How has our understanding of autism changed?  

Our current diagnostic systems for mental health and developmental differences are based on holding individual humans up to an assumed 'gold standard' - the neurotypical brain style, and determining where the individual displays a 'lack of' something or 'poor' something else, and to see if these patterns of deficits fit a set of rigid categories. 

The neurodiversity affirming movement challenges medical assumptions that differences must be deficits, and it rejects the idea of one ideal brain style or neurotype to be held up over others. We are encouraged to recognise the strengths of people with a wide variety of brain styles, while recognising that our schools, workplaces and our society in general still have a ways to go in supporting and accommodating the needs of all brain styles. 

Our understanding of autistic brain styles has broadened and deepened over time, to include people with internalised presentations of autism who may not fit the old stereotypes of what autism looks like. We've also learned from autistic adults about the harms caused by older interventions. Neurodiversity affirming practice shifts the focus from 'intervention' with a goal of making someone appear more neurotypical, and towards understanding, respecting and accommodating differences, and checking that supports actually fit the individual's own goals. 

Why this book?

As clinicians, we want to help our clients and their families explore their own brain styles, understand themselves better, and often, to access the supports and accommodations they need to thrive at home, school and work. 

A client's experience of their own autism assessment can be pivotal in their identity, and their confidence in advocating for the supports and accommodations they need to live, study and work in a society often not set up for their brain style. 

Beyond DSM for Autism has been written for clinicians who want to move beyond the initial steps in neurodiversity affirming practice, for example using identity-first language, and dive deeper into creating a neurodiversity affirming assessment experience in partnership with our clients and their families.  

When we create a safe space to really unpack the way autism may actually show up in a person's life, and let them tell their story in their own words, they move forward in understanding how autism frolics in their family, and letting go of shame they've been carrying about never quite fitting in with others at school, or not working in the same way as their colleagues. If perhaps autism isn't the best explanation for their brain style, we can suggest other brain styles that may be a better fit for them, without judgement.