Autism, Culture & Power Structures: Joris Lechêne

We’re joined by Joris for a powerful conversation on neurodiversity, identity & the systems shaping our understanding of the world.In this episode, Joris shares his perspective as a neurodivergent creator, unpacking how autism, ADHD and mental health are often misunderstood through a purely medical and Western lens. As part of Autism Awareness Month, we explore what it really means to be neurodivergent, and why many of the labels we use are deeply shaped by culture, power and societal norms.We dive into the idea that “nothing is neutral”  from psychology to identity and break down how coloniality and capitalism influence the way we define what is “normal”. Joris explains how neurodivergence can be perceived completely differently across cultures, and why some behaviours are pathologised in the West but accepted elsewhere.The conversation expands into identity, race and global culture, exploring the complexity of blackness across the diaspora, the tensions between different lived experiences, and why dominant narratives often flatten nuance.Follow us on Social Media:TikTok: @AMAABFInstagram: @AMAABF