Published on 12, July, 2020
Neurosplaining...By analogy with 'mansplaining', I guess; the act of telling a neurodivergent person how they experience their neurodivergence.
A new word for my vocabulary today, but wondered whether anyone else had heard it before.
I can't claim any credit for inventing this new lexical item here, but I like it and yes it does nicely sum up some rubbish we hear from others (sadly, often professionals as frequently as friends and family). I just came across it in a post on LinkedIn from a psychologist and neuroinclusion specialist. It's made my day. So, I thought I'd share.
My doctor neurosplains me every time he tells me I "suffer with autism". Or tells me he regrets that "he cannot cure my autism".
Has anyone neurosplained you recently?
I'm sorry you've had this happen to you. Doctors can be very unsympathetic and patronizing.
I've not had it recently but when I saw my doctor a few years ago to do with anxiety and autistic problems she recommended CBT and said she felt sorry for me that I was autistic. I felt bad after that.
I like your word for this by the way
To be kind to the neurosplainers, I guess, before I knew that I am autistic I bought into the sterotypes that society pumps at me too. IE that autistic people are generally Rainman or Sheldon and it isn't something you'd want your children to "have".
I was only ignorant because that was the only information presented to me. We can change that :-). I'll start chanting like a mantra to rehearse: "I know you mean well, but please don't neurosplain me".
Yeah a lot of it is related to how much you've been told and what you've read. I like that there's autism awareness weeks now..
I work in childcare at a nursery and one of the reasons I was hired was because I have autism. The lady liked that and said it would be good for someone like that to be there for the children especially if a child has autism or other disabilities.
Oooh if they open their minds you are their best asset.
I'm hoping it's going to be a rewarding experience for me and the kids. I've learnt a lot about autism from everyone here and I can use that to help kids if they need it and maybe even correct a few adults as a lot of people don't seem to fully understand autism.
Indeed, kids autistic kids are going to learn best from an autistic teacher. And you will be uniquely positioned to help other staff understand their needs and explain what's going on should one them shut down or meltdown.