Disclaimer: This article has been written using identity-first language and was authored by a queer woman of color who is neurodivergent/disabled and is also the mother of a neurodivergent/disabled child. The views expressed here may not reflect those of Fuckup Inc. as an organization.

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April is Autism Awareness Month. We’ve touched on this topic before, but we felt it deserved a more in-depth look. As we strive for greater equity in society, we cannot shy away from difficult conversations.

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As we continue to make progress in promoting psychological safety, diversity, and inclusion, it is crucial that we also address the ways in which this system affects those who “don’t appear to have disabilities.” 

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Capitalism, as an economic system, revolves around the accumulation of resources for profit. Although it has contributed to the development of the Global North, it is no secret that this system also perpetuates countless social injustices across the globe. 

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From subtle microaggressions to glaring disparities in access to resources, ableism has long been an insidious force in our society.

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In this blog post, we invite you to explore the impact of capitalism and ableism on neurodivergent people. 

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First things first: What is ableism, and what is neurodiversity? 

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Ableism is a system of oppression that justifies and perpetuates the oppression of people whose bodies and minds are configured in ways that prevent them from producing as much as the supposed majority. It can manifest in many ways, such as physical barriers, prejudice, and exclusion from all aspects of society. Ableism often intersects with other systems of oppression, such as racism, sexism, and classism, making it a complex issue.

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Neurodiversity is a term coined in 1996 by Judy Singer, an autistic sociologist. This paradigm challenges the traditional notion of "normality" versus "abnormality" as it pertains to human cognition. The neurodiversity paradigm holds that neurological differences should be viewed in the same way as any other type of diversity, and that each individual’s unique cognitive profile contributes to the overall richness of the human experience. 

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Neurodivergent people are those whose brains function differently from the so-called majority. We are talking about people diagnosed with ADHD, autism, OCD, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, borderline personality disorder, dissociative identity disorder, bipolar disorder, etc. 

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Some people argue that a mental illness is not the same as a neurotype, but the point here is that all these brains function differently, and all these groups of people need support and accommodations in our environments. 

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By recognizing the value of these differences, society can move away from a deficit-based approach and toward one that celebrates the strengths and potential of all people, regardless of their neurotype or mental illness. 

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Some of the ways capitalism affects neurodivergent people

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1. Profit-making interests

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Capitalism prioritizes cost-cutting over accessibility and inclusion. For example, companies and school systems choose not to invest in any kind of training on this issue or in providing accommodations for those who need them, since decision-makers view these expenses as a drain on their profits or resources. Spoiler: that’s not the case. 

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The beauty of reasonable accommodations is that they make things accessible to everyone, regardless of our neurotype. For example, people who can walk can also use ramps. Ramps are an accommodation—a design based on universal design—which means that everyone can use them. 

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2. Employment discrimination

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The capitalist emphasis on competition and productivity creates a hostile environment for neurodivergent people, who may be viewed as "less capable" or "less valuable" to a company because we don't work the same way as most people. 

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‍We have different approaches to processes, and some of us need everything in writing. Some of us find it difficult to speak in public or even turn on the camera during a meeting. Some of us can’t work for 8 hours straight and need to take several breaks. ‍This leads to discrimination and a lack of accommodations not only during the hiring process, but in all daily operations.

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It's not that we're inherently less capable; we just do things differently. 

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3. Lack of representation

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The pursuit of profit may also contribute to the underrepresentation of neurodivergent people in the media, as actors and models with disabilities are considered less marketable. This perpetuates harmful stereotypes and reinforces ableism in society. 

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It is also important to note that it doesn’t matter how many neurodivergent actors play neurodivergent roles on television and in film if resources aren’t reallocated within the education and social security systems. That is where real representation is needed. ‍

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The main characters we see are white, heterosexual male geniuses like Sheldon from *The Big Bang Theory*, Sam from *Atypical*, or Shaun from *The Good Doctor*. Yes, there are also some women (Beth from *The Queen's Gambit*, Woo from *Extraordinary Attorney Woo*), but let's face it, they're geniuses too.‍

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Some neurodivergent people do not consider themselves disabled; some will need a calculator for the rest of their lives; many have no interest in chess at all; and some can’t even remember to drink water every day. There is diversity within diversity.

