I honestly think that many “neurodiversity-affirming” therapists (especially psychologists) are using these trendy terms primarily for marketing purposes. These social justicey buzzwords are used by “ND-affirming” psychologists to attract clients whom they proceed to diagnose with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) whilst simultaneously promoting narratives – and gaslighting their clients into believing – that autism is not a disorder and is just a “neurotype.”

The term “neurotype” is a part of their rhetoric, implying that (diagnosed) autism is just a normal, healthy, natural part of human neurological diversity that doesn’t need treatment or fixing. It’s not a disorder or abnormal or problematic at all. God knows why ASD is in the DSM or ICD, which are used around the world. God knows why my SRS-2 result, which is scored against the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria, was in the “moderate severity” range.

It’s hard not to feel gaslit.

This sweet, simple, rhetorical question (from this piece) perfectly encapsulates the sheer absurdity and hypocrisy of ND-affirming psychologists who diagnose ASD:

“If my autism isn’t a disorder, why was I diagnosed with a disorder?”

The absurdity of seeking treatment for a non-disorder

The absurdity of neurodiversity-affirming therapists actually makes me giggle to myself. If my autism isn’t a disorder, then why should I seek further services from ND-affirming therapists to treat or fix something that doesn’t need treatment or fixing? The cognitive dissonance and mental gymnastics are too much for me.

For comparison: Being left-handed is a natural deviation from the norm that does not require fixing, right? So, why would a left-handed person seek treatment for this? What is the purpose? Similarly, having green eyes is a natural deviation from the norm that does not require fixing. So, why the fuck would someone with green eyes seek treatment for this?

Left-handed and green-eyed people do not seek treatment for these deviations because they do not cause them functional impairments in important areas of their daily lives. These traits do not negatively impact their quality of life or health.

In case you didn’t know, to be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, your traits must cause clinically significant functional impairment in your daily life. So, how do we reconcile the impairing, intrinsically disabling reality of ASD that requires treatment and help with it also just being a natural, neutral deviation (or a “neurotype”) that does not require treatment and help?

You seek professional healthcare services to help you fix a problem. First, you need to recognise you have a problem. The entire premise of the health system is based upon helping patients and clients fix (or prevent) their health-related problems. You must first realise – and health professionals must be honest with you – that your autistic traits are causing disordered behaviour that is negatively impacting your life, no?

But if you’re taught by neurodiversity professionals/advocates that your autism is not a problem, is not disordered behaviour in any shape or form, and is just a normal “neurotype” that doesn’t require fixing or treatment, then you won’t be likely to seek out the help that you actually need.

What if you do decide to seek out therapy from an ND-affirming therapist anyway? If they (supposedly) believe your autism isn’t disordered or abnormal, then what exactly are they going to help you with? In fact, a lot of these professionals believe that you are the lived-experience expert. You go to them with valid concerns about how autism disables you, and they tell you to just blame it on society? Or they blame your autism-related challenges on “comorbidities” when they’re actually caused by your autism?

If autism isn’t a disorder, why do so many autistic people require speech therapy to improve their communication skills? What about behavioural interventions to deal with aggressive or challenging behaviour? Sensory-integration therapies? Medication? Social-skills training and social support? Emotional-regulation therapy?

The absurdity of “neurodiversity-affirming” therapy – and the entire “neurodiversity” movement – hurts my brain. I actually believe the neurodiversity movement and ideology is toxic and harmful to most diagnosed autistic people. Personally, the more I’ve learned about the realities of autism (and especially severe autism), the more I strongly dislike the ND ideology.

I am not “neurodivergent”; I have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder

Because of the trendiness of “autism” and “neurodivergent” self-identification, formally diagnosed autistic people now have to say stuff like: “I’ve been diagnosed with autism/ASD,” or “I have autism spectrum disorder” (the full medical term).

Appropriating the identity of any marginalised group is pretty disgusting. But you could argue that appropriating disability as your “identity” is the most disgusting form of appropriation.

Redefining and deconstructing everything so you can fit into the narrative while refusing to get diagnosed. Claiming that autism parents are always abusive and that the entire medical enterprise – no, the entire scientific enterprise – is evil and doesn’t know anything about autism. (I guess ‘cause these people know the uglier side of autism that you don’t want to see? That doesn’t fit with your neurospicy rhetoric? Supposed “progressive” people can be pretty intolerant and exclusionary.)

And, on top of this, bullying and shaming the disabled people whose identity you’ve appropriated for needing help that you don’t need. Bullying and shaming the disabled people whose identity you’ve appropriated for showing deficits, impairments, and symptoms associated with their diagnosed disability.

This ideologically driven, socio-political rhetoric has gotten out of hand to the point where it’s actually harming a lot of real autistic people (and their carers). I know ‘cause I’ve read a lot of stuff!

I’m not neurodivergent. I’m not your neurokin. I don’t have “the ‘tism” or “a touch of the ‘tism.” I’m not “on the spectrum.” I’m not “spectrumy.” I’m not quirky. I’m not neurospicy. I’m not a part of your neurotribe. I don’t have superpowers.

I have been professionally diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, which is a serious, lifelong, neurodevelopmental, medical disability that requires support. That’s all it is. (It isn’t a “personality,” “feeling,” “belief,” “fluid identity,” or “political persuasion.”)

Don’t let the neurodiversity movement gaslight you into believing you don’t need help when you do need (professional or non-professional) help. As the DSM-5 says, ASD at all diagnosable levels requires support.

Even neurotypical, non-disabled people require support. What they mean is that people diagnosed with ASD (even at level 1) require more support than the average person. It’s a comparison thing. Level 1 requires more support than non-disabled people. Level 2 requires more support than level 1. And level 3 requires more support than level 2.

And that’s okay. It’s okay to need help for your disability.

Monique Moate is a late-diagnosed autistic woman whose interest in psychology and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) stems from a lived-experience viewpoint.