WE ROAR Magazine issue 04 - Magazine - Page 32
Functioning Labels
Think about functioning labels too, and why they
can be damaging. 8Low functioning9 or 8severe9
denies agency, while 8high functioning9 or 8mild9 can
deny access to support and lead to people
disbelieving us about our difficulties. The 8neurospicy9 self-label is popular and sounds fun but has
been perceived to have racist connotations, so
personally, I do not use it. I believe it came about
from challenging functioning labels. Tongue-incheek, the existence of 8mild autism9 implies the
existence of 8spicy autism9, I get it. But autism is a
8dynamic disability9 and its impact fluctuates.
Sometimes mine is korma-strength, other times it
is madras-strength.
iMy son Iggy (2003-2019) was tormented by
school bullies for being 8weird9. To me, he was
weird and wonderful. Owning the narrative
with pride, and rejecting shame, can shift the
power of labels to ourselves.
Life Beyond the Pathology Paradigm
Finally, some inspiring further reading that I
recommend, from one of the pioneers of the
neurodiversity movement Dr Nick Walker
(she/her):
8Throwing away the master9s tool9s: Liberating
ourselves from the pathology paradigm9
https://neuroqueer.com/throw-away-themasters-tools/ (opens in a new tab)
Disabled is Not a Dirty Word
My Final Thoughts
I was told in my last job that we avoid using the
word 8disabled9 as some people find the term
8offensive9. Well, to be frank, I am offended by their
offence, and I find their viewpoint ableist.8Disabled9
is not a dirty word, it is neutral. There is nothing
wrong with being disabled; it should not be a
moral judgment, nor a value judgement. To hide
behind flowery language can only perpetuate the
stigma. It is OK to be disabled.
You are not the problem! Human minds are not
supposed to think, feel and process alike.
Embrace the Neurodiversity Paradigm, rebel
against the Pathology Paradigm, and let us
free ourselves to be as weird and different as
we like! #DifferentIsOK
Weird Pride
Are you weird? Please check out #WeirdPrideDay
on social media. Weird Pride Day is on 4 March
every year, since 2020. Started by Fergus Murray,
this is the legacy of their mum Dinah Murray who
coined 8Weird Pride9 putting it on a badge. Weird
Pride is about taking back 8weird9 and refusing to
be shamed for weirdness.
You may have heard of 8Monotropism9 another
concept from Dinah which, in my own words, depathologises the autistic trait 8highly focused
special interests9 (or as I like to think of this, how
we achieve incredible expertise).
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