Last updated on November 26, 2023
Podcast 0090; Season 6, Episode “0”; 2 August 2022
Welcome to Perspectives on Neurodiversity, hosted by The Autistic Me, C. S. Wyatt. Yes, I’m rebranding the podcast (and just the podcast). It has taken me too long to do this since the podcast has always been about all neurodiverse experiences.
Transcript
Perspectives on Neurodiversity vary based on our experiences. I am a father, a husband, and an autistic self-advocate. My understanding of Neurodiversity has changed as I keep learning from the experiences that come with those roles.
I am Christopher Scott Wyatt, creator of The Autistic Me blog, and for the last five years, I have hosted this podcast.
As I began working on season six of the podcast, I realized it needed a new name. What began as an effort to share my autistic experiences became a podcast about Neurodiversity more broadly. This podcast features discussions about the countless Perspectives on Neurodiversity, with The Autistic Me, C. S. Wyatt, as your host.
With work on season six underway, I’m pleased that our guests will include voices that reflect the diversity of our community. This summer, I’ve chatted with visual artists, musicians, writers, teachers, and therapists. These voices challenge assumptions about autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other aspects of Neurodiversity.
When I began this project at the start of 2007, it was meant to be a short-term class project. I had no intention of continuing The Autistic Me as a public blog — I only created the blog to meet a course requirement to create an example of digital writing.
Fifteen years of blogging and five years of podcasting later, a lot has changed… and too much remains the same.
Autism was divisive 15 years ago, and it still is. People seemingly argue about everything autism related. A colleague calls these debates The Great Autism Wars. The arguments have expanded as the autistic self-advocacy community has embraced neurodiversity to include other neurological differences.
I don’t debate guests on the podcast. I prefer to ask questions and listen, even if I might disagree with a guest. After all, Perspectives on Neurodiversity need to be heard even within the Neurodiversity community.
Like many autistic self-advocates, I have strong opinions on some of the most divisive topics. There are some viewpoints I do not include on the podcast. If you want to hear about causes and cures for Neurodiversity, those are perspectives I refuse to promote.
But, there are debates and discussions we need to have. What should an inclusive space look like? What are the best educational approaches for inclusive classrooms? How can employers support neurodiverse job applicants and employees? Why are friendships and romances so difficult to maintain? These questions can lead to difficult conversations.
Though we discuss many topics, I dedicate many podcast episodes to education and employment. I began the blog in graduate school and we now have two daughters in elementary school. Like many families, we measure time in school years, not calendar years.
My greatest concern is the future success of my daughters. Will their schools prepare them to be creative, curious, and compassionate adults?
Classrooms and workplaces don’t embrace Neurodiversity. Public education was designed like an assembly line, with students moving along at a set pace through the same factory model.
We don’t move along the assembly line as smoothly as other students might.
As you listen to Perspectives on Neurodiversity, you’ll hear about my frustrations with education as a student, educator, and parent. The pandemic exposed a lot of problems with schools and businesses. Maybe the pandemic will lead to some changes.
Followers have let me know they appreciate that Susan, the girls, and I are simply a family trying to navigate life during interesting times.
The Autistic Me neither celebrates nor mourns autism. I am autistic. My oldest daughter is autistic. My daughters and I are all diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. For me, my daughters, and most of our podcast guests, our Neurodiversity is part of our identities, but not a complete definition of any individual.
I doubt there is a “neurotypical” existence. As Professor Roy Richard Grinker said on the podcast, Nobody’s Normal. I also dislike claims that everyone is a bit autistic, a claim that diminishes or dismisses autistic experiences and identity.
Neurodiverse experiences deserve respect, which is why I prefer to have Neurodiverse guests on the podcasts. Experts might observe and support our community, but only the Neurodiverse can describe our lived realities and our perspectives.
Subscribe to Perspectives on Neurodiversity on your favorite podcasting platform and follow along as we chat with interesting and often inspiring guests. Also, be sure to read The Autistic Me blog and follow me on social media.
This has been Christopher Scott Wyatt, your host for Perspectives on Neurodiversity, speaking as The Autistic Me.
The Autistic Me
- Blog: https://www.tameri.com/autisticme/
- Podcast: https://autisticme.libsyn.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/autisticme/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/autisticme
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CSWyatt
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/autisticme
Podcast cover logo includes: “Infinity Circle Dot Logotype” by vector1st
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