Episode 129 (Season 4): Breaking Down Language and Labels in Autism Advocacy

The language we use to describe Autistic experiences can shape not only how we see ourselves, but how our needs are understood—or overlooked—by others.In this episode, Patrick Casale and Dr. Megan Anna Neff, two AuDHD mental health professionals, discuss the topic of functioning labels in Autistic spaces. Through direct exploration of their own journeys, they unpack the reasons behind the prevalence of labels like “high” or “low” functioning, discuss the roots in societal values around productivity and worth, and offer thoughtful alternatives such as support-needs-based language. They also reflect on the challenges of unlearning internalized ableism, fostering compassion for different arcs of discovery, and addressing community tensions in regards to Autistic people with varying support needs.Top 3 reasons to listen to the entire episode:Gain clarity on why functioning labels are widely criticized and how they fail to capture the lived realities of Autistic people—especially when support needs, communication, and daily functioning can vary and intersect in complex ways.Hear candid discussion about the emotional impact of language—how shame, internalized ableism, and gatekeeping in neurodivergent spaces can affect community, self-advocacy, and the willingness to seek help.Discover practical, affirming alternatives to functioning labels and why evolving our language helps build more inclusive, supportive, and respectful Autistic and neurodivergent communities.If you’ve ever wondered about the impact of functioning labels or struggled with finding the “right” language to describe your or your loved ones’ experiences, this episode will challenge, encourage, and inform you about language, identity, and what it means to create more supportive Autistic spaces.————————————————————————————————🎙️Listen to more episodes of the Divergent Conversations Podcast🎙️Spotify🎙️Apple🎙️YouTube Music▶️ YouTube💬 Join Divergent Conversations Underground————————————————————————————————Thanks to Our Sponsors: Jane✨ Jane:Jane is a practice management software and EMR that helps you balance caring for clients while growing your business. Co-founded by a multidisciplinary clinic owner and a developer with an eye for design, it’s built to fit the way that you work, supporting your practice as it grows and evolves. Jane helps with day-to-day admin, like scheduling, documentation, and billing, so you can stay focused on the care you give. Jane was built with clients in mind, too. With online booking and secure online appointments (telehealth),