A New Frame for Autism: The Case for the Autistic Neurotype
For decades, the dominant lens through which autism has been understood is the medical model. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), as categorized in the DSM-5, is defined primarily by deficits: in social communication, in behavior, in functioning. That definition has helped secure support, accommodations, and insurance coverage. But it has also shaped the public imagination in ways that harm.
What if there were another way?
What if we preserved access to services, while shedding the deficit frame? What if we replaced the language of disorder with a clearer, more accurate term: Autistic Neurotype?
Why "Autistic Neurotype"?
Because it shifts the premise.
It doesn’t say that autistic people are broken versions of typical development. It says that our brains are differently configured. That difference has consequences, of course. Some of us have high support needs. Some of us don’t. Many of us experience co-occurring conditions that can be disabling in their own right.
But the core difference itself? It's not a disease. It's a way of processing the world.
"Autistic neurotype" still acknowledges that difference matters. That it can be disabling in a world not built for it. But it doesn’t assume that the neurotype itself is inherently deficient. It separates the way we are wired from the way we are treated.
The Dimensions of the Autistic Neurotype
To fully replace the outdated notion of a linear "spectrum," we propose describing each autistic person through a multidimensional profile. Here are three axes that offer a more accurate picture of autistic variation:
1. Communication Style
- Verbal / Conventional: Comfortable with typical speech and conversational norms.
- Alternative / Mixed: Uses a combination of spoken language, AAC, echolalia, or scripting.
- Non-Speaking / Idiosyncratic: Communicates primarily through movement, behavior, or non-standard systems.
2. Support Needs
- Low / Contextual: Mostly independent but benefits from accommodations in specific settings.
- Moderate / Ongoing: Requires regular support in areas like executive function, social communication, or sensory regulation.
- High / Intensive: Needs substantial daily assistance across multiple domains.
3. Sensory Sensitivity
- Low / Seeks Input: Enjoys and seeks out sensory stimulation.
- Variable / Mixed: Sensory reactivity fluctuates by context and regulation level.
- High / Avoids Input: Easily overwhelmed by sensory input; needs modified environments.
This model doesn’t create hierarchy. It creates clarity.
Why It Still Qualifies for Support
- "Neurotype" is still a defined category: It can be clinically recognized, measured, and supported.
- Support is based on needs, not labels: Whether someone qualifies for therapy, accommodations, or disability services depends on their profile, not just the name of their diagnosis.
- We already support other neurotypes: ADHD, learning differences, and even giftedness have accommodations and interventions without being cast as disorders.
This is a reframe — not a retreat.
What About the Term "Spectrum"?
"Autism spectrum" has helped expand public understanding beyond narrow stereotypes. But even that word has its limits.
It implies a one-dimensional continuum, from "mild" to "severe." Real-life autism doesn’t work that way. It’s multi-dimensional. Support needs in communication, sensory regulation, executive function, and daily living can vary widely within the same person.
What we need isn’t a spectrum. We need a matrix. Or better yet: a profile that reflects real complexity.
"Autistic neurotype" makes space for that.
Why Language Matters
Words shape systems. They shape expectations, research priorities, clinical decisions, funding allocations. They shape whether an autistic child is seen as a person to support or a problem to fix.
Autistic neurotype is not a euphemism. It’s not a branding exercise. It’s a correction. And an invitation.
It says: If you're designing support, listen to the people you're supporting. If you're building a model, build one that reflects lived experience, not just observed difference.
To Allies in the Neurodiversity Paradigm
You’ve helped shift the narrative. This idea builds on your work. Let’s offer the world language that dignifies, includes, and evolves.
To the Curious but Uncertain
This isn’t about denying difficulty. It’s about framing difficulty in context. You don’t need to abandon science to adopt a better frame. You just need to ask what kind of science serves everyone best.
To Those Who Oppose This Shift
If the current language were working, autistic people wouldn't be speaking up. This reframe doesn’t erase your work — it expands its horizon. We can recognize support needs without declaring people deficient. You want effective care? So do we. Start by listening.
We are not less. We are not broken. We are not a mistake to be corrected.
We are a neurotype.
And it’s time the systems built around us caught up.