Divergent Conversations
Episode 64: Ask The Audience (#2): Language for Autism, and Neurodivergent Therapists
Jul 26, 2024
Patrick Casale, a mental health professional focused on neurodivergence, and Dr. Neff, an AuDHD expert, tackle pressing questions from their community. They debate the damaging oversimplification of saying 'everyone is a little bit autistic.' The duo emphasizes the power of identity-first language while discussing the nuances of terminology around neurodivergence. They also share the unique challenges faced by neurodivergent therapists and offer practical tips for avoiding burnout in the profession, reinforcing the idea that support is crucial on this journey.
24:23
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Quick takeaways
- The podcast challenges the harmful simplification that everyone is a little autistic, emphasizing the need for nuanced understanding of neurodiversity.
- It advocates for identity-first language as a means of empowering autistic individuals, contrasting it with person-first language that may be distancing.
Deep dives
The Complexity of Neurodivergence
The discussion highlights the misconception that everyone is a little autistic, emphasizing how such statements diminish the authentic experiences of those on the autism spectrum. This simplification minimizes the challenges faced by autistic individuals and disregards the complex nature of identity and neurodiversity. The hosts critique this perspective by comparing it to being a 'little bit pregnant', arguing that neurodiversity encompasses a wide range of traits and experiences that cannot be generalized. Emphasizing that neurotypical and neurodivergent categorizations are overly simplistic, they call for nuanced conversations about individual neurodivergent traits and their implications.
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