth to their "usefulness" to others (or their productivity). This is an exploitive and harmful way to view one another because it overlooks a person's complex humanity (causing one to think transactionally about relationships, only valuing people if they "can do something for you").
These labels (like gifts or superpowers) implicitly enforce the belief that a person's worth is tied to their usefulness or achievements. This creates unrealistic expectations and pressures on people while reinforcing harmful stereotypes and ableism.
The truth is that every individual has inherent value and deserves respect, dignity, and acceptance because being alive is what gives you value, not how much "work product" a person creates.
Framing NeuroDivergent People as problems to be solved vs. people to be supported: behavioral interventions vs. areas of support.
Conversion Therapy is ANY behavioral modification program that uses negative and/or positive reinforcements to coerce someone into emulating behaviors that are forced and unnatural to them to make the person blend in and appear more "socially acceptable."
These "therapies" often have devastating results for both Queer and NeuroDivergent People placed in them.
Autistic People, ADHDers, and other NeuroDivergent People whose unmet needs manifest in ways that are viewed as "disruptive" by those around them are at increased risk of having their needs ignored and treated instead with behavioral interventions.
All humans (and other animals, ESPECIALLY those who don't speak) communicate through their body language and behaviors (even if they are completely unaware they're doing so).
When children (regardless of NeuroType) demonstrate "disruptive" or "inappropriate behavior," it is often a sign they have unmet needs that they are trying to meet.
Children who resort to "acting out" to meet their needs often lack the skills to tell you what they need (assuming they even know what they need).
Some children may know they need something or know something is painful, uncomfortable, or "not working" for them but may not see the solution (other than they need help or something has to change).
With Autistic children, many of whom also struggle with communication, as well as sensory and motor control differences, this struggle to tell you what we need (and the resulting frustration from not having our needs met) can be amplified.
Be mindful of unmet needs not being labeled as behavioral.
Avoid words like sensitive, stubborn, demanding, rigid, and rebellious. Remain mindful of where these "behaviors" come from (unmet needs), like sensory sensitivities, a high need for autonomy, or a need for predictability and routine.
Cure and Medical Language
Many NeuroDivergent People feel their brain type doesn't need a cure.
While some brain types or conditions may require medical support, this is not the case for all forms of NeuroDivergence. Because of this, it is necessary to avoid "cure language" or heavily stigmatized medical language when describing neuro-minorities.
Some examples include (but are not limited to):
Using "co-occurring" or "overlapping" instead of "co-morbidity."
Using "support" instead of "treatment" or "intervention."
Using "trait" or "sign" instead of "symptom."
Instead of saying someone "has ADHD," you can call them "an ADHDer."
Avoid using phrases like "challenging behaviors" to describe distress like meltdowns, shutdowns, or difficulties with attention and impulse control in ADHD.
The rest of this guide (including “additional definitions” and a section on describing Autistic People respectfully) is for paid subscribers as a part of their subscription.
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I hope this helps,
- Lyric
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