Hi, My name is Colin Revell, Hull, England.
I'm the founder of Hull and East Yorkshire NeuroDiversity Action an educational socio-political, socio-psycho/medical 'users' human and civil rights group.
The group is about challenging Social Exclusion through a process of re-learning and re-education. It's around challenging dominant ideologies and discourses and out-dated views, prejudices and stereotypes within the media and society.
This group is new and also the understanding of NeuroDiversity is a term that is not well recognised and accepted within society. There are psycho-socio-political reasons for this and also the imbalance of power within society with dominant discourses and ideologies, especially in the medical model and psychiatry and psychology.
I need to open up the debate on a working definition of what neuro-diversity means to others ? Who do we define as neuro-diverse?
I'm aware at present that individuals with Autistic Spectrum Disorders(Aspergers Syndrome), Dyspraxia(Developmental Co-ordination Disorder), Attention Deficit (Hyperactivity) Disorder(AD(H)D, Attention Deficit Disorder(ADD) ( not everyone with concentration and attention problems have 'Hyperactivity', especially as this wax and wanes at the beginning of Adolescence, and for some individuals in adulthood it disappears altogether, but not for all adults), Dyslexia, Irlen Syndrome, Central Auditory Processing Disorder, Semantic Pragmatic Disorder and other Specific Learning Difficulties(SpLd's), Chronic Fatigue Syndrome(M.E), People who hear voices, Bi-polar(Manic) Depression.
As you can see all these are medical terms, except People who hear voices.
I'm in the opinion that individuals have the right to self-determined labels, which challenges the dominant discourses and ideologies, in which creates negative stereotypes and stigma. These medical labels have a detrimental effect on an individuals self-esteem and their needs to be a challenge within NeuroDiversityAction, in deconstruction of these negative labels into individual positive identities.
As I said I want to open-up the debate around NeuroDiversity and would welcome your views, ideas and opinion around how I and others can take NeuroDiversity forward within the 21st Century, in the globalised world, at Local, National and International levels.
I would welcome your thoughts on whom should be included and defined as NeuroDiverse ?
Who do we include as NeuroDiverse and then who do we exclude ?
As many of you may beware that within NeuroDiversity cultures their is a term called NeuroTypicals( this is the term used by NeuroDiverse individuals for individuals whom are not-NeuroDiverse). There are many disabled people who are NeuroTypical, so these individuals can't be included.
Many NeuroDiverse individuals are excluded within society and have difficulties with personal and sexual relationships. They also have the need to discuss sexuality issues. but have no-one to turn to, due to their isolation and the statutory health and social services not meeting their needs.
What do others know about a U.K charity called SPOD ?
This organisation campaigns for a better understanding of the sexuality and sexual needs of disabled people.
I had a conversation early last year with someone from SPOD and I was informed that many of their queries are from men who are neuro-diverse with Aspergers Syndrome. Their queries are mostly around the use prostitutes and escorts.
This person and I discussed the need for sexual surrogates, in which is happening some disabled people in London and other areas of the U.K. The use of sexual surrogates are commonly used across many parts of Europe by the health and social services and sex is accepted as a basic human need for disabled people.
What are people's views on sexual surrogates for NeuroDiverse individuals ?
Is NeuroDiversity an impairment? Do you believe that NeuroDiverse individuals should be categorised as a disabled person ?
How does NeuroDiversity fit-in with the social model of disability ?
So, this is why I need your support an open-debate ?
NeuroDiverse individuals have the same basic human needs as all human beings, but as I said they are excluded, why ?
What are the environmental barriers and threats to NeuroDiverse individuals. Chemical and food/drink allergies and Intolerances ? NeuroDiversity individuals are more at threat by environmental toxins, due to their genetic-sensitivities.
This is a basic human rights issue due to the damaging effects of these toxins of neurodiverse individuals physical body and mind, in which impacts on their mental health.
NeuroDiverse individuals may have great difficulties metabolising these toxins from their bodies and this impacts on their minds.
They need access to detox and should have the right to be prescribed alternative medicines, drugs, treatments and therapies. It had been well researched that neurodiverse individuals have adverse side-effects to many prescribed drugs, especially psychiatric drugs, in some cases have been fatalistic.
What are the learning, structural, social, cultural, attitudinal barriers ?
How can NeuroDiverse individuals be more socially,cultural and economically included ?
Are NeuroDiverse individuals the genetic underclass of the 21st Century ?
What are people's fears around genetic engineering and cloning ? Does this mean that NeuroDiversity will be eradicated from the genepool and society in the future ?
Any more questions would be welcome in this open-debate!
Larry Arnold, If you can express your personal experience and views this would be welcomed.
Larry or any other person with a interest in this subject can you please send a copy of this e-mails to other relevant forums on the internet who you believe should be included in this debate.
People can also e-mail me privately and confidential with their constructive views, idea's and opinions. I will not accept any abusive e-mails, so don't waste your time if you are not prepared to give constructive criticism. My e-mail address is:- [log in to unmask]
If any neuro-diverse individuals want to join NeuroDivergent Action then the is a yahoo support group/forum at:-
[log in to unmask] . This is a support group/forum only for neurodiverse individuals and you need to go through the moderators to join.
I hope to hear from you all and your interesting constructive views.
Regards
Colin Revell
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