Why "Neurocontinuity" is Better than Neurodiversity

We're different, but we're also continuous. We're all human beings with human joys and sorrows. Those joys and sorrows just grow differently depending on where and how we're planted.
I've missed doing this, and I've missed you.
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Subscribe: / @xianomega
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My name is Christian Swenson. I'm a 29-year old autistic man with interests in philosophy, art history, and all sorts of things. I made this channel to talk about the experience of autism from an autistic perspective. Autistic consciousness isn't normal consciousness. The autistic world isn't the normal world. I want to explore that world with you.

[@IRArdis]

Wonderful to see you back! I love the way you articulated this and couldn’t agree more. This is one of the reasons I don’t frequent autistic community support groups as much anymore - initially they were such a help and relief to just be around similar-type people, but so often the focus is commiseration about the difficult differences that the beautiful and constructive human similarities aren’t really allowed to be acknowledged, let alone enjoyed; the narrative of “I am and we are different and that’s who we are” is SO often taken to be an end rather than a starting or growing point. Anyways, I’m very glad you’re back and am happy that you’re doing well.

[@bubblebathskies]

you articulate these complex ideas about different brains so well & in a way that i've felt for so long but not had the words for

[@lastwithpaganblood87]

Glad you're well and glad you're back

[@javirruroe8234]

Thank you so much for your work, the beautiful message and this amazing channel 🥺
You're an amazing individual and surely make me proud of being autistic.
I'm really happy to see you back and safe and sound ☺️
Also, amazing video, as always ❤️

[@arnowinnertz]

if I could i'll give you all my upvotes! You are right and we need more like Christian!

[@magdalena-lisarobertson4143]

Missed you and your insight very much.
Glad you are back posting videos.

[@mirianakovachevic748]

What a nice surprise for year's end.

[@bradfieldization]

Wonderful articulation. Judy Singer coined the word 'neurodiversity' as a simple statement of fact, ie the entirety of all human brains, just as 'biodiversity' describes the entirety of biological life. Unfortunately, as happens with language, the word has been hijacked and its meaning distorted into an emotional & political agenda - the divisions you describe. As one autistic person astutely commented: 'How can you be divergent from something that is all-inclusive?'. I would suggest that 'neurocontinuity' is closer to Judy Singer's original intended intelligence of the word 'neurodiversity' (not the cultural 'movement'). For me, autistic consciousness is one of many lenses I use, not an identity, because in reality I don't have the foggiest as to what 'I' actually 'am', other than a 'thing' that 'happens'.....

[@arasharfa]

excited to hear your musings. I have been thinking about the autistic state outside of the DSM IV for a while now, given how it's a construct with both a philosophical/cultural/political bias I try to not pathologise my way of functioning any more than necessary.

[@Xianomega]

Most of reality is outside the DSM, I'd say.

[@arasharfa]

@@Xianomega agreed!

[@mairmatt]

Brilliant concept. Ein kluger Kopf - offensichtlich!
Edit: Welcome back.

[@Xianomega]

Sometimes my head is clever! Thank you.
-Christian, courtesy of DeepL

[@sarahcunniffe4678]

Is this a pragmatic approach to learning to relate?

[@stefan1024]

Welcome back!

[@matinali8188]

Hi