Myth: Autism can be cured
In this video, Deiera Bennett explains that autism is not something to be cured because it's a neurodevelopmental difference. Supporting autistic students means valuing who they are rather than trying to fix behaviors that aren't harmful.
Transcript
Autism can be cured. That statement isn't just false, it's harmful. Because autism is not an illness, it's a neurodevelopmental difference. Autistic people aren't broken. They just process and express themselves differently. And different does not mean deficient. When classrooms push autistic students to act more like their neurotypical peers, it sends the message that who they are needs to be fixed, and that hurts confidence, and it can also show up in learning and behavior, how safe the students feel and just their overall wellbeing.
Let's take a student who rocks or flaps when they feel excited. It might look distracting, but it's often how they regulate or focus. Instead of asking them to stop, ask yourself, is this hurting anyone? Is it truly interfering with learning, or is it just different? If the answer is no, it's not interfering and is not hurting anyone, just let it be.
Small shifts like this help students feel understood and valued. Many educators want to support neurodivergent students but haven't been given the right training. Think social cypher professional development helps schools do exactly that by centering neurodiversity affirming practices and approaches.
Check it out at socialcipher.com to learn more.
Follow us @socialcipher on TikTok and YouTube for more educator-focused videos about neurodivergence!
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