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 have had the odd "suffer from autism" which I can forgive as it seems genuine ignorance.
When my mum (who knows of my diagnosis) still thinks it can be treated and 'get better' then I'm a bit more stuck. I've tried absolutely everything to convey the important points.
I'm sorry to hear that. I guess some parents don't want to think of their child as anything less than perfect and just don't get that autism isn't an imperfection.
Although I don't know what's worse. That or someone in the comments of a YouTube video suggesting I lied to a (then) friend about me being Autistic.
Ironically even though said friend spent the whole video talking about me and everything I did wrong (I did screw up but that's a separate story), they defended me in response to that comment talking about how I would keep spreadsheets and things of my friends, which is clearly an autistic thing to do.
That said, it has still stuck with me and probably always will. The whole experience makes me feel like I'm using autism as an excuse.
I guess it's moments like that that show who true friends really are and aren't.
How hurtful. I'm sorry you had to experience that.