Join Autistic people from all over the world, committed to the de-stigmatisation of Autistic ways of being and other forms of neurodivergence, in support of the development and delivery of education about Autistic culture, the neurodiversity paradigm, and the neurodiversity movement – for medical professionals, by Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent people. Fill in the form below to sign.
The Autistic Collaboration Trust centres the lived experience of Autistic people in the education of healthcare professionals about Autistic ways of being and Autistic culture. All our educational work in the healthcare sector adheres to the Design Justice Network Principles and is envisioned to catalyse the adaptation of healthcare services to the specific needs of Autistic people and corresponding improvements in health outcomes.
If you are Autistic or otherwise neurodivergent, you can add your name to underscore the urgency for Autistic led education based on lived experience. If you are a healthcare professional, you can add your name to demonstrate your commitment to removing the social stigma frequently encountered by Autistic or otherwise neurodivergent colleagues and patients.
Sign
The level of ignorance, stigma, and open hostility that Autistic patients and Autistic healthcare professionals regularly have to deal with is traumatising. There is a need for healthcare sector wide education in the neurodiversity paradigm, the neurodiversity movement, and Autistic culture. Education on these topics is essential for addressing entrenched problems of lack of cultural and psychological safety in the workplace. There are also corresponding problems of lack of safety for patients, their whānau / families and communities.
Education about the neurodiversity paradigm is not the same as education about neurodiversity. It answers an important question:
- How does the mindset and language of the new paradigm differ from the language in the old paradigm?
Education about the neurodiversity movement builds on the neurodiversity paradigm. It answers three important questions:
- Why is there an urgent need for a paradigm shift?
- Who is involved in the shift?
- Who must learn from the neurodiversity movement?
Education about Autistic culture builds on the results of the neurodiversity movement. It answers three important questions:
- What is Autistic culture?
- How does it relate to other cultures?
- How does it relate to the neurodiversity movement?
I care deeply about the healthcare outcomes of patients and about the cultural and psychological safety of all patients and all healthcare professionals within clinical environments. I recognise an urgent need for education about the cultural contexts, sensory profiles, diverse needs, and the social stigma frequently encountered by Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent people.
In particular, healthcare professionals must be introduced to the non-pathologising and non-stigmatising language that has become the expected default within Autistic culture and within the broader neurodiversity civil movement that emerged out of the Autistic rights movement. The required education is very different from education framed in the culturally outdated language of the pathology paradigm, which still presents and rates the humanity of neurodivergent people in terms of deficits relative to the current neuronormative culture.
I support the work of the Autistic Collaboration Trust to facilitate education in the neurodiversity paradigm, the neurodiversity movement, and Autistic culture based on lived experience.
Scope of required education
The neurodiversity paradigm
Education about the neurodiversity paradigm and intersectionality is not the same as education about neurodiversity. It answers an important question:
How does the mindset and language of the new paradigm differ from the language in the old paradigm?
Topics:
- Motivation
- Terminology
- The social model of disability
- Dimensions of divergence from neuronormativity
- Intersectionality
- Autistic ways of being and the LGBTQIA+ kaleidoscope
- Autistic ways of being and ADHD ways of being
- The communal definition of Autistic ways of being / Takiwātanga
- Anthropological background
- Exposing the cultural bias of normality
- The role of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
- Transdisciplinary understanding of human learning and wellbeing
- The connection between neurodiversity and creativity
- Ableism and lived experience
- Frequently asked questions
The neurodiversity movement
Education about the neurodiversity movement builds on the neurodiversity paradigm. It answers three important questions:
- Why is there an urgent need for a paradigm shift?
- Who is involved in the shift?
- Who must learn from the neurodiversity movement?
Topics:
- Historic background
- Cultural bias against creativity, critical thinking and transdisciplinary collaboration
- What is happening in the neurodiversity movement right now
- Behaviourism in parenting, education, workplaces, economics, and the sciences
- Disability in a sick society
- Cultural safety and the human rights perspective
- Psychological safety
- What therapies and medical practices do Autistic adults consider unsafe / safe / useful?
- Autistic communities
- Towards comprehensive bans of conversion therapies
- Overcoming cultural inertia in a time of exponential change
- Design BY and WITH neurodivergent people
- Advice process
- Introduction to Open Space as a transformational tool
- Guidance for making good use of Open Space
- Critical thinking tools for creative experimentation
Autistic culture and lived experience
Education about Autistic culture builds on the results of the neurodiversity movement. It answers three important questions:
- What is Autistic culture?
- How does it relate to other cultures?
- How does it relate to the neurodiversity movement?
