Abolish “Normalization” and Eradicate Pathologizing Neurodivergence—Dismantle the Medical Model Forever

David Ruttenberg
Aug 27
3 min read

<5 minute read

Introduction: The Violence of Normalization

Normalization isn't progress—it's erasure. For decades, the medical-industrial complex has profited from labeling neurodivergent traits as disorders, pushing therapies that force autistic, ADHD, and other neurodivergent individuals to mask their authentic selves. This #AbleismInDisguise inflicts deep psychological harm, from internalized shame to higher rates of anxiety and depression (Ne'eman, 2020). As a neuroscientist and advocate inspired by my autistic daughter, I see this as systemic violence, not care. #NeurodiversityRevolution demands we dismantle it entirely.

The Roots of Pathologization

The medical model, rooted in 19th-century eugenics and mid-20th-century psychiatry, frames neurodivergence as a defect to be fixed (Chapman, 2021). Think of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), often hailed as "evidence-based" but criticized by autistic self-advocates for its coercive tactics, like rewarding eye contact or punishing stimming (Sandoval-Norton & Shkedy, 2019). Historical examples abound: the institutionalization of "feeble-minded" individuals in the early 1900s, or modern insurance systems that fund compliance training over autonomy-building supports. This pathologization extends to education, where standardized testing penalizes non-linear thinking, and workplaces that demand neurotypical social norms. The result? Unemployment rates for autistic adults hover at 85%, per recent studies, because systems weren't built for us—they were built to exclude us (Roux et al., 2015).

Why Dismantling the Medical Model is Essential

Declassifying neurodivergence from diagnostic manuals like the DSM and ICD isn't radical—it's restorative justice. Autism and ADHD are natural variations of human cognition, akin to left-handedness once pathologized and "corrected" (Armstrong, 2015). By abolishing this model, we free resources for community-led alternatives: peer support networks, sensory-affirming environments, and education that celebrates diverse learning styles. Imagine schools co-designed with neurodivergent students, where curricula emphasize strengths like pattern recognition or hyperfocus, rather than forcing conformity (Kapp et al., 2013). Healthcare could shift to partnership models, with neurodivergent individuals leading consultations on wearable tech for sensory accommodations, not "cures."

This isn't about ignoring challenges—it's about addressing them without erasure. For instance, my patented wearables for sensory sensitivity were born from lived experience, not a deficit mindset. #EndPathologization means recognizing that neurodivergence enriches society, from innovative AI ethics to creative problem-solving (Baron-Cohen, 2020).

Barriers and Breakthroughs

Opposition will come from entrenched industries: pharma companies profiting from ADHD meds, therapists reliant on ABA billing, and policymakers fearing "chaos" without labels. But breakthroughs are emerging—autistic-led movements like the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) have influenced policy shifts in the UK and US, pushing for self-determination over institutionalization (Ne'eman & Kapp, 2021). We must build on this by crowdfunding neurodivergent research hubs that prioritize quality-of-life metrics over normalization.

Call for Participation and Co-Design

True change requires collective action. Join the #EndNormalization Coalition: a global, neurodivergent-led alliance drafting legislative briefs, hosting abolition teach-ins, and crowdsourcing lived-experience testimony to strike pathologizing language from the DSM and ICD. Sign up for working groups—legal strategy, education redesign, or public storytelling—and shape the future with us. Neurodivergent individuals, families, allies, and experts: your input will co-design abolition toolkits, ensuring every voice drives the dismantling.

Conclusion: Toward Liberation

Abolishing normalization liberates us all. It creates a world where neurodivergence is not a problem to solve but a perspective to value. Let's build it together.

#AbleismInDisguise #NeurodiversityRevolution #NeurodivergentLiberation #DismantleAbleism #CoDesignTheFuture #EndNormalization #EndPathologization

About the Author:

Dr David Ruttenberg PhD, FRSA, FIoHE, AFHEA, HSRF is a neuroscientist, autism advocate, Fulbright Specialist Awardee, and Senior Research Fellow dedicated to advancing ethical artificial intelligence, neurodiversity accommodation, and transparent science communication. With a background spanning music production to cutting-edge wearable technology, Dr Ruttenberg combines science and compassion to empower individuals and communities to thrive. Inspired daily by their brilliant autistic daughter and family, Dr Ruttenberg strives to break barriers and foster a more inclusive, understanding world.

References

Armstrong, T. (2015). The power of neurodiversity: Unleashing the advantages of your differently wired brain. Da Capo Lifelong Books.

Baron-Cohen, S. (2020). The pattern seekers: How autism drives human invention. Basic Books.

Chapman, R. (2021). Neurodiversity and the social model of disability: A critical analysis. Autism in Adulthood, 3(2), 89-95. https://doi.org/10.1089/aut.2020.0021

Kapp, S. K., Gillespie-Lynch, K., Sherman, L. E., & Hutman, T. (2013). Deficit, difference, or both? Autism and neurodiversity. Developmental Psychology, 49(1), 59-71. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0028353

Ne'eman, A. (2020). Neurodiversity and the disability rights movement. Autism in Adulthood, 2(1), 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1089/aut.2019.0080

Ne'eman, A., & Kapp, S. K. (2021). The neurodiversity movement: A historical perspective. Autism Research, 14(5), 845-852. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.2490

Roux, A. M., Shattuck, P. T., Cooper, B. P., Anderson, K. A., Wagner, M., & Narendorf, S. C. (2015). Postsecondary employment experiences among young adults with an autism spectrum disorder. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 54(9), 731-738. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2015.06.009

Sandoval-Norton, A. H., & Shkedy, G. (2019). How much compliance is too much compliance: Is long-term ABA therapy abuse? Cogent Psychology, 6(1), 1641258. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311908.2019.1641258