A collection of up-to-date terms that serves as a communication bridge between the autistic community and general society, aiming to provide precise words for complex internal experiences. This resource helps neurodivergent people clearly reflect their world, while also giving their environment - families, friends, and professionals - tools to understand sensory and cognitive differences at eye level. Through accessible and clear explanations, the dictionary aims to shatter old stigmas and encourage a more inclusive, tolerant, and respectful daily discourse.
Glossary
AAC helps people with speech difficulties express themselves. It strengthens existing speech or replaces it, promotes autonomy, and reduces frustratio…
ABAA structured therapeutic and educational approach focused on learning and changing behaviors, based on the assumption that human behavior is influence…
AbleismAbleism is discrimination against people with disabilities, including neurodivergent individuals. It harms equality through exclusion and judgment. We…
Adaptive morphingAdaptive morphing: an amazing human ability to adapt to the environment, a complex neurological survival mechanism. Without pathological language.
Adult Autism AssessmentA clinical and identity-based process in which a person receives formal recognition of being on the Autistic Spectrum later in life.
Affective EmpathyAffective Empathy: An automatic experience of others' emotions. For neurodivergent people, high intensity of this empathy can lead to overload, re…
AlexithymiaA cognitive-neurological difference characterized by significant difficulty or inability to identify, name, process, and communicate internal emotions…
Analysis ParalysisA cognitive state where an individual experiences extreme difficulty, overwhelm, or complete inability to make a decision, resulting from over-analyzi…
AphantasiaA cognitive-neurological difference characterized by a complete or significant inability to intentionally create visual images in one's mind's…
Asperger's SyndromeA historical clinical definition that was part of the medical lexicon, used to describe a subgroup within the Autistic Spectrum. The diagnosis was cha…
AuDHDA unique and combined experience of Autism and ADHD. Supported by neurodiversity, it explores the complex interaction between conflicting needs.
Autism / ASDA congenital neurodevelopmental difference. Autistic people experience the world, process information, and communicate in unique ways, as part of neur…
Autistic BurnoutAn extreme state of deep physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion, accompanied by a temporary or permanent loss of previously acquired skills and fu…
Autistic Hide ResponseThe Autistic Hide Response: a neurological defense mechanism for neurodivergent individuals experiencing overload. It allows for reducing stimuli and…
Autistic InertiaA natural difficulty with neurological transitions, not laziness. Describes a difficulty starting, stopping, or changing an action, part of neurodiver…
Autistic RepresentationA term describing a situation where a fictional character in a film, series, book, or computer game is designed with distinct autistic characteristics…
Autistic RuminationAutistic Rumination: a deep thinking pattern based on neurological structure. Understanding its mechanisms helps to understand the needs of the autist…
Autistic SpectrumThe central medical and cultural concept used to describe the structure and diversity of Autism. The concept aims to replace the outdated and simplist…
AutodidactismSelf-learning as a neurodivergent growth strategy. Discover how curiosity, special interests, and deep focus create unique learning paths, enabling pe…
Bottom-up thinkingA cognitive processing style where the brain first collects all the small details, raw data, and specific facts from the environment, and only then, s…
CamouflagingA conscious or unconscious cognitive and behavioral strategy in which autistic and neurodivergent people alter, conceal, or suppress their natural cha…
Coka Cola Bottle EffectA metaphor illustrating why autistic people tend to experience severe meltdowns or shutdowns precisely when they arrive home, despite functioning flaw…
Complex PTSDA psychological and neurological syndrome that develops as a result of continuous, repeated exposure to harmful or threatening events from which the p…
DemisexualityA sexual orientation on the asexual spectrum. Its main characteristic is that a demisexual person does not experience sexual attraction to another per…
Dichotomous ThinkingA cognitive distortion or cognitive processing style where an individual perceives reality through extreme, opposing, and absolute categories, unable…
Double Empathy ProblemThe Double Empathy Problem explains that communication difficulties between autistic and neurotypical people are bidirectional - not a deficit of one…
DSM-5The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, used for classifying neurological and behavioral variations, including Autism Spectrum Diso…
DyspraxiaDyspraxia is a neurological difference that affects the planning and execution of movements. It is common in the autistic community and requires envir…
EcholaliaA neurological and communicative phenomenon characterized by the automatic or intentional repetition of words, sentences, or sounds heard from another…
EDSA group of 13 inherited genetic disorders affecting the body's connective tissues. These tissues act as "glue" that stabilizes and holds…
ElopementA term describing a situation where an autistic person leaves, flees, or wanders away from a safe environment without permission, without prior warnin…
Executive FunctioningA collection of higher-order cognitive processes primarily managed in the frontal lobe of the brain, serving as the body's "management and co…
FawningFawning is a social strategy and a neurological and emotional defense mechanism in which an autistic person immediately and extremely pleases others,…
Graphomotor difficultyGraphomotor difficulty: fine coordination between motor skills, senses, and cognition. Common in neurodiversity, affecting writing, drawing, and copyi…
High-Functioning AutismA descriptive term (not a formal diagnosis) often used in medicine and public discourse to describe autistic people who do not have an intellectual di…
HSD (Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders)A condition where the range of motion of the body's joints is greater than the average in the population, allowing them to bend and stretch beyond…
Hyper EmpathyHyper Empathy: Living with intense emotional absorption. Understanding the experience of neurodivergent people whose nervous system is overwhelmed.