Topics:
- Discovering Autistic way of being
- Autistic language
- Learning without imitation
- Autistic collaboration
- Competency networks
- Minimising misunderstandings
- Exposing social injustice
- Raising healthy children
- Creating thriving communities
- Towards mutual understanding and a better world
- Difference drives humanity forward
- Autistic clinicians, nurses, social workers, lawyers, accountants, scientists of all stripes, mathematicians, artists, musicians, engineers, and entrepreneurs
- Deep innovation
- Evolutionary design
For paediatricians
- What do paediatricians need to know about Autistic culture?
- What do Autistic people want paediatricians to know?
- What books could a paediatrician or parent read if they wanted to learn more?
- Other useful resources for paediatricians and parents
Autistic trauma
Education about the many ways in which Autistic people are traumatised throughout their life by the social norms and “normal” living conditions in modern industrialised societies. It answers three important questions:
- Why are Autistic people severely affected by traumatising conditions and events?
- How to distinguish between Autistic traits and trauma coping mechanisms?
- How to best support highly traumatised Autistic people?
Topics:
- Sensory overload
- Physical symptoms of dis-ease
- Mental symptoms of dis-ease
- Traumatising diagnostic experiences
- Industrialisation and W.E.I.R.D. social norms
- Trauma caused by coercive techniques
- Trauma caused by social power gradients
- Trauma caused by group identities
- Avoiding and healing from hypernormalisation
- Avoiding and healing from reductionism
- Avoiding and healing from behaviourism
- Avoiding and healing from bullying
- Avoiding and healing from othering
Signatories
Last update: 22 July 2022
Healthcare professionals
- Dr. A. Ann Emery, Allied health professional, Psychologist, Canada
- Dr. Alan Beach, PhD, LCSW, LMFT, Allied health professional, Clinical Social Work & Family Counseling/Psychotherapy, United States
- Aly Dearborn, LMFT, Allied health professional, Psychotherapist, United States, Autistic
- Amanda Curran, Allied health professional, Australia
- Amanda Hart, Nursing professional, S a c t nursing sister, United Kingdom, Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent
- Amber Lane, Allied health professional, United Kingdom, Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent
- Ana Karemy López Cortes, Licenciatura, Healthcare administrator, psicologa, México, Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent
- Andrea Afonso, Physician, Portugal
- Andrea Beres, Allied health professional, Psychologist, Australia
- Annette Collins, Allied health professional, Australia
- Ariel Lenning, Physician, Optometric physician, Optometry, United States, Autistic
- Dr. Ashley Dubin, PhD, Allied health professional, Psychology, United States, Otherwise neurodivergent
- Brannen Clark, Allied health professional, United States, Autistic
- Becki Woolf, Allied health professional, United States
- Brian Hess, Allied health professional, United States
- Brian Moran, Nursing professional, United States
- Carol Beatty, Allied health professional, Counsellor, Couples’ Therapist, United Kingdom
- Casey Wilson, Allied health professional, United States
- Cecilia Barbosa, Allied health professional, United States
- Chanlynn Liao, Allied health professional, Speech-language Therapist, United States
- Chelsea Mongan, Nursing professional, Nurse Practitioner, United States, Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent
- Doraine Raichart, Allied health professional, United States, acupuncturist and Eastern medicine practitioner
- Elizabeth Williams, Allied health professional, United States, Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent
- Emma Ward, Allied health professional, United Kingdom
- Fernando Rodríguez, Allied health professional, España
- Heather King, Allied health professional, Speech-Language Pathologist, Australia, Autistic
- Holly Sprake-Hill, Allied health professional, United Kingdom, Otherwise neurodivergent
- Ian Reid, Nursing professional, United Kingdom
- Ioannis Voskopoulos, Allied health professional, Greece, Otherwise neurodivergent
- Iuliana Sava, Allied health professional, Psychologist, United Kingdom, Autistic
- Jess Hodges, Allied health professional, Psychotherapist, Australia, Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent
- Jessica Kitchens, Allied health professional, Mental Health, AA Therapist and Advocate, United States, Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent
- Jessica Newland, Allied health professional, United States, Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent
- Jonathan VanLandingham, Nursing professional, Registered Nurse, United States, Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent
- John Finnegan, Allied health professional, United States
- Julie McCarthy, Allied health professional, Australia, Otherwise neurodivergent
- Kali Rees, Allied health professional, United Kingdom
- Karen Scorer, Allied health professional, United Kingdom
- Katrina Fiebig, Allied health professional, Patient/Family Advocate, Psychiatry, Nursing professional, United States
- Kristen Ipson, Allied health professional, Speech-Language Pathologist, United States, Otherwise neurodivergent
- Lauren Lopez, Nursing professional, LPN, RN, Public Health, United States, Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent
- Luke Shobbrook, Allied health professional, Counselling Psychologist, Psychology, Jersey
- Maija Mills, Allied health professional, Physiotherapy, Canada, Autistic
- Marie Manalili, Allied health professional, Speech/Language Pathologist, Philippines, Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent