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4. Infantilization, Stereotypes, and Dehumanization

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The lack of interest in this issue among people without disabilities leads to misinformation and fear. It is an extremely difficult conversation, and it is easier to resort to oversimplifications when explaining things we don't truly understand. 

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Stereotypes are harmful, even when they’re well-intentioned. Like when people say: “All autistic people are math geniuses who aren’t interested in sex,” or “People with ADHD make terrible romantic partners but are great at making music or other forms of art , ” or “You must be high-functioning—stop taking resources away from people who really need them.” 

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In this regard, it’s worth clarifying something: labels based on functioning are harmful, as they strip neurodivergent people of their agency. If someone is considered “low-functioning,” people and legal systems assume they are incapable of making any decisions about their own life. If someone is considered “high-functioning,” educational and healthcare systems deny them the right to receive care and accommodations.‍ 

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Furthermore, these labels will never fully capture the support needs of a neurodivergent person. Each neurotype (autism, ADHD, dyslexia, OCD, etc.) exists on a spectrum, and support needs are constantly changing—even within the course of a single day—for the same person.‍ 

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5. Inspirational Porn

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This means using neurodivergent people to make non-disabled people feel better about themselves, even if that isn’t the intention. Inspirational porn reduces the life experience of disabled people to suffering. ‍

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Think of all the fundraising campaigns that feature photos and videos of children or adults who don’t speak, without their fully informed consent: “Juan achieved such-and-such DESPITE having autism” and “Lia was able to do this and that DESPITE having ADHD.” 

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-By the way, parents don't have the right to use their children's likeness without their consent, even if it's for "a good cause." But that's another conversation about adult-centrism, and we'll cover it in a couple of months—don't miss it.-

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‍Non-disabled people donate a few pesos and feel better about themselves, but they don't actually start socializing with neurodivergent or disabled people because that's not the point of inspirational porn. 

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Altruism means helping people in need in the way THEY ask us to. Charity is helping them in the way WE think they need. ‍

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6. Microaggressions

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‍Have you ever laughed at or dismissed someone who says they can’t stand certain sounds, textures, tastes, smells, or lights? Have you ever dismissed someone’s experience and told them, “Don’t overreact—there are worse things in life”? ‍

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Perhaps you've called someone a "bad person" because they have trouble socializing or seem not to understand the unwritten rules of human interaction that you consider "obvious." 

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Your teachers might have thought that one of your classmates was being rude or disruptive for asking so many questions about a topic that the rest of the class seemed to understand.‍

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Yes, we’ve all messed up at least once in our lives. Let’s not wallow in guilt. Let’s show compassion for other people’s experiences. You never know when someone who is neurodivergent might be right next to you, so be a safe person. The world needs more of that.

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‍IN CONCLUSION

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It’s a hard pill to swallow, but our intentions, however pure they may be, will never outweigh the impact of our actions. Yes, most people aren’t aware of ableism, and it’s not their fault. However, the systemic consequences of our collective actions—or lack thereof—are undeniable. 

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We don’t have a single solution to ableism; no one does. Collective liberation demands that we take responsibility. It demands that we reject individualism and punitive justice. It requires that we choose compassion —or empathy—and restorative justice.

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As someone said on Twitter: I want to live in a world where people who realize the harm they’re causing others care more about putting an end to it than about proving they aren’t causing it.

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We need to cry together, think together, laugh together, and co-create solutions together, even if we don’t see the final result in our lifetime. My hope lies in the beauty of neurodiversity: we have an infinite number of minds to discover how to improve this society.

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Do you want your team to feel comfortable and confident enough to discuss these topics? As part of The Failure Program, we offer a variety of online courses, workshops, and private events, as well as a survey that will assess how your company is handling psychological safety and failure. Share your contact information with us, and let’s start working together to make failure work for you.