Deficit or difference 🧵

Autistic deficit no.1:
Preferring clear, direct communication.

In the “negative or nothing” model of autism, this is framed as rudeness, and social failure.

2/13

Deficit or difference 🧵

Autistic deficit no.2:
Taking words seriously.

In the “negative or nothing” model of autism, this is framed as literal-mindedness, rather than respect for meaning.

3/13

Deficit or difference 🧵

Autistic deficit no.3:
Needing explicit expectations.

In the “negative or nothing” model of autism, this is framed as rigidity - rather than being unwilling or unable to adhere to invisible, illogical, and/or inconsistent rules.

4/13

Deficit or difference 🧵

Autistic deficit no.4:
Deep focus and commitment.

In the “negative or nothing” model of autism, this is framed as obsession, rather than depth, care, or expertise.

5/13

Deficit or difference 🧵

Autistic deficit no.5:
Sensory intensity.

In the “negative or nothing” model of autism, this is framed as overreaction, rather than a body receiving a great deal of information.

6/13

Deficit or difference 🧵

Autistic deficit no.6:
Not performing hierarchy and status games fluently.

In the “negative or nothing” model of autism, this is framed as social naivety, and not as just a different relationship to power.

7/13

Deficit or difference 🧵

Autistic deficit no.7:
Emotional or cognitive intensity.

In the “negative or nothing” model of autism, this is framed as dysregulation or maladjustment - rather than a high level of engagement & responsiveness to the world.

8/13

Deficit or difference 🧵

Autistic deficit no.8:
Honesty and consistency.

In the “negative or nothing” model of autism, this is framed as bluntness, inflexibility, or lack of tact.

9/13

Deficit or difference 🧵

Autistic deficit no.9:
Stimming or moving differently.

In the “negative or nothing” model of autism, this is framed as inappropriate behaviour, rather than as self-regulation.

10/13

Deficit or difference 🧵

Autistic deficit no.10:
Not automatically prioritising appearances.

In the “negative or nothing” model of autism, this is framed as poor social awareness, rather than a refusal to make surface performance more important than deeper things.

11/13

Deficit or difference 🧵

Autistic deficit no.11:
Being distressed by injustice, hypocrisy, or coercion.

In the “negative or nothing” model of autism, this is framed as challenging behaviour, rather than an accurate response to something being very wrong.

12/13

To sum up, many autistic ‘deficits’ may only be deficits in a material world that needs very high sensory tolerance & the constant filtering of a barrage of human-made information...

... and in a social world that's built around implication, hierarchy, performance, and obedience.

13/13

Can anyone think of more things?  Whatever your view, comments very welcome!

I’ve explored the “negative or nothing” theme more here: https://www.neurofabulous.org.uk/autism-negative-or-nothing.html

@GinevraCat @KatyElphinstone I think this also ties in with not wanting to rise and expand. I live in a small space and I like it because if I had more space I would get anxious about how to best fill it or what to use it for. when I imagine what I would do if I won the lottery, buying a bigger or fancier home or luxury possessions would not be important to me because what I have works.

I would stress out over the best way to spread the money (like how much my family could use or what causes, organizations, or individuals will use it with the greatest effect in both short and long term) so I'd actually prefer a modest amount to an obscene one. I would budget myself to enjoy things like travel and learning and community engagement. I would enjoy the time this gives me more than the money, but even in that case I would feel pressured to fill it wisely—not out of social expectations but out of my own principles.