Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

Autism as a Natural Human Variation: Reflections on the Claims of the Neurodiversity Movement

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Health Care Analysis Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Neurodiversity has remained a controversial concept over the last decade. In its broadest sense the concept of neurodiversity regards atypical neurological development as a normal human difference. The neurodiversity claim contains at least two different aspects. The first aspect is that autism, among other neurological conditions, is first and foremost a natural variation. The other aspect is about conferring rights and in particular value to the neurodiversity condition, demanding recognition and acceptance. Autism can be seen as a natural variation on par with for example homosexuality. The broad version of the neurodiversity claim, covering low-functioning as well as high-functioning autism, is problematic. Only a narrow conception of neurodiversity, referring exclusively to high-functioning autists, is reasonable. We will discuss the effects of DSM categorization and the medical model for high functioning autists. After a discussion of autism as a culture we will analyze various possible strategies for the neurodiversity movement to claim extra resources for autists as members of an underprivileged culture without being labelled disabled or as having a disorder. We will discuss their vulnerable status as a group and what obligation that confers on the majority of neurotypicals.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
€34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price includes VAT (Germany)

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Explore related subjects

Discover the latest articles and news from researchers in related subjects, suggested using machine learning.

References

  1. Allred, S. (2009). Reframing Asperger syndrome: Lessons from other challenges to the diagnostic and statistical manual and ICIDH approaches. Disability and Society, 24(3), 343–355.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Baker, D. L. (2006). Neurodiversity, neurological disability and the public sector: notes on the autism spectrum. Disability and Society, 21(1), 15–29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Baron-Cohen, S. (2002). Is Asperger syndrome necessarily viewed as a disability? Focus on autism and other developmental disabilities, 17(3), 186–191.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Broderick, A. A. (2008). Autism as metaphor: Narrative and counter-narrative. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 12(5), 459–476.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Brownlow, C., & O’Dell, L. (2009). Challenging understandings of theory of mind: A brief report. Intellectual and developmental disabilities, 47(6), 473–478.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Davidson, J. (2008). Autistic culture online: Virtual communication and cultural expression on the spectrum. Social and Cultural Geography, 9(7), 791–806.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Farrugia, D. (2009). Exploring stigma: Medical knowledge and the stigmatisation of parents of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Sociology of Health and Illness, 31(7), 1011–1027.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Fenton, A., & Krahn, T. (2007). Autism, neurodiversity and equality beyond the ‘normal’. Journal of Ethics in Mental Health, 2(2), 1–6.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Fitzgerald, M., & O’Brien, B. (2007). Genius genes. How Asperger talents changed the world. Shawnee Mission/Autism Asperger Publishing Company.

  10. Goodin, R. E. (1985). Protecting the vulnerable: A reanalysis of our social responsibilities. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Grandin, T. (2006). Thinking in pictures and other reports from my life with autism. London: Bloomsbury.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Griffin, E., & Pollak, D. (2009). Student experiences of neurodiversity in higher education: Insights from the BRAINHE Project. Dyslexia, 15, 23–41.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Jones, R. S. P., Zahl, A., & Huws, J. C. (2001). First-hand accounts of emotional experiences in autism: A qualitative analysis. Disability and Society, 16(3), 393–401.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Jurecic, A. (2006). Mind-blindness: Autism, writing, and the problem of empathy. Literature and Medicine, 25(1), 1–23.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Kymlicka, W. (1996). Multicultural citizenship: A liberal theory of minority rights (pp. 107–110). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Lawson, W. (2009). Single attention and associated cognition in autism (SAACA). PhD thesis Deakin University.

  17. Levy, S. (2009). Autism. Lancet, 374, 1627–1638.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. McGeer, V. (2004). Autistic self-awareness. Philosophy Psychiatry and Psychology, 11(3), 253–254.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Moy, S. S., & Nadler, J. J. (2008). Advances in behavioral genetics: Mouse models of autism. Molecular Psychiatry, 13, 4–26.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Muhle, R. (2004). The genetics of autism. Pediatrics, 113, e472–e486.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Nordenfelt, L. (1987). On the nature of health. Dordrecht: Reidel.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Ortega, F. (2009). The cerebral subject and the challenge of neurodiversity. Biosciences, 4, 425–445.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Parens, E., & Asch, A. (2003). Disability rights critique of prenatal genetic testing: Reflections and recommendations. Mental retardation and developmental disabilities, 9, 40–47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Ruof, M. C. (2004). Vulnerability, vulnerable populations, and policy. Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal, 14(4), 411–425.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Schroeder, D., & Gefenas, E. (2009). Vulnerability: Too vague and too broad? Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics, 18, 113–121.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Singer, J. (1999). ‘Why can’t you be normal for once in your life?’ From a ‘problem with no name’ to the emergence of a new category of difference. In M. Corker & S. French (Eds.), Disability and discourse. Buckingham/Philadelphia: Open University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Williams, D. (2002). Exposure anxiety–The invisible cage: An exploration of self-protection responses in the autism spectrum, Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

  28. Wing, L. (1997). The autistic spectrum. The Lancet, 350(9093), 1761–1766.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Aspies for freedom. Pro-neurodiversity website. Found at: http://www.aspiesforfreedom.com. Accessed 15/09/2010.

  30. The human neurodiversity laboratory. Pro-neurodiversity website. Found at: http://eckertlab.org/neurodiversity, accessed 15/09/2010.

  31. Wolbring, G. (2007). Neurodiversity, neuroenhancement, neurodisease, and neurobusiness. Pro-neurodiverswity website. Found at: http://innovationwatch-archive.com/choiceisyours/choiceisyours-2007-04-30.htm, accessed 15/09/2010.

  32. Ventura33’s Neurodiversity Page. Pro-neurodiversity website. Found at: http://www.ventura33.com/neurodiversity/, accessed 15/09/2010.

  33. American Psychiatric Association: DSM-V development. Found at: http://www.dsm5.org/ProposedRevisions/Pages/proposedrevision.aspx?rid=97, Accessed 15/09/2010.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Linköping University, 581 83, Linköping, Sweden

    Pier Jaarsma & Stellan Welin

Authors
  1. Pier Jaarsma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  2. Stellan Welin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pier Jaarsma.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Jaarsma, P., Welin, S. Autism as a Natural Human Variation: Reflections on the Claims of the Neurodiversity Movement. Health Care Anal 20, 20–30 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10728-011-0169-9

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10728-011-0169-9

Keywords

Profiles

  1. Pier Jaarsma View author profile