Now, I know that some people will probably disagree with me on this one but I wanted to talk about why I hate the word Neurotypical. Before I go into that, what exactly does the online dictionary say about this word?
neurotypical
adjective
So, this definition really does highlight why I hate using it. This word is setting a label on a child or person that says 'They don't have Autism or any other neurological disability". In essence, it's setting a label on children, like my son, that distinguishes them from other children.
I don't distinguish my son from anyone else's child. Yes, he was diagnosed with ASD. Yes, he has delayed learning. However, he is still a child, just like my daughter who would fall in the category as this neurotypical label.
Anything that classifies one child or person from another I dislike. Maybe its just my principles here that lead me to believe that everyone is the same, everyone has the same basic rights and everyone is individual in themselves.
At the end of the day, I don't want to label on my children. Some labels are limiters; we have to face that in the world. I know, because my son was diagnosed with ASD that people will label him under autism. Today, we are making effort to get young adults in to work regardless of disability or not. However, having a label doesn't help, it never has.
So, having labels such as neurotypical is enabling this. I don't want little Mr. to grow up thinking he can't do something because of a label or not. I want him to grow up thinking I can, not I can't.
This word may seem like a little thing, but it isn't. I know I keep saying its a label, but it is.
At the end of the day, they are all just children. Let them grow to the people that they will be. Give them help and support. Help educate and support where needed. They may need more support, they may not.
The one thing I noticed when my son was at pre-school. He went to a regular pre-school and none of the children distinguished him from anyone else. They knew he didn't talk. They knew what he did, how he played and all that. However, they did not avoid or think he couldn't do something.
This is how it should be. Leave the labels behind. This is my reason for hating the word Neurotypical. Do you have a word you hate? Do you disagree with mine? Then why not leave a comment below and we can discuss.