Autistic Traits Archives

The relational nervous system of open knowledge flows between human societies

Jorn Bettin June 2, 2023

In an effort to “be the change”, in the industrial era, many Autists end up being sand in the gears of busyness as usual. Luckily, thanks to the Internet, this is not the end of Autistic people. The open question is how humans will treat each other and our non-human contemporaries on the journey towards being composted and recycled. Experiences may vary depending on the human scale cultures we co-create on the margins.

Autistic mutual aid – a factor of cultural evolution

Jorn Bettin May 7, 2023

The diagnostic criteria for autism obscure the Autistic lived experience of toxic cultural norms that are ultimately detrimental for all people. Depathologisation of Autistic people as demanded by Autistic rights activists does not negate being socially disabled, and need not prevent anyone from gaining access to appropriate means of communication and other forms of social support.

Name Synesthesia: Sorry, Rhona, and no offence, Gary

pondersomepete February 26, 2023

Whenever synesthete Pete Black hears a name, any name, an image or scenario instantly forms in his mind. Here’s a list of some names and his associated synesthesia.

Collaborative niche construction

Jorn Bettin January 21, 2023

As events beyond human control force us to pay attention to the much richer metaphors of living systems, Autistic people are rediscovering the beauty of collaborating at human scale, and co-creating beautiful works of art as an antidote against the emergence of social power dynamics and the competitive logic of hate and violence.

What autistics mean when we say this world is not made for us: How fun activities push autistics into the margins

Terra Vance December 23, 2022

Terra Vance walks readers through an event that her child experienced differently from other children– from the margins, like a failed audition in being human that illuminates the heartbreaking inevitability of masking and exclusion.

Co-creating ecologies of caring and sharing

Jorn Bettin November 26, 2022

Instead of the individualistic perspective, mental health can only be understood in a way that is meaningful for humans at the level of a biocultural organism at human scale. The interactions between us have a direct impact on our nervous systems, cardiovascular systems, and digestive systems.