Social Change and My Community by Vee Simonetti

My Community: Neurodivergence

victoriasimonetti1 — 2025-04-08 02:41:22 UTC

I am a part of a lot of different communities: the queer community, the latino community, etc. But, the community I chose to use for this class is the neurodivergent community. When I was 7, I was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and later at 17, I was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). I have faced a lot of hardships just getting those diagnoses, especially being AFAB (assigned female at birth). Unlike some communities, where it depends on the region you are in, on how you get treated, the discrimination, and borderline disgraceful behavior towards neurodivergent individuals is very consistent across the world, even in Western society. There is a lot of change that needs to still happen, but every day we as a society take steps towards the right direction. While I recognize that ADHD and Autism are NOT the only disorders in the neurodivergent community, and I have other disorders that are, I am focusing on them because they are what affect my life the most, and are the most well-known disorders in the neurodivergent umbrella.

Cultural

victoriasimonetti1 — 2025-04-08 02:41:58 UTC

There are MANY cultural implications on why, as a world there is still so much work to do on acceptance towards the neurodivergent community. While it may seem that the world is accepting, if you were to step outside the USA, you'd get a slap of reality. A fun fact is that I am Brasilian, and my younger sister (who also has ADHD) had the opportunity to study abroad there for a year. While she was there, my mother tried to set up her accommodations (extended time on homework, taking tests in a secluded area), and the principal turned to my mother, and whispered "Don't worry, no one will no she has," the principal looked around, "Well no one will know she has ADHD." My mom was appalled; the head of the school was acting as if it were something shameful. She acted if anyone were to find out, it would be an embarrassment to my sister. My mother was very quick to say that my sister isn't ashamed, and that what the principal was doing was disrespectful. But, this sis just one example about about in other cultures there isn't acceptance, but barely tolerance. You will walk the streets and not see a single person with a disability, because the families are so ashamed that those individuals don't get the right to leave their home.

There are regions where they say that Autism is the devil inside your child. Pastor Rick Morrow of the Beulah Church in Missouri and he said, "autism can be treated if you “just cast the demon out.” “I know a minister who has seen lots of kids that are autistic, that he cast that demon out, and they were healed, and then he had to pray and their brain was rewired and they were fixed,” Morrow told his congregation. “If it’s not demonic, then we have to say God made them that way,” he continued. “Like that’s the only other explanation. ’Why does my kid have autism?’ Well, either the devil has attacked them, he’s brought this infirmity upon them, he’s got them where he wants them, and/or God just doesn’t like them very much, and he made them that way. Well my God doesn’t make junk. God doesn’t make mess ups.”

This man claimed that "God" (adding quotations because not everyone believes in God, this is not meant to be disrespectful) wouldn't make mistakes, claiming that children on the spectrum are "mess ups".

This is just some of the cultural implications that prevent social change in the neurodivergent community

Historical

victoriasimonetti1 — 2025-04-08 02:42:08 UTC

Since before the diagnoses of ADHD and Autism were created, the maltreatment of neurodivergent individuals has existed, and has contributed to the inability of social change today.

Not even 50 years ago, those on the spectrum would be sent to asylums to receive lobotomies, shock therapy, and endure the most devious abuse possible. Historically, mothers and fathers would abandon their disabled children, leaving them at orphanages (where they would spend the rest of their childhood), on the street, or in the middle of nowhere. Parents would forbid their kids from leaving the house, sometimes claiming they had fewer kids than they actually did because of how ashamed they were for creating a child who wasn't "normal"

Even in the last 20 years, when ABA (applied behavior analysis) has become more apparent as treatment, but is actually a way for therapists to force kids to stop autistic behaviors (stemming), and to try and act neurotypical. Thankfully, in today's world, more ABA clinics are changing their ways to be autistic-affirming, and just helping reduce problematic behaviors such as self-hitting, self-biting, and teaching self-advocacy through sign language, AAC devices, and helping verbal clients understand what words mean.

While we are making steps in the right direction, there are still serious historical implications that prevent social change. For instance, there is a severe misdiagnosis (as in giving other diagnoses that aren't autism), and even no diagnosis in those assigned female at birth. This is due to all research in the past (that we still use today) being done on male subjects. And, the social implications of what it means to be a disabled woman (no husband, no kids = no future) cause psychologists to not want to diagnose AFAB individuals with neurodivergence, and instead, they get diagnosed with mood disorders. There is a lot of change that needs to happen, but it can only happen when we let go of the past.

Environmental

victoriasimonetti1 — 2025-04-08 02:42:20 UTC

This is one I really struggled with. But, environmentally, there isn't much that is preventing change for the neurodivergent community. It's possible that climate change can invoke barriers preventing people from getting the help they need due to sensory issues or lack of accessibility. If anyone has any ideas on what could prevent social change, please let me know!