It’s hard to avoid bumping up against the terms Neuroaffirming and Neuroaffirmative these days.
Every AUsome Training course, webinar, meeting or event includes reference to something like ‘This is a Neuroaffirmative space’ or ‘This is a Neuroaffirming course.’
So… What does it mean to be Neuroaffirming?
No, really. Clearly it’s not the same as ‘awareness,’ right? But how is Neuroaffirmative different to ‘acceptance’ for example? Or ‘inclusion’?
Awareness is a very passive, neutral concept – we can be aware it is a cloudy day, or aware that Joe is wearing a t-shirt. Awareness doesn’t do anything.
Acceptance at least asks us to act. However, we tend to think of acceptance as a response to something negative that lies beyond our control. Is being Neurodivergent a negative that others just have to accept?
Similarly, inclusion suggests there’s a normal or default that some people are being excluded from. The clear message is: Let us in! and that’s really positive, but it doesn’t reimagine the normative default itself. At best, it’s reactive.
Acceptance and inclusion are massively more positive messages than awareness, but both to some degree imply that we’re outsiders who should be tolerated. Please.
We deserve better than tolerance.
This is why Neuroaffirmative has arisen as the concept-of-choice over the last 6-7 years.
Neuroaffirmative is a built-in unqualified YES! Of course!
When we say Neuroaffirmative, we’re saying ‘Yes, of course‘ to everything about being Neurodivergent. It acknowledges the realities of Neurodivergent lives, and validates all Neurodivergent experiences. More, because it is Neuroaffirmative rather than Autistic-affirmative, it includes the full diversity of Neurodivergent lives, not just Autistics.
Most of all, though, being Neuroaffirmative is saying YES! You belong. YES! We belong.
We all belong here, yes. Of course we do.
We’re not asking or persuading. This isn’t a negotiation. We’re past that. We’re making a statement of fact. We’re here and we belong here.
We expect to be expected. Just as we expect a roof on a building and shoes to have soles.
So, when AUsome Training courses start with ‘This is a Neuroaffirming space’ it means…
Neurodivergent expression and communication are expected. Of course.
Neurodivergent needs are assumed and facilitated. Of course.
Neurodivergent cognition and experiences are inherent to everything we do. Of course.
Of course they are – why on earth would it be otherwise?
This is what anyone would expect.
When someone describes their facilities, business, practice, services, school, organisation, or ways of interacting as ‘Neuroaffirmative’ this is what you should expect.
And, if it’s not, your response should be just as if you turned up at a new office job to be told you have to provide your own electricity, equipment, desk, seating, toilets…
Expect the YES! Accept no less.