Hyper SensitivityThe way the nervous system and brain receive, interpret, and respond to stimuli from the five traditional senses, as well as from the internal senses:…
HyperfocusA cognitive state of deep, intense, and sustained concentration on a specific topic, task, or area of interest. During Hyperfocus, the person becomes…
HyposensitivityA neurological condition in which the central nervous system experiences difficulty receiving, processing, or registering signals and stimuli from the…
Impostor SyndromeA psychological phenomenon where individuals with proven achievements experience deep and persistent self-doubt, and suffer from a chronic fear that t…
InfantilizationReferring to an adult as a child, denying autonomy and decision-making. Harms neurodivergent communities. Learn about the phenomenon and avoid it.
Info DumpingDeep information sharing driven by passion, a characteristic of neurodiversity. An authentic way to connect, express one's inner world, and enrich…
InteroceptionThe internal sense, reading body signals. Interoceptive variation is common in neurodivergence, contributing to emotion identification and overload ma…
Literal ThinkingA cognitive processing style where an individual understands and interprets words, sentences, and instructions literally, according to their most prec…
MaskingA social strategy and a conscious or unconscious coping mechanism where autistic people hide, suppress, or change their natural autistic characteristi…
Mate CrimeA slang and cultural term very common within the Neurodiversity community, used to describe incidents where a neurodivergent person experiences harm,…
MCASAn immunological (immune) disorder in which the body's mast cells - a type of white blood cell belonging to the immune system and located in conne…
Medical ComorbiditiesA medical and clinical term describing a situation where two or more diagnoses (medical, neurological, or mental) exist in the same person simultaneou…
MeltdownAn uncontrollable neurological response to extreme sensory, cognitive, or emotional overload, where the autistic brain is no longer able to process th…
Mind BlindnessA term describing significant difficulty or inability to develop a Theory of Mind (ToM) . The concept means difficulty attributing mental states (such…
Minority StressA model explaining how people belonging to stigmatized minority groups (based on sexual orientation, gender, race, or neurology) experience high and c…
MisokinesiaMisokinesia: visual sensitivity to other people's body movements, common in neurodiversity. Understanding misokinesia promotes a tolerant and incl…
MisophoniaA neurological condition where specific sounds (called "triggers") elicit an immediate, extreme, and unbearable emotional and physical react…
MonotropismA cognitive and neurological theory that explains Autism by focusing on how the brain and nervous system allocate and manage their attention and energ…
NeurodiversityA concept and socio-ideological movement that views neurological and developmental differences (such as Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, and more) as natural,…
NeurotypicalA concept describing the wiring of the brain and nervous system that functions, develops, and processes information in a way that aligns with the vast…
PalilaliaPalilalia is a speech and communication disorder characterized by an involuntary repetition of a person's own words, phrases, or syllables . Below is…
Parallel PlayA developmental stage and interaction style where two or more people play, create, or work side-by-side in the same space, without trying to change or…
PDA / Demand AvoidanceA phenomenon in which autistic people experience extreme difficulty, anxiety, or internal resistance when faced with everyday tasks, requests, or dema…
PMDDA severe endocrine-neurological disorder characterized by an extreme and disruptive emotional, sensory, and physical response to the natural hormonal…
POTSA disorder of the autonomic nervous system, which is responsible for regulating involuntary bodily functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, breat…
ProprioceptionThe sensory system responsible for perceiving the body in space. This sense allows the brain to know exactly where each body part is, the degree of mu…
ProsopagnosiaA cognitive-neurological difference or disorder characterized by significant difficulty or complete inability to recognize and remember people's f…
Reasonable AccommodationsChanges, adjustments, or accessibility solutions provided to a person with a disability or neurological difference in settings such as the workplace,…
RSDA neurological and emotional state characterized by a deep, intense, and particularly painful emotional response to experiences of rejection, criticis…
SanismA system of discrimination, prejudice, stigma, and social structures directed at people dealing with mental disabilities, psychiatric disorders, or co…
Sensory HangoverAlso known as "autistic hangover" - it is an expression from neurodiversity culture that describes a state of deep physical, cognitive, and…
Sensory OverloadA neurological condition where the central nervous system receives more sensory information from the environment than the brain can process, filter, a…
Sensory ProcessingThe way the brain perceives, interprets, and responds to sensory information from the environment. For many autistic people, sensory processing is dif…
ShutdownAn uncontrollable neurological response to extreme sensory, cognitive, or emotional overload, representing the quiet, internalized equivalent of a Mel…
Situational MutismSituational Mutism: an understandable inability to produce speech in certain situations, a neurological response to overload. Understanding and suppor…
Social Model of DisabilityA perceptual, philosophical, and political paradigm that completely changes the way society defines and understands disability and neurological divers…
Special InterestsInterests, topics, or activities that autistic people focus on with exceptional intensity, depth, and concentration.
Spiky Skills ProfileA term describing an extreme imbalance or variability between different ability levels in the same person. This profile is considered a distinct core…
Spoon TheoryA conceptual model and visual metaphor used to describe and illustrate the management of limited energy in people dealing with neurological difference…
StimmingRepetitive body movements, sounds, or manipulation of objects. Common examples include hand flapping, body rocking, spinning objects, or repeating spe…
Supported EmploymentSupported Employment helps neurodivergent people integrate and succeed in the open job market. Professional guidance, personalized adjustments, and an…
Theory of Mind - ToMTheory of Mind: The ability to understand thoughts and feelings. In autism, new models show a mutual communication gap, not a defect. Mutual empatheti…
UnmaskingA complex psychological, behavioral, and identity-based process in which an autistic or neurodivergent person consciously and gradually stops using so…
Want new articles by email?
A new article every few days, straight to your inbox. No spam, you can unsubscribe at any moment.
