The Bridge Between: Challenging the Limits of Autism Diagnosis and Identity
What Happens When Science Isn’t Enough?
Dr. Samuel Foster had built his career on two foundational pillars: his identity as a Black autistic man and his unwavering commitment to empirical science. His journey had been one of overcoming obstacles, navigating the intersections of race, disability, and academia. He had become a respected figure in the field of autism studies, advocating for a strict adherence to the DSM and empirical evidence as the only legitimate ways to understand autism. For him, these tools were not just scientific—they were also political. They provided a means to assert his identity in a world that often sought to undermine or ignore it.
Dr. Foster was active on social media, where he frequently engaged in discussions about autism, often using his platform to critique approaches he viewed as unscientific or harmful. One day, a clinically trained professional who had shifted her focus to become a lived experience coach—a role where she used her personal journey with autism to help others—posted an insightful thread on social media. In the post, she shared a pattern she had begun to recognize in her clients: many autistic individuals found that their most profound breakthroughs came not from strictly following clinical advice, but from exploring their own experiences and building on their unique strengths and perspectives.
The coach’s post quickly gained traction, resonating with many who felt that their lived experiences were often overlooked in favor of rigid scientific narratives. The thread was filled with stories from people who had benefited from this more personalized approach, finding it more empowering and relevant to their everyday lives.
Dr. Foster, seeing the post, felt compelled to respond. He replied with a critical comment, arguing that while personal narratives could be meaningful, they were no substitute for empirical evidence. He emphasized that patterns identified through lived experience should be approached cautiously, as they could lead to subjective biases and misinterpretation. He warned that diverting from clinically validated methods could ultimately do more harm than good.
The response to his comment was immediate and intense. The comments section erupted with both support and backlash. Many people, particularly those who had benefited from the coach’s guidance, defended the value of lived experience and criticized Dr. Foster for dismissing it. They accused him of being overly rigid, failing to recognize the importance of personal stories, and overlooking the fact that empirical evidence begins with observations like those shared by the coach.
Amid the uproar, one comment stood out to Dr. Foster. It came from someone named Lila, an artist and member of an organization called "The Bridge." She challenged Dr. Foster directly, saying, "Your work is important, Dr. Foster, but you're missing something. You talk about autism as if it can only be understood through the DSM, but for many of us, our experiences go beyond what can be diagnosed. You should come to The Bridge and see for yourself—there's more to this than what science alone can capture."
Dr. Foster was taken aback by the boldness of the comment. He dismissed it at first, but something about Lila's words lingered in his mind. Over the next few days, he found himself revisiting the comment, reading more about The Bridge, and feeling a growing sense of curiosity mixed with unease.
Driven by a mix of professional curiosity and personal frustration, Dr. Foster decided to visit The Bridge. He expected to find a group of misguided individuals, people who were allowing their emotions and identities to cloud their judgment. But what he found was far more complex.
At The Bridge, Dr. Foster met individuals who, like him, had struggled to navigate a world that often felt alien and unaccommodating. However, there was a significant difference between his experience and theirs. Diagnosed at a young age, Dr. Foster had received the support he needed through the system—support that helped him thrive academically and professionally. He had a house cleaner to help manage his living space and someone who assisted him in sticking to a routine. These supports allowed him to focus on his career and maintain a sense of stability.
But as he listened to the stories shared at The Bridge, Dr. Foster began to realize how different things were for those who discovered their autism later in life. These individuals had spent years—sometimes decades—without the understanding or support that could have helped them. Many spoke of how the system had failed them, either by not recognizing their needs or by offering supports that were often infantilizing and ableist, treating them as if they were incapable of autonomy.
For these late-diagnosed individuals, the relief of finally understanding themselves was profound, but it was just the beginning. They were not content with merely receiving a diagnosis; they sought to explore what autism meant in their daily lives, in their relationships, and in their inner worlds. They spoke of the unique ways they perceived the world, of the strengths and challenges that came with their neurodivergence, and of the deep connections they had formed with each other in their search for a more meaningful understanding of themselves.
Dr. Foster, who had always relied on the support system that had been available to him, began to see the gaps and inadequacies in that system for those who did not have the same access or who found the available supports to be more hindering than helpful. He realized that his perspective had been shaped by the privileges he had received early on, and that his experience was not representative of the broader autistic community, especially those who had come to their diagnosis later in life.
