ABSTRACT
Assimilation and integration are important concepts to understand, especially when diving into the history of how the neurodiverse community has been treated in the past and especially as it pertains to individuals with autism. Assimilation, in the traditional sense, refers to the process by which a minority group adopts the customs, values, and norms of the “dominant” or, in this case, the neurotypical culture and individual. Assimilation can be seen as a oneway process where the neurodiverse group is expected to conform to the neurotypical culture without any reciprocal changes to the neurotypical culture. Integration and inclusivity, on the other hand, refer to the process of bringing different groups together in a society while allowing them to maintain their cultural identities. It emphasizes the idea of equal participation in society and mutual respect for all people.
