By Antonia Berenbaum
I am an Autistic person, and my name is Antonia Berenbaum. I intentionally put the word autistic first as an introduction before my name because I am proud to be autistic. Autism is part of my identity. Autistic people and the neurodivergent community do NOT need to be pitied. We do NOT need to be saved. We are just as good as everyone else. We deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.
Autism gives me extraordinary strengths (e.g., my ability to have unique attention to detail) that are unrivaled to my neurotypical peers. Unlike many of my neurotypical counterparts, I consider myself to be genuinely neurodiversity affirming.
Neurodiversity affirming means that the support team makes an individual support plan for that neurodivergent individual. Notice how I used the term “support team” and not the typical phrase “treatment team” (language used in the traditional medical model).
So what does this look like in practice?
Using the traditional medical (categorical) model, if a student is diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder — Combined Type [314.01 (F90.2)], then do what is best for that child. If that means being pulled out and getting individualized 1:1 tutoring with a special education teacher, do that. If that means, getting pulled out and placed in a designated special education classroom with less students, do that. If that means keeping the child in the general education classroom but finding strategies to help the child learn to focus and lessen disruptive behaviors, do that. Do whatever you need to do to support that child. Do whatever you need to do to support the family. Do whatever you need to do to support other key players on the support team. Again, notice how I am using the word “support” in place of “treatment.”
I truly believe that autism is a gift that should not only be accepted but cherished and celebrated. I acknowledge that there are many Autistic humans and other neurodivergent persons who experience difficult daily challenges. Autism can simultaneously be both a disability and a gift.
Autism never needs to be cured. Instead let’s teach adaptive life skills and change the environment to fit the needs of the autistic person.
