Vocabulary
Stay up to date with our community’s vocabulary. Creating words for one’s experience supports the process of validating one’s experience.
A
- Ableism - Actions, words, assumptions, and ignorance based in the notion that non-disabled-bodied and/or disabled-minded ways of moving, communicating, behaving, and existing are superior to disabled ways. Learn more about ableism and how to overcome it here.
- Allistic - Refers to individuals who do not engage or experience the world through Autism; non-Autistic people. Allistic individuals can still be neurodivergent.
- Aspie - Another word for an Autistic person.
- AuDHD - Pronounced awe-dee-ach-dee; another word for an ADHD and Autism comorbidity.
- Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) - The preferred term to Asperger’s and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
G
- Genetic Discrimination - Discrimination based on genetic characteristics.
M
Medical Model - This model of disability views disability as a problem inherent to the individual, typically focusing on the impairments or medical conditions that individuals have. In this model, disability is seen as something to be treated or cured through medical intervention, and the emphasis is on fixing the individual to fit into society’s norms. This approach often leads to viewing disabilities as limitations or deficits that need to be overcome, rather than considering the cultural and environmental institutions that may contribute to disabling experiences.
The Social Model - Contrary to the medical model, this model of disability underscores that disability does not stem merely from an individual’s impairments, but also arises from broader structural factors like culture and environmental circumstances. According to this perspective, disability emerges from both biological factors and cultural factors between individuals and their surroundings. The social model suggests that achieving accessibility involves not only medical interventions but also societal efforts to embrace diversity and learn to value and leverage the strengths derived from differences and thinking differently.
N
- Neurodivergent - Also known as being neuroqueer or a neurominority. Represents ~20% of the population. See our explainer here.
- Neurogender - A gender and gender expression identity which cannot be otherwise disentangled from one’s neurology.
- Some neurodivergent individuals’ feel that their experience with socialization of their disability that their gender identity is most accurately described through a disability lens (e.x. Autism and Autigender Autiboy, Autienby, etc.).
- Neurotypical - The term for someone who is not a neurominority/neurodivergent/neuroqueer/.
S
- Speechie - A speech and language therapist/pathologist.
Special Notice
Please note that this webpage is in the process of being rolled out to the public. We apologize for the inconvenience, and relevant sections will be added soon.