Beyond the Label: Seeing Autism Through the Body’s Wisdom
This might be a blog that stirs the pot a little. Some might feel uncomfortable, some may judge. But this comes from a place of lived experience, deep reflection, and the journey I’ve walked as a mum of three children diagnosed with autism. I’m sharing what I’ve observed, not to discredit,
but to open up the conversation because what brought us through wasn’t a rigid approach, but an adaptive one.
I recently came across a simple video breaking down the definition of ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). While there’s a lot of current discussion about removing the word “disorder”, and rightly so, because autism isn’t a deficiency, I believe there’s more to unpack here.
Like religion, like government policies, like education systems we need to be cautious not to blindly follow the frameworks and definitions handed down to us.
Just because something has always been defined a certain way doesn’t mean it’s the full picture.
We grow in age, yes, but also in understanding. Think about how limited our diet would be if we still ate like we did when we were toddlers. Our palates evolved. So should our perspective.
For all the noise and awareness raised in the last decade, our collective understanding of autism is still shaped by outdated beliefs. Originally, the label “autism” was tied to severe intellectual and developmental delays, terms like “retarded,” “disabled,” and “nonverbal” were central to its definition. Now, it’s used as a wide-ranging umbrella and we need to stop and ask:
is the label itself still serving us?
Autism is said to be a “neurological condition.” But from our experience, I can’t confidently agree with that blanket statement anymore. Why is it that careers, systems, and funding models are built only on what scores well on IQ tests or what the government decides is “research-worthy”? Even psychologists often feel stuck they can only work within what’s approved, what’s funded, what’s already in the system. Don’t get me started on that—it’s confronting.
Let’s circle back. Autism is defined by:
Social and communication challenges
Repetitive or restrictive behaviors
Now ask yourself: what part of our body is deeply involved in all of those functions? The nervous system.
We’ve come a long way in recognising learning differences, but we’re still clinging tightly to models that separate mind and body. I once asked AI about this, and it responded that the diagnosis exists so people can access funding and support like the NDIS. That alone should make us pause,
are we sticking to a possibly outdated model simply because it fits the system?
In 2015, after countless therapy sessions every week, I knew something wasn’t right. That’s when I started researching the vagus nerve and its link to sensory behaviours. It opened a whole new world: Polyvagal Theory, nervous system states, and eventually somatic work understanding how the body holds emotion, memory, and belief.
It’s like a plant every part can serve a purpose: seeds, stems, flowers, oils.
How can we look at a child and not view their body in the same integrated way? To me, the word “autism” no longer feels complete.
I’m not denying that there may be neurological differences, but until the whole body is truly explored and understood, how can we feel confident labelling a child?
And yes, I’ve been there. At rock bottom. Grateful for the support funding has offered. But at what cost? We’ve become hyper-focused on deficits. On dysfunction. On what’s “wrong.”
I want to offer another lens, one rooted in the nervous system. Because when we look through that lens, a different story starts to emerge:
Shutdown, withdrawal → Dorsal vagal / freeze response
Repetitive behaviors or stimming → Nervous system self-regulation
Sensory overload → A hypersensitive system in survival
Avoidance of eye contact or social cues → Protective, adaptive responses
If we accepted that ASD might also be a nervous system condition not just neurological we could:
Understand stimming as a form of regulation, not “weird behavior”
See withdrawal as a nervous system seeking safety, not antisocial behavior
Recognise the role early trauma, overwhelm, and stress play in shaping development
Shift from behavioural modification to body-based approaches that focus on co-regulation and safety
The medical model has long separated mind and body. It prioritises symptoms over systems. It rarely considers:
Somatics
Attachment
Interoception (how we sense ourselves internally)
Trauma responses
Sensory integration
Polyvagal theory
Felt safety during development
When we don’t look at the whole-body picture, here’s what we miss:
The nervous system response behind behaviours like freezing, fawning, or hypervigilance
The impact of birth trauma, intergenerational stress, and early environment
The sensory cues as signals of dysregulation, not dysfunction
The inner experience of the person—not just the outward behaviour
The adaptive intelligence in what’s often called “odd” or “challenging” behaviour
And that’s not even touching on nutrition, inflammation, gut-brain connections there’s a whole other conversation there.
My point is: we are often diagnosing without fully investigating. The DSM isn’t enough. Not when the body holds this much wisdom.
So no, this isn’t about denying autism. It’s about looking deeper. About refusing to stay stuck in outdated models when our understanding of the body, trauma, and development has grown so much.
This is just one mother’s view. But it’s also a call to consider: maybe it’s time we reframe the conversation.
If any part of this resonated with you, I invite you to explore the blog “Breaking free from Limiting Beliefs as a Parent of a child with Autism”, or take a look at our supportive package “Rooted Resilience: Whole Child Wellness Program” designed especially for caregivers and children navigating this journey together.
