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Paradith
Paradith

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'Takiwatanga', a kinder way to describe Autism

Last week I learned the Māori word for ADHD/ADD is "Aroreretini" from a resilience councillor. Which translates to "attention goes to many things". That feels so much more apt and more accepting.

In the UK/US we call it a "disorder". It feels like it especially when people don't make the time to support you or work with you to put things in place to help you be treated equal. I have had to witness this for decades now with my twin brother.

Some say that the term #ADHD is disempowering, and that ADHD is actually more about having an abundance of attention rather than a deficit.

Many forget also that ADHD can present differently for different people, and can be both challenging and a strength.

People with Neurodiversity do have value, we pay attention to a lot of things and yes sometimes we have blips. This is why I especially like 'Takiwatanga' meaning "in their own time and space" used to describe autism.

Not just because it makes me think of Doctor Who but because it just makes more sense. The words people use and the language we use to interact with each other matters so much, it can do such and good and yet so much damage.

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