Neuroqueer Heresies: Notes on the Neurodiversity Paradigm, Autistic Empowerment, and Postnormal Possibilities

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I'm uncomfortable with this evasion of responsibility for what she's publishing, and I don't think this caveat will prevent harm caused by inadequately considered texts, given that they're intended to occupy the privileged position of teaching material. Just as it's possible to use the word 'neurodiversity' and be working within the pathology paradigm, I hope the author will now recognise that people can potentially construct phrases in a variety of ways and be working within a neurodiversity paradigm. Many of the technical or academic sections, defining terms or laying the groundwork for understanding concepts, were written for an intellectual, and to risk being blunt, intelligent audience.

In this work of fundamental importance, Nick Walker provides an introduction to neurodiversity and the topics associated with it. I was incredibly relieved that Neuroqueer Heresies was not the jumble of academic terms and run on sentences like the blurb suggested. Lays out extremely digestible definitions of and frameworks for utilizing different terms related to neurodivergence, neurodiversity, and neuroqueer, and the problems with pathologization, as well as provides extremely important input for interacting with and honoring the individuality of autistic individuals (through clinical work, educational settings, and personal relationships).Autistics and other neurodiverse people' could be a powerful thing to say, depending on the other words that follow. Walker has added some thoughts and reflections on some of her older pieces and how her perspective has changed since writing them.

Nick Walker is a queer, transgender, flamingly autistic author of both speculative fiction and nonfiction, and co-creator of the urban fantasy webcomic Weird Luck. The author is similarly dismissive and judgmental towards anyone who uses key terms differently or less precisely than she does. The kids smearing feces on the wall of the bathroom at target because they were asked to walk to the bathroom because their caregiver could smell the soiled diaper, or dropping their pants to feel the fabric of the couch against their testicles (I’m citing examples all of my own personal experience).

Walker's published essays over the last several years, which--if absorbed and followed--will help professionals and advocates (including parent advocates) avoid/address toxic practices and internal ableism rampant in discussions (both formal and informal) around disability and neurodivergence. The kids who are clawing out the eyes of their own parents or siblings because they didn’t care for the sound their plate made against the dinner table. This is the second queer, trans, autistic, doctorate-level author I’ve found in the last month and I am again so disoriented after reading.

While I happen to share her preferred language and framing of autistic experiences, I don't share her lack of respect or tolerance toward autistic folks who think and speak differently on these points. It will change how you view yourself and others in your life, guiding you to fully embrace your weird and amazing self.Paired with these silly mistakes is an academic language that felt inaccessible at times because of the complexity of the word choice.