- Marta Louise, Allied health professional, Canada, Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent
- Dr. Megan Anna Neff, Allied health professional, Psychology Resident, United States, Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent
- Meredith Thompson, Allied health professional, Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, Social work, United States, Otherwise neurodivergent
- Miah Pavlik, Nursing professional, United States, Autistic
- Miranda, Nursing professional, Canada, Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent
- Monica Boyd, Healthcare administrator, Education, Canada
- Nicola M, Allied health professional, United Kingdom, Otherwise neurodivergent
- Nicole Lui, Allied health professional, Certified Functional Nutritionist (FNLP, CFNC), Medical Cannabis Consultant (AAFP-EC), Clinical Herbalist (TCM & Western Herbology, working towards board certified), and Spiritual Teacher, Canada & Hong Kong, Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent
- Dr. Patricia Burkhart, Physician, Radiologist, United States, Autistic
- Paula Gómez, Allied health professional, Australia, Otherwise neurodivergent
- Raphael de Miranda Luz Trindade, Physician, Portugal, Autistic
- Sandy Rayman, Allied health professional, Therapist, United States
- Sara Schultz, OD, Physician, optometrist, United States
- Stephanie Warm, Allied health professional, psychotherapist (LCSW), United States
- Svanhildur Svanvarsdottir Kristjansson, Allied health professional, Autism consultant, Speech Language Pathologist – TEACCH advanced certified consultant, United States, Otherwise neurodivergent
- Tara O’Donnell-Killen, Allied health professional, Ireland, Autistic
- Dr. Terry Hannan, A/Professor, Physician, General Internal Medicine and eHealth, Australia
- Tonya Makar, Allied health professional, United States, Otherwise neurodivergent
- Tracey Nelson, Allied health professional, Australia
- Vanessa MacKay/ OT, Allied health professional, United States, Otherwise neurodivergent
- Dr. Zoe Raos, Gastroenterology, Physician, Aotearoa New Zealand
Patients
- Alden Blevins, United States, Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent
- Alix Latta, United States, Autistic
- Ama Love, United Kingdom, Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent
- Amanda Sutton, United Kingdom
- Bailey Wagner, Canada, Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent
- Brina Simon, United States, Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent
- Candace Jordan, United States, Otherwise neurodivergent
- Caroline Kimrey, United States, Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent
- Catherine Andrews, United States, Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent
- Dan McFarland, United States, Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent
- Daniel Aird, Senior Research Associate (Biotech / cancer field; but am very well versed in science), United States, Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent
- Heather Johnson, Writer, United States, Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent
- Heather Steeves, United States, Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent
- Herman Langkamp, Nederland, Autistic
- Jacki Edry, Author, educator, advocating for neurodiversity and inclusion, parent of neurodivergent children, Israel, Otherwise neurodivergent
- Jax Bayne, United States, Autistic
- JC John Sese Cuneta, Philippines, Autistic
- Jessica Nabb, Australia, Autistic
- Kae Peterman, United States, Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent
- Karen Sydow, Australia, Otherwise neurodivergent
- Khaenin Rutherford, United States, Otherwise neurodivergent
- Linda Guevara, Mexico, Otherwise neurodivergent
- Lisa W, United States, Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent
- Lucy Reid, United Kingdom, Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent
- Liz Pine, United States, Autistic
- Martin Bryan-Tell, United States, Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent
- Matthew R, United States, Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent
- Meg Bradshaw, Canada, Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent
- Natasha Trotman, United Kingdom
- Rachel Millar, Australia, Otherwise neurodivergent
- Rachel Morton, United States, Autistic
- Renata Moreno, Chile, Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent
- Rome Icasiano, United States, Autistic
- Ryan Boren, United States, Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent
- Stephen Dooley, United Kingdom, Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent
- Suzanne Galloway, Australia, Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent
- Sydney Warner, United States
- T. Purk, ASD Researcher and Educator, United States, Otherwise neurodivergent
- Traci Collins, United States, Autistic
- Victoria Busuttil, United Kingdom, Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent
- Wendy Garfield, United States, Otherwise neurodivergent
- The relational nervous system of open knowledge flows between human societies - June 2, 2023
- Autistic mutual aid – a factor of cultural evolution - May 7, 2023
- The possibilities and limitations of human agency - May 4, 2023
5 Responses
So much to learn, so much to share,,,
Good to know, I’ve followed you
I think, with good reason, that I am neurodiverse, though I am just now at age 70 arriving at this realization, and I am exploring this field. I feel quite confident that this explains a lot of the difference that others see in me and that I have felt peculiar in.
You have an extremely helpful website, and I am relieved to have found exactly the information I was looking for after reading it all.