This past week, my employer has had some events happening for World Autism Acceptance Week. One of those was a discussion panel on the subject of belonging. Something that was said on the panel really hit home:
We actively celebrate gender diversity, racial diversity, religious diversity, but when we come to neurodiversity it's a different story. The last D in ADHD and ASD is disorder – it instantly introduces negative connotations, that people are deficient or broken.
We need a better way of describing these conditions that doesn't cast a cloud over people with them. They're not broken, just different, and that needs to celebrated.
@colinwalker I have an disorder also described in the ICD manual, and although it has left me broken in many ways, I'm not broken, and neither are my fellow diagnostees. Different, yes.
Colin Walker replied:
Different is good. It would be boring if we were all the same.
Oh yes, I like this. “Autism Spectrum Diversity” does conjure a different framing. Not saying that would be the preferred term, but I appreciate the intent.
I never got into Yellow Magic Orchestra, I was always more of a Kraftwerk kinda guy – you largely knew where you were with them. YMO had their moments but, for me, it was too eclectic with their sound having a multitude of influences and transcending genres. Even now, I struggle to listen to a lot of their music.
The Orchestra were certainly influential and I heard a lot of records using samples of their songs when DJing in the early 90's – especially during the 'bass, breaks and bleeps' era.
Tangerine Dream were/are a mixed bag for me. I loved their more ambient albums like Phaedra and Rubycon but didn't really like some of the other stuff.
@colinwalker Could not have said it better myself. Different is not a negative thing. It starts with understanding.
@colinwalker I have an disorder also described in the ICD manual, and although it has left me broken in many ways, I'm not broken, and neither are my fellow diagnostees. Different, yes.
Different is good. It would be boring if we were all the same.
Oh yes, I like this. “Autism Spectrum Diversity” does conjure a different framing. Not saying that would be the preferred term, but I appreciate the intent.
That would at least be a start.
@colinwalker totally agree