Ellis Jacky Manidoomakwakwe
Department of Anthropology, Western University, London, Canada.
London Autistics Standing Together (LAST).
Autism Adulthood. 2023 Sep 1;5(3):225-235. doi: 10.1089/aut.2021.0075. Epub 2023 Aug 30.
Several critiques have emerged of the neurodiversity paradigm and of claims made by activists in the Neurodiversity Movement. These critiques include concerns that the Neurodiveristiy movement downplays the differences between Autistic people. In this article, I argue that the neurodiversity paradigm is a strategically adopted response to current realities. Sometimes, it is strategically necessary to appeal to existing narratives about Autism, or to emphasize solidarity within the Autistic community over the autism spectrum's internal diversity. At times, this can lead activists to neglect a more nuanced articulation of the Neurodiversity paradigm, which allows for the diversity of our community while still calling for solidarity in the face of shared experiences of discrimination. I compare this strategy with strategies of strategic essentialism utilized in the Indigenous Rights movement in Canada. I also explore the ways in which discourses of ableism and racism have historically been intertwined. Both Autistic people and Indigenous people represent diverse communities that must grapple with externally imposed identities to access legal rights, and both identities have been denigrated as mentally inferior by non-Autistic and colonial powers. I conclude that it is sometimes necessary to employ these types of strategies to secure needed resources and protections. I call for both scholars and advocates to take a more intersectional approach to understanding how strategic essentialism is being deployed within the Neurodiversity Movement.
针对神经多样性范式以及神经多样性运动中活动人士的主张，已经出现了一些批评意见。这些批评包括对神经多样性运动淡化自闭症患者之间差异的担忧。在本文中，我认为神经多样性范式是对当前现实的一种策略性回应。有时，策略性地诉诸关于自闭症的现有叙事，或者强调自闭症群体内部的团结而非自闭症谱系的内部多样性是必要的。有时，这可能导致活动人士忽视对神经多样性范式更细致入微的阐述，这种阐述既能承认我们群体的多样性，又能在面对共同的歧视经历时呼吁团结。我将这种策略与加拿大原住民权利运动中使用的策略本质主义策略进行比较。我还探讨了能力主义和种族主义话语在历史上相互交织的方式。自闭症患者和原住民都代表着多样化的群体，他们必须应对外部强加的身份认同以获得合法权利，并且这两种身份都被非自闭症群体和殖民势力贬低为智力低下。我得出结论，有时有必要采用这些类型的策略来确保所需的资源和保护。我呼吁学者和倡导者采取更具交叉性的方法来理解策略本质主义在神经多样性运动中是如何被运用的。
