EP #1349: More Than Black & White: Understanding Nuance In Autism

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SummaryIn this episode of Health Power Lisa Davis hosts a conversation about autism and neurodiversity with Christine Romeo the mother of Abby from Love on the Spectrum and Janella a member of the autism community They discuss the confusion around terminology and labels in the autism community the challenges faced by individuals with different support needs and the bullying and negativity experienced by parents and individuals on the spectrum They also touch on the importance of recognizing sensory issues and the need for accommodations and services for individuals with autism The conversation explores the challenges and misconceptions surrounding autism particularly in terms of support and understanding The guests discuss the impact of language and labeling on individuals with autism and the need for more specific and nuanced terminology They also highlight the importance of representation and support for different types of learners within the autism community The conversation emphasizes the need for a more inclusive and comprehensive approach to autism diagnosis treatment and education The conversation explores the use of video modeling for individuals with autism to improve social skills and understanding It emphasizes the importance of creating support systems and resources for individuals with autism especially those with low support needs The conversation also touches on the need for organizational and life management support such as navigating airports and understanding social cues The speakers discuss the potential benefits and limitations of Applied Behavior Analysis ABA therapy and highlight the importance of understanding and accepting neurodiversity They address the challenges of black and white thinking within the autism community and the need for more representation and nuance in discussions about autism Keywords autism neurodiversity support needs sensory issues accommodations bullying autism support language labeling misconceptions representation neurodivergent neurotypical social skills education video modeling social skills support systems resources low support needs organizational life management airports social cues Applied Behavior Analysis ABA therapy neurodiversity black and white thinking representation nuanceTakeawaysThe autism community is diverse and includes individuals with different support needs and presentations There is confusion around terminology and labels in the autism community and it is important to use language that is respectful and specific Sensory issues are a significant aspect of autism and should be recognized and addressed Parents and individuals on the spectrum often face bullying and negativity especially online There is a need for more understanding compassion and accommodations for individuals with autism The language and labeling used to describe autism can have a significant impact on how individuals with autism are perceived and supported There is a need for more specific and nuanced terminology to accurately describe the different traits and experiences within the autism community Representation and support for different types of learners within the autism community is crucial for creating inclusive environments and providing appropriate interventions The education system should adopt a more comprehensive and individualized approach to support students with autism taking into account their unique strengths and challenges Understanding and empathy are essential in promoting acceptance and inclusion for individuals with autism Video modeling can be an effective tool for individuals with autism to improve social skills and understanding Creating support systems and resources is crucial for individuals with autism especially those with low support needs Organizational and life management support can help individuals with autism navigate everyday tasks and situations Understanding and accepting neurodiversity is essential for creating an inclusive society The autism community should strive for more representation and nuance in discussions about autism Sound Bites The way we handle this is my issue It s not even about whether you re on the spectrum or not on the spectrum It s about a movement of people who are just sort of mean and their way or the highway Autism TikTok is rampant with white lower support needs autistic people who are taking over the narrative and what autism is supposed to look like I m constantly bullied badgered and beaten by autistic low support needs who say you re infantilizing her You treat her like a baby and it s like trying to get her to talk folks still working on that language thing that none of you guys have They see that as infantilizing Abbey because you re just you re just helping her but that is the disability part I just felt like it was it was like uplifting and it made me my heart sing It s the language used to describe it This is why the word spectrum to me in my lame little opinion after 23 years of watching what s happened is saying it s causing this fighting We use something called video modeling for Abby which means we go online on YouTube free of charge We get clips from Friends and Big Bang Theory and we ll take a two-minute clip And we ll analyze the social interaction in that scene and break it down for Abby I think it must feel like this for them Let s start here At least we ve got to step into some kind of support Some kind of support that helps you understand how to navigate the airport Here are the steps broken down Chapters00 00Introduction and Background02 23Navigating Terminology and Labels08 08The Impact of Social Media on the Autism Community24 53Confusion and Disconnect in the Autism Community30 13Challenging Language and Labeling in Autism39 14The Need for Nuanced Terminology in Autism45 04Representation and Support for Different Types of Learners51 23Creating Inclusive Environments in Education56 00Promoting Understanding and Acceptance in Autism59 51Video Modeling for Social Skills01 01 16Creating Support Systems01 02 43Organizational Life Management01 03 39Understanding Neurodiversity01 08 02Challenging Black and White Thinking01 15 07Representation and Nuance in Autism DiscussionsClick here to visit this podcast episode