The ‘Autism Spectrum’ might not be what you think

Autism is not a puzzle to be solved or a list of things someone does ‘wrong’. It is a fundamental way of being. It’s an identity, a culture, a neurotype that shapes the way people experience the world. Mainstream conversations, however, often reduce autism to a medical condition or a set of behavioural challenges. To truly understand what it means to be autistic, we must move beyond outdated paradigms and embrace a neurodiversity-affirming and trauma-informed perspective.

The Autism Spectrum Is Not a Line

The term ‘spectrum’ is often misunderstood. People might imagine it as a linear scale, with “less” autism on one end and “more” autism on the other. But this idea doesn’t reflect reality. Autism is not a matter of being “more” or “less” autistic—it’s about different profiles of strengths and challenges that vary from person to person.

A more accurate way to conceptualise the spectrum is as a multidimensional web, where different autistic traits, such as sensory processing, communication, executive functioning, and social interactions, present uniquely in each individual. One person may have strong verbal skills but struggle with sensory overload, while another may find verbal expression difficult but have excellent pattern recognition. These differences don’t make one person ‘higher functioning’ and another ‘lower functioning’—they simply make each person different.

Autism Is a Neurotype, Not a Disorder

The neurodiversity affirming paradigm frames autism as a naturally occurring variation in human neurology, rather than a disorder to be fixed. Just as biodiversity strengthens ecosystems, neurodiversity enriches humanity. Autistic minds process information in unique ways, bringing creativity, deep focus, and alternative problem-solving approaches to the world.

When autism is conceptualised as a disorder, supports often focus on deficits and interventions are designed to ‘normalise’ autistic people by forcing them to behave in neurotypical ways. From a neurodiversity-affirming perspective, we recognise that many so-called ‘symptoms’ of autism are actually natural responses to a world designed for neurotypical people. What might be labelled ‘difficulties with eye contact’ in the medical model, for example, isn’t a sign that an autistic person should receive supports that force them to make eye contact. Instead, different ways of communicating socially should be honoured. Similarly, stimming (repetitive movements like rocking or hand-flapping) isn’t a problem to be corrected; it’s a self-regulation tool that helps autistic people manage sensory and emotional overwhelm.

The Impact of a Trauma-Informed Approach

For many autistic people, trauma is an unavoidable part of life. The world isn’t built with their needs in mind, and constant sensory overwhelm, social misunderstandings, and the pressure to mask (suppress autistic traits to appear neurotypical) can take a heavy toll.

Masking, in particular, is deeply tied to trauma. From a young age, many autistic individuals are taught, either implicitly or explicitly, that their natural ways of being are ‘wrong’ or ‘inappropriate.’ They learn to suppress stimming, force eye contact, script their social interactions, and hide their discomfort. While masking can help navigate a world that often punishes difference, it comes at a cost. Research shows that chronic masking is linked to anxiety, depression, autistic burnout, and even suicidal thoughts.

A trauma-informed approach acknowledges this reality and shifts the focus from ‘fixing’ autistic traits to understanding and supporting autistic needs. Instead of forcing autistic people to conform, we ask: How can we create environments where autistic people feel safe, valued, and able to be themselves?

Rethinking Support: What Actually Helps Autistic People Thrive?

Instead of pathologising autism, a neurodiversity-affirming approach centres around acceptance, accessibility, and genuine support. This means:

• Respecting Communication Differences: Not all autistic people use verbal speech, and that’s okay. Some communicate through AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication), typing, or scripts. Validating and accommodating these forms of communication is crucial.

• Honouring Sensory Needs: The world is often overwhelming for autistic sensory systems. Providing quiet spaces, using noise-cancelling headphones, and respecting sensory preferences (like clothing textures or food choices) is integral.

• Encouraging Authenticity: Autistic people should not have to hide who they are to be accepted. Stimming, special interests, and unique ways of thinking should be celebrated, not suppressed.

• Prioritising Autistic Voices: The best people to speak on autism are autistic people themselves. Listening to autistic-led advocacy groups, reading work by autistic writers, and valuing lived experience is essential.

  
  

Shifting the Narrative

For too long, autism has been framed as a burden or a tragedy. But autistic people are not broken neurotypicals. They are fully realised autistic individuals with their own strengths, challenges, joys, and struggles. When we shift our perspective from deficit-based to strengths-based, from pathologising to affirming, we don’t just support autistic individuals, we create a more inclusive and compassionate world for everyone.

It's not a line - it's a constellation of traits