Lived Experience

Autism is often framed as a social deficit, but many autistic communication differences reflect cultural mismatch rather than impairment. Drawing on Erin Meyer’s cultural frameworks and the double empathy problem, this article explores how dominant social norms define competence, shape diagnosis, and create barriers to work and care — and why inclusion requires mutual adaptation, not correction.

Clinical documentation struggles are often framed as a discipline problem — but for many clinicians, they reflect nervous system dysregulation, executive overload, and systemic design barriers. This article reframes documentation avoidance as a threat response, reduces shame, and offers practical, neuro-affirming strategies that improve access, support regulation, and make documentation more sustainable.

This was originally posted to Medium on 6/23/2025 https://medium.com/@morgannecrouser/masking-the-neurodivergent-extreme-sport-f360bbe5b086 Masking is one of those words that carries a lot of weight, especially for neurodivergent people. At its core, masking means changing one’s natural or instinctive behavior — intentionally or unconsciously — to better fit the expectations of the neurotypical world. It can show up in subtle ways, like softening a vocal inflection, scripting