Neurotypical Spectrum Disorder

At Spectrum, this week we had a little chuckle at this ‘tongue-in-cheek’ post on social media by Viv Dawes Autistic Advocate https://www.facebook.com/aldershotautisticambassador identifying Neurotypical Spectrum Disorder (NSD). She states, ‘We really need to talk about NSD- Neurotypical Spectrum Disorder. It’s a serious problem with lifelong repercussions for each person who suffers with this debilitating condition that impairs their ability to function normally in social situations’. 

Viv has used the deficit-based language used to talk about Autistic people to turn the tables on ‘Neurotypical’ people instead, referring to this as Neurotypical Spectrum Disorder (NSD). Whilst Viv is being light-hearted, there is a serious message to her post which is that the way that language is used about Autistic people is negative, detrimental and harmful. What are your thoughts about NSD? Does this resonate with you if you are Autistic? Does it offend you if you are NT? We’d love to know your thoughts!