Marcia Eckerd and Robert Bernstein Talking about Neurodiversity

Marcia Eckerd and Robert Bernstein discuss the topic of neurodiversity, specifically focusing on autism and the challenges in the current diagnostic system. Marcia Eckerd is recognized as one of the leading psychologists working to change the systematic way of diagnosing individuals on the autism spectrum.

They highlight the issue of diagnostic codes in psychology, emphasizing that the existing codes were created by non-autistic individuals, leading to a lack of understanding from an autistic perspective. Marcia Eckerd emphasizes her work in evaluating both men and women, addressing the challenges of diagnosing undiagnosed adults due to criteria that may not be neurodiversity-informed.

The discussion touches on the concept of masking, particularly in girls, where individuals learn to conform and appear non-autistic, leading to undiagnosed cases and later trauma. They express the importance of recognizing neurodivergence as a valid and authentic way of being, challenging mainstream mental health professionals to understand and embrace neurodiversity.