Imagine believing there was only one ‘right’ way to be and that everyone had to fit into that box. One right race. One right sexual orientation. One right body shape. To be fair, it wasn’t that long ago when some of those WERE almost universally accepted. This is the basis of racism, homophobia, and sexism. This type of thinking results in power differentials and systemic inequalities that marginalize those who don’t fit the dominant model. It results in overt, implicit, and internalized oppression of individuals who are different in any way from the normative standard.
I have grown up in a time and culture where overt racism has always been recognized as harmful and wrong (but where implicit bias against non-whites, and especially against Blacks, is still the norm, even amongst those who believe themselves to be tolerant and enlightened). I was born into the feminist movement. Within my lifetime, we have seen steady progress toward reducing explicit homophobia. More recently, we have seen a shift toward the acceptance of a variety of gender identities. We are only now beginning to see the smallest shifts away from rampant ableism, with a marked emphasis on mental health and physical inclusion models.
Ableism is a word I hadn’t even come across until recently. For those who don’t know, it refers to discrimination against people who are disabled in some way, either physically or mentally. This would include a lower likelihood of hiring a blind or deaf person, designing spaces without wheelchair accessibility, making judgements about people with mental health issues, and forcing people into systems that don’t fit. Inherent in ableism is the idea that ‘normal’ is good, and ‘different’ is not.
One early step in combatting ‘isms’ is the reframing of ‘normal’. When I was growing up, one was either ‘normal’ or homosexual. There weren’t any other options. You were either normal or not. But advocates for the LGBTQ2+ community have worked hard to change the language we use to frame this issue. On top of identifying other alternatives, so that the characteristic becomes less binary, a word that describes ‘normal’ in a way that doesn’t inherently imply judgement has been encouraged in everyday usage. Heterosexual, a word that has been in common usage since the 1960’s, has only more recently become the standard label for those who would once have identified themselves as ‘normal’. This seemingly small change has a huge impact on how we value people who identify their sexuality in various ways. Even more recently, we have begun to see the term ‘cisgendered’, as opposed to ‘transgendered’, to identify those whose gender identity lines up with their biological sex. What these shifts in language do is to begin to normalize states that were once identified only in contrast to normal.
Any group can be at risk of marginalization and oppression if they can be identified as ‘different from normal’. As we make progress in reducing stigma and discrimination against various groups, more groups step up to be recognized. One group in the early stages of this process is a group whose differences are neurological. Autism advocates appear to be leading this movement, but neurodiversity takes many forms. Many autism advocates are calling for the adoption of the ‘neurodiversity paradigm’. This is an alternative to the currently favoured ‘pathology paradigm’, where differences in brain and mind function are considered pathological and are handled by medical attempts at correction rather than acceptance and inclusion.
The neurodiversity paradigm assumes that there is a wide range of normal neurological functioning. In the same way that we don’t try to ‘cure’ someone of their homosexuality, the neurodiversity model suggests that autism, ADHD and other learning disabilities, high sensitivity, and other neurological differences are just that, differences within a normal range of brain function. If we begin to see neurological diversity in the same way we see cultural diversity, perhaps we can begin to recognize the positives that come from listening to and embracing people with a variety of brain and mind operations.
If we systematically remove the barriers enacted against those whose brains function ‘outside-the-box’, we can begin to benefit from the creativity, big picture thinking, and attention to minute details that are often hidden behind overwhelm and diverse motivations. We often look at autism as a cruel condition that leaves people isolated and unable to communicate. But if we begin to imagine autism as a DIFFERENT way to view the world and to communicate with others, we can sometimes ‘unlock’ the hidden beauty and talent lying within these individuals. We often look at ADHD as a medical condition that interferes with learning and getting along with others. But if we begin to notice the stamina, energy, and singular focus on high-interest activities, we can admire the creativity and innovation often brimming below the hyperactive or inattentive façade. We often look at non-conformity as a result of poor parenting, selfishness, or maladaptive coping mechanisms. But while we require conformity and compliance in children, we celebrate innovation and creative problem-solving in adults, who often become leaders in their fields.
Many of the problems we face in current society are a function of outdated systems that have not grown and changed with the pace of technology and other advancements we have seen. We see the need for change, but we are caught in our own inertia. We cannot find our way out because we are too used to being ‘sheep’, following along the well-worn path that apparently leads to success. But what of those who don’t want to be sheep, or who cannot conform to the way things are always done? Perhaps, if our problems require creative outside-the-box solutions, we should look more to those who DON’T fit, instead of trying to medicate, shame, and consequence them into conforming to systems we agree are not ideal.
How can we begin to recognize those who are simply wired differently as contributing members of society, with views, skills, and talents that are valuable or even necessary? How do we reduce the stigma associated with atypical neurological or psychological functioning? Conservative estimates suggest about 1 in 5 people are wired differently from what we consider normal. If we DO begin to reduce the stigma and recognize that there is a wide range of normal brain function, how many of your friends will begin to embrace and celebrate their own divergence from the norm? How many of us could settle into our own ‘eccentricities’, knowing that they would be accepted and celebrated by those we know and love? What brand of atypical are YOU?
Out of the Well 