Initially, Dr. Foster's skepticism only deepened. He engaged in debates, challenging the validity of their methods and warning them of the dangers of straying from scientific rigor. He used his identity as both a Black man and an autistic person to assert authority, suggesting that their approach, though well-meaning, was ultimately harmful and misguided.
But as he continued to engage with the community, something began to shift. He found himself drawn to the warmth and openness of the people at The Bridge, something he had often felt lacking in the sterile environments of academia. He started to see that their approach was not a rejection of science, but an expansion of it—an attempt to include the full spectrum of human experience, which the DSM alone could never fully capture.
One evening, after a particularly intense discussion, Dr. Foster found himself sitting alone with Lila. She had listened to Dr. Foster’s arguments with patience, but she could see the tension within him—the conflict between his commitment to science and the growing recognition that it might not be enough.
"Samuel," Lila began softly, "I understand where you're coming from. I spent most of my life trying to fit myself into boxes that other people created for me. The DSM was one of those boxes—it helped me make sense of some things, but it also limited me. Here, at The Bridge, I've found the freedom to explore who I really am, beyond the labels. I think you might be searching for that too."
Dr. Foster was taken aback by her words. He realized that in his efforts to protect the integrity of his identity and his science, he had been building walls—walls that kept others out, but also kept him from truly understanding himself. His reliance on identity politics had been a double-edged sword, giving him strength but also isolating him from a broader, more nuanced understanding of his own experience.
Over the following weeks, Dr. Foster began to let go of his rigid attachment to the DSM as the sole arbiter of truth. He still valued science and empirical evidence, but he started to see them as just one part of a larger puzzle. He began to listen more openly to the stories and insights shared at The Bridge, and in doing so, he started to discover parts of himself that he had long ignored—parts that could not be fully explained by data or diagnoses.
Dr. Foster's transformation was gradual but profound. He began to incorporate the insights from The Bridge into his scholarly work, advocating for a more holistic approach to autism that included both scientific rigor and personal narrative. He realized that his identity as a Black autistic man was not just a political tool, but a deeply personal journey that required him to embrace all aspects of himself, not just those that could be neatly categorized.
The Bridge, once seen by Dr. Foster as a threat to scientific understanding, became a place of healing and growth for him. It helped him reconcile the different parts of his identity, and it taught him that true understanding comes not from choosing one path over the other, but from integrating the many ways of knowing—scientific, intuitive, personal, and communal.
In the end, Dr. Foster became a bridge himself, connecting the worlds of science and lived experience, of identity and universal humanity. His work, once confined by the boundaries of the DSM, expanded to include the rich, diverse voices of those who had found their own paths to understanding. He learned that the most profound truths are not those that can be measured or categorized, but those that resonate deeply within the human soul.
Metamodern Reflection:
"The Bridge Between" delves into the complex interplay between scientific rigor and personal narrative, between identity politics and the broader human experience. Dr. Foster’s journey reflects the metamodern ethos of integrating diverse perspectives, acknowledging that science and intuition, early and late diagnoses, and identity and universality are not opposing forces but complementary ones. The story highlights the limitations of a system that, while supportive for some, can fail or even harm others, particularly those who discover their autism later in life. By exploring the varied experiences within the autistic community, "The Bridge Between" challenges the notion that any single approach can fully encompass the richness of human experience. Instead, it celebrates the power of community, empathy, and holistic understanding in fostering a more compassionate and inclusive world.
Note to Readers:
Thank you for joining me on the journey of "The Bridge Between." While this story is a work of fiction, there is much truth woven into its narrative. The Bridge, as depicted in the story, mirrors the ethos of The Compassion Collective—a real place where we come together to grow, learn, and explore the depths of our shared human experience. Here, identity politics takes a back burner as we prioritize connection, understanding, and the integration of diverse perspectives. It is a space where we honor both science and intuition, where personal stories and empirical evidence complement each other, and where we strive to create a more compassionate and inclusive world.
If this story resonates with you, I encourage you to share it with others who might find its message meaningful. Your support helps us continue building this community and expanding the conversations that matter most. As always, I welcome your thoughts and reflections in the comments below. Let’s continue to build bridges of understanding and connection as we navigate this journey together in The Compassion Collective.