In our mission, being Neurodiversity-Affirming is the opposite of Professor Stan’s “Box.” It is a shift in perspective where we stop trying to “fix” or “cure” different brains and instead change the environment to support them. Making something neurodiversity affirming, one must encourage stimming behaviours. However, stimming short for self-stimulatory behaviour referring to repetitive physical movements, sounds, or behaviours such as hand flapping, rocking or repeating words to help manage emotions, sensory input and stress. Everyone stims, but neurodivergent individuals, especially those with sensory challenges, are more likely to stim. However, traditionally, certain neurodivergent traits, especially stimming, was actively suppressed by society. So, neurodivergent individuals had to fit in society and appear normal. This is called masking.
If we mask to cover our stims: Masking is like running a heavy background program on a computer. It consumes massive amounts of mental and physical energy, eventually leading to Neurodivergent Burnout, where our “batteries” or SPOONS simply refuse to recharge. Stimming is our pressure-release valve. If we “PLUG” that valve by masking, the sensory input from the world builds up until it results in a Meltdown (an external explosion) or a Shutdown (an internal collapse). Long-term masking can make it hard to know who we actually are. We become a “perfect” version of what Professor Stan wants, but we lose our connection to our own needs and joy. Instead of forcing someone to stop their stimming behaviour to “look normal”, a neuro-affirming space should provide the safety to stim as much as they require to regulate their nervous system. “Professor Stan demands we mask our stims to earn his ‘Gold Stars.’ He says it makes the world ‘orderly.’ But we know the truth: Masking is a trap that drains our power!
If we choose to be Neurodiversity-Affirming, we reject the ‘Gold Stars’ and embrace our stims to keep our energy levels high. Do you have the opportunity to MASK your Stim?
Look around the Room.