Brilliantly expressed. I can see why you won the 2024 Anne Brown Essay Prize, Sarah!
These phrases will stay with me:
'some of it is hard to explain, momentary judgements made from thin slice interactions.' and 'But the recognition between us was mutual. I saw myself being seen.'
I loved that - Like an invisible empathetic radar, you felt seen and known.
As productivity culture and efficiency programs tend to dominate the healthcare system, I fear the dominance of tick-box lists of questions over listening and seeing the WHOLE person in front of the medic.
'in line with Milton’s double empathy theory, that poor outcomes are often based on mutual misunderstandings between autistic patients and the nonautistic professionals aiming to help them.'...'Not knowing isn’t a problem, she says. It’s when you think your knowledge is complete that things go wrong.'
Thank you, Sarah. I learn more through your writing.
Thanks Victoria, it's lovely to get your feedback. Yes, exactly, feeling seen and known... I'm realising how important that is for me (and my child too probably). And I agree with you about the tick boxes. Additionally, many people within the autistic community are now questioning whether a medicalised, diagnosis-based approach is even appropriate for neurodivergence. Diagnosis inevitably focuses on deficits, which is one-sided and kind of depressing. But, in practice, it's often necessary to have a piece of paper before you can get the necessary supports and accommodations eg in schools and workplaces.
I hear you, Sarah. I've begun to think many tick-boxes and labels are used as dividers for triaging 'eligibility' to budget/resources 'release'.
Wouldn't it be great if communities and workplaces embraced and supported neurodivergence directly—bypassing the need for that paper and proactively having support and accommodation available as needed? I ponder on that for carers too.
FYI Have you heard of Flexa? It empowers job seekers who are looking for flexible work arrangements to search pre-assessed companies, I recommended this to a friend who now has a suitable role: https://flexa.careers/
THIS kind of job-flexibility is essential to bend to the realities of today.
I agree with you! When it comes to autism you're not meant to need a diagnosis to access support (in schools at least) but in my experience you very often do.
Thanks for the link. That might come in handy at some point. And I know a couple of other people who might be interested in it too.
Thank you for a lovely and sensitive piece of writing 😊
Thanks Janey, and thanks for reading.
Brilliantly expressed. I can see why you won the 2024 Anne Brown Essay Prize, Sarah!
These phrases will stay with me:
'some of it is hard to explain, momentary judgements made from thin slice interactions.' and 'But the recognition between us was mutual. I saw myself being seen.'
I loved that - Like an invisible empathetic radar, you felt seen and known.
As productivity culture and efficiency programs tend to dominate the healthcare system, I fear the dominance of tick-box lists of questions over listening and seeing the WHOLE person in front of the medic.
'in line with Milton’s double empathy theory, that poor outcomes are often based on mutual misunderstandings between autistic patients and the nonautistic professionals aiming to help them.'...'Not knowing isn’t a problem, she says. It’s when you think your knowledge is complete that things go wrong.'
Thank you, Sarah. I learn more through your writing.
Thanks Victoria, it's lovely to get your feedback. Yes, exactly, feeling seen and known... I'm realising how important that is for me (and my child too probably). And I agree with you about the tick boxes. Additionally, many people within the autistic community are now questioning whether a medicalised, diagnosis-based approach is even appropriate for neurodivergence. Diagnosis inevitably focuses on deficits, which is one-sided and kind of depressing. But, in practice, it's often necessary to have a piece of paper before you can get the necessary supports and accommodations eg in schools and workplaces.
I hear you, Sarah. I've begun to think many tick-boxes and labels are used as dividers for triaging 'eligibility' to budget/resources 'release'.
Wouldn't it be great if communities and workplaces embraced and supported neurodivergence directly—bypassing the need for that paper and proactively having support and accommodation available as needed? I ponder on that for carers too.
FYI Have you heard of Flexa? It empowers job seekers who are looking for flexible work arrangements to search pre-assessed companies, I recommended this to a friend who now has a suitable role: https://flexa.careers/
THIS kind of job-flexibility is essential to bend to the realities of today.
I agree with you! When it comes to autism you're not meant to need a diagnosis to access support (in schools at least) but in my experience you very often do.
Thanks for the link. That might come in handy at some point. And I know a couple of other people who might be interested in it too.
Wonderful ending . Have shared