Book (Lived experience and personal narrative).
After exploring two peer-reviewed papers that introduced the concepts of neurodiversity and the neurodiversity paradigm, I wanted to broaden my understanding by engaging with a lived-experience perspective. While the academic literature has been useful for understanding theoretical frameworks and debates, I felt it was important to explore how these ideas relate to the experiences of neurodivergent individuals themselves.
To do this, I began reading Unmasking Autism by Devon Price, focusing specifically on the opening chapters, which introduce the concept of masking and challenge traditional understandings of autism.
One of the most interesting aspects of the book was the argument that many autistic people do not fit the stereotypes commonly associated with autism. Price discusses how traditional understandings of autism have often been shaped by narrow diagnostic criteria, resulting in many individuals going undiagnosed or feeling misunderstood.
The book introduces the concept of "masking", which refers to the process of consciously or unconsciously suppressing autistic traits to fit social expectations. This can involve copying social behaviours, hiding sensory discomfort, rehearsing conversations, or forcing oneself to conform to environments that feel overwhelming or exhausting.
Before reading this, I had not fully considered the extent to which some neurodivergent individuals may spend significant energy adapting themselves to environments that were not designed with their needs in mind. This idea felt particularly relevant when considered alongside the social model discussions explored in previous readings.
A recurring theme throughout the chapters was the importance of challenging assumptions about what autism "looks like". Price argues that many autistic people have historically been overlooked because they do not match traditional diagnostic stereotypes. As a result, some individuals spend years feeling different without understanding why.
This challenged my assumptions and highlighted the diversity within neurodivergent communities. It reinforced the idea that there is no single neurodivergent experience and that broad generalisations can often be limiting or inaccurate.
What I found particularly interesting was how many of the themes connected back to the academic papers I had already read.
Nancy Doyle's discussion of neurodiversity as natural human variation was reflected throughout the book, while Patrick Dwyer's emphasis on understanding lived experience became increasingly relevant. The concept of masking also supported the argument that many barriers arise through interactions between individuals and the environments they occupy rather than from neurological differences alone.
This has shifted my thinking away from focusing solely on individuals and towards considering the wider systems, environments, expectations, and structures that influence people's experiences.
How might masking influence a person's understanding of themselves?