White Unicorn

Association for the Development of an Autistic-Friendly Environment e.V.

Scientific Foundation

White Unicorn e.V. is the nationwide specialist organisation for the acceptance of the neuro-minority of autistic people. We work scientifically on the basis of the neurodiversity paradigm, refrain from pathologisation and generate knowledge to break down barriers by developing an autistic-friendly environment.

What is autism?

Autism is a genetically-based human neurological variant.

Autism is a developmental phenomenon, meaning that it begins in utero and has a pervasive influence on development, on multiple levels, throughout the lifespan. Autism produces distinctive, atypical ways of thinking, moving, interaction, and sensory and cognitive processing.

However, in the context of a society designed around the sensory, cognitive, developmental, and social needs of non-autistic individuals, autistic individuals are almost always disabled to some degree – sometimes quite obviously, and sometimes more subtly.

This text was published in 2015 by “Autonomous Press” in the book “The Real Experts: Reading Material for Parents of Autistic Children". When using quotations from this text in academic papers, it is generally advisable to cite the printed publication:

Walker, N. (2015). What Is Autism? In M. Sutton (Ed.), The Real Experts: Readings for Parents of Autistic Children. Autonomous Press.

This text by Nick Walker is an introduction to the topic of autism. This concept, based on the principle of neurodiversity, is not just an unfounded opinion.

Nick Walker is an autism scholar, Adjunct Lecturer of psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies, founder and editor of Autonomous Press, an independent publisher dealing with "Disability and neurodiversity, paths of identity and life experience". In addition, Nick Walker is autistic.

This text was originally published in English on Nick Walker's blog, "Neuroqueer" and has been translated into German by White Unicorn e.V.