Recently I came across this video by autistic Youtuber Stephanie Bethany and I feel she articulates a lot of good points I quite agree with, maybe controversially. I get this will never really be a water tight subject, not to mention the years of muddied waters from classic ableism and stigmatization as well as our own internalized ableism and trolling. The way I see it (as ONE autistic person) is EVERYONE, regardless of the way one's brain is wired, is a phenomenological product of their experiences from their prenatal sensations to this very moment in time. All of our sensations we can generally rank on a spectrum that ranges from "positive" to "negative", and at the end of the day, we all want some way to appreciate the sensations that we personally deem "positive". Now what those exactly are and how to get them is a question I can never truly answer for anyone other than myself at this point in my life. Nobody wants to be in a "personal hell", to be conscious is to have some organized semblance of sensations and a desire for certain sensations over others. Even if you're depressed and want to end your life, there is still a logical "want" in that. Building on that, I would argue there are inherent "negative" emotions no one wants without limits (pain, fear, sadness, and depression), now how those may be experienced and what causes them can certainly vary from individual but no one wants be nothing but "anxious and depressed". Indeed, feeling is a universal experience to a conscious mind and ultimately a mind wants a way to make satisfaction of those feelings, however if a brain is wired differently than another, then what brings that satisfaction to each brain will inevitably vary. THAT is what neurodiversity is about to me. An illness to it's very nature implies an inherent negative, however, when it comes to the mind, it will inevitably vary by subjectivity. There are things that bring me inherent joy that others see no value in and vice versa. It's really the core thesis of individuality (NOT to be confused with individualism). I ultimately want to feel happy and satisfied and what that means to me is for me to define and the onus is ultimately on me to ethically achieve it in the social parameters of the world I live in. My life experience as an autistic at this point has brought phenomenal experiences of immense joy and invaluable feelings of love and mutual affection with others I can't say I'd trade for anything honestly to the core of my conscience. I get not everyone can derive those feelings at this current moment in life and it would be dishonest of me to say these feelings weren't aided by discussions I've had with loved ones, friends, professionals, those in my communities, and the powerful psychoactive substances that are psychedelics. But nonetheless I've currently found a way to make it work for me and I don't feel my autistic brain has ever been the inherent problem in the same way I don't feel being gay has been the inherent problem. It didn't shield me from the toxicity of internalized self hatred and certainly showered my brain with very dark thoughts and toxic desires when I needed them least, but it's important to note it wasn't the only factor in that. When I trip, I experience a sobering awareness of what my brain is capable of bringing on to itself and no, of course not all of it is pleasant. But again, I don't see an inherent-ness to it exclusive to autism despite "mental issues" that have plagued me at points in my life with autism. Despite rhetoric that has been said either foolishly or sinisterly, neurodiversity is not wanting to live with a tortured mind (or medical issues like epilepsy) but a healthy mind accepting one's mind as they know it, what it's been through, and managing it in a healthy manner with respect to others. I can only speak for me and the conditions I have, but I can say I'm living proof one can be "neurodivergent" and happy and also say EVERYONE deserves happiness and contentment in a healthy, ethical way that works for them REGARDLESS of their neurotype and of course, no, "depression" is NOT a neurotype. It is a feeling no neurotype is bound or immune to.

Searches Autism

All neurodivergent people talking about it through a neurodiverse lens

No "autism moms"

No conspiracies

No obnoxious "neurotypical saviors"

No ABA propaganda

No hate

I get if this site gets popular that will inevitably change, but for now:

plays What a Wonderful World