In this episode of Autistic Advocacy, Matt and Angela take on audience requests to break down the problematic and often misleading language of the DSM-5. They unpack how the manual pathologizes autism, overlooks key realities like proprioceptive challenges and co-occurring conditions, and frames autistic traits through a strictly neurotypical viewpoint. From dismantling ableist IQ testing to reframing so-called "deficits" as differences, this episode invites listeners to see autism for what it truly is—a rich, diverse neurotype, not a disorder to be “fixed.”

🎧 What You’ll Learn

• How the DSM-5 pathologizes autism and centres neurotypical perspectives.
• Why IQ tests are ableist and shouldn’t define diagnosis or worth.
• The truth about autistic “social deficits” and why they’re actually social differences.
• Why the DSM’s claim that autistic people “lack imagination” is deeply flawed.
• How SPINs (Special Interests) bring joy, fulfilment, and expertise—and why the DSM mislabels them.
• Why routines and stimming are powerful tools for autistic regulation.
• The overlooked sensory and proprioceptive realities of autistic life.
• How autism’s hereditary nature and medical overlaps (like POTS, PMDD, and endometriosis) are often ignored in clinical descriptions.

Resources:

https://www.mattlowrylpp.com/blog/reframing-dsm-autism-criteria

https://www.mattlowrylpp.com/meme-gallery

Related Episodes:

Bad Autism Diagnosis

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