A-Z M

Necessary for specific co-ordination and control skills used in managing everyday tasks, i.e., gross and/or fine motor skills.

Refers to the trauma caused to monotropic minds when they are overwhelmed by competing demands that exceed attentional resources; it’s a collapse of a monotropic brain’s natural attention tunnel under the weight of environmental expectation. Repeated/intensive experiences of monotropic split are frequently the precursor to shutdown, burnout, and emotional overwhelm.

A state of deep, hyper-focused attention characterised by becoming fully engrossed in a particular interest or task, leading to intense concentration, a feeling of calm and control, and a sense of time distortion. Monotropic flow is a restorative and healing experience for autistic individuals, fostering learning and wellbeing.

A long speech by one person; a typical form of autistic communication.

Heightened sensitivity to certain sounds that are not usually a problem for others. Usually quiet and/or high frequency, e.g., chewing or electrical hums.

Consciously copying the behaviour of others when unsure of how to act in order to fit in.

An externalised physical overwhelm and trauma response to a combination of too much sensory information and dysregulated emotions (including frustration, anger, sadness, happiness, and excitement). This is not a choice, it is not ‘challenging’ behaviour, and it is not a ‘tantrum.’ It is not done on purpose; it reflects that the individual is in survival mode.

A hormone that humans naturally produce to help regulate the sleep cycle and other body functions. Low melatonin level can result in sleep disturbances and disorders. Elevated levels of stress can impact melatonin production.

Views disability as an impairment or a deficiency that needs to be fixed, cured, or managed through medical interventions. It is a Negative Narrative.

‘Dressing up’ as a certain persona, or character, that will be more acceptable than one’s true personality.

Masking is a psychological safety mechanism made up of layers of physical and social complex actions which an Autistic person uses (consciously and unconsciously) to ‘fit in’ and self-protect in an endless variety of differing situations and environments. It is a projection of an entirely different personality, not context switching. Long-term impacts include disassociation of self, burnout, mental health issues, and suicidality.

The treatment of a person, group, or concept as insignificant or peripheral, which leads to them being excluded from society.

Languages that are communicated via hand movements.