- Ableism in relation to neurodivergence is when neuronormative standards are used as a gold standard to judge neurodivergence as less than or wrong.
- Internalised ableism is when a neurodivergent person takes on external ableism and it becomes part of their internal narrative.
- Internalised ableism can make a neurodivergent person have an internal narrative of feeling less than because their disability makes it hard to act neurotypically.
Ableism in relation to neurodivergence is when neuronormative standards are used as a gold standard to judge neurodivergence as less than or wrong.
The ableism concept can be linked to any form of disability, but in relation to neurodivergence it is when neuronormative standards, such as eye contact is needed to ensure someone is listening and paying attention, are applied as a gold standard to those who are neurodivergent. The message that is received by those who are neurodivergent is that their natural way of listening and paying attention, that is of avoiding eye contact so that they can focus on what is being said, is wrong and in order to be accepted and validated they need to conform to the “proper” way of listening and paying attention by making eye contact with the person speaking.
Internalised ableism is when a neurodivergent person takes on external ableism and it becomes part of their internal narrative.
When this type of correction is done over and over and by multiple different sources like teachers, and therapists and parents then the idea that eye contact is necessary to listen properly becomes the internal message that the neurodivergent person tells themself as well. This is how what started as external ableism – being told that eye contact is the only way to ensure you are paying attention – now has become internalised ableism, the person now tells themselves the message and takes it on as a truth – which inevitably means they judge themselves to be wrong.
Internalised ableism can make a neurodivergent person have an internal narrative of feeling less than because their disability makes it hard to act neurotypically.
No wonder that so many neurodivergent people struggle with their mental health, when they even beat themselves up for not being able to conform to neuronormative standards of being.
One way to begin to combat internalised ableism is to practice radical acceptance, but more on that next post.
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