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?
One I hear regularly is 'oh you don't look autistic:.
Annoying as f***.
What is autism even meant to look like?
I've had that told to me as well. Another thing someone said before was "have you tried not being autistic?"
That's like telling someone to try not being blind
Many of us have spent much of our lives trying just that, simply because we didn't know we were autistic and were made to feel like a failed neurotypical.
It doesn't work. We cannot be anyone other than who we are inside. A mask only covers the outside.
Apparently according to non autistics, being autistic is just a fashion accessory! (Joking)
How? Like it's something you wear, or a lifestyle choice?
People really don't get it...
Katy Chocolate Lover said:Another thing someone said before was "have you tried not being autistic?"
This comment makes no sense whatsoever! You can’t remove your brain!
People clearly do not understand that being autistic means that our brain is wired differently and to remove that would mean we wouldn’t be alive!
Sorry if this has triggered anyone, I didn’t mean to think so deeply I was just trying to articulate how nonsensical this comment is.
By the way, Katy Chocolate Lover just so you know you are awesomely autistic!