Embracing Neurodiversity: Karen Muriuki’s Journey to Autistic Pride

Many Kenyans may be unfamiliar with the terms neurodiverse and neurotypical. Neurodiversity is an umbrella term used to refer to the various ways in which people’s brains can process information. There are several types of neurodiversity, including Autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Dyslexia and more. Neurodiversity does not imply that someone has low intelligence; they simply perceive the world differently to neurotypical people, who are assumed to process information in a way that is considered standard by their society. Because neurodiversity is still not fully embraced by society, many neurodiverse people find themselves hiding their traits from neurotypicals in order to conform and fit in. This process is exhausting and can have detrimental effects on their health over time.  

Nairobi-born autistic self-advocate and activist Karen Muriuki rejects these ableist standards and chooses to fully and openly embrace her autism. 

What exactly is Autism? 

Autism presents itself differently in various groups of people, depending on their age, gender, race, culture and more. Some autistic traits include having a very keen interest in specific subjects, noticing details and patterns that others may not, the repetitive performance of movements and phrases known as stimming, which is intended to self-soothe, being very literal in understanding and delivery, which may, unintentionally, come off rudeness, and several others. 

With valuable knowledge of the neurodiverse experience and years within in the advocacy space, Karen wears many hats. She currently works as a Disability Inclusion Facilitator for Sense International, an organisation that advances rights for people with deafblindness, and other multiple disabilities. She also works as a neurodiversity consultant at Ubongo TV, an Organising Secretary for the Differently Talented Society of Kenya, and she was recently the winner of the Disability Inclusion Influencer Award at the 2023 inABLE Africa Conference. 

However, her journey to acquiring these achievements was not an easy one. 

Life as an autistic Kenyan 

Karen was officially diagnosed with autism in 1985, at three-and-a-half years old. However, she only discovered this much later in life, during her 20s, when she found her medical records. Her family had hidden the diagnosis from her, as most of them were in denial about her neurodivergence and considered it to be taboo. At the time, autism was heavily stigmatised by the medical industry and society at large, leading to the emotional and physical abuse of autistic children and adults who were hidden away, rather than embraced and supported. For Karen, being subjected to such stigma led to trauma and mental health issues such as depression and social anxiety. 

Much like her home life, her school life was quite lonely. Throughout kindergarten and primary school, Karen endured bullying from schoolmates who perceived her neurodiversity negatively. Many autistic Kenyans struggle to transition from one stage of life to another because there is no infrastructure to help them, nor are there schools and institutions to cater to their learning requirements. The same was the case for Karen, who could not find a university to accommodate her neurodiversity, and, so, she instead opted to do short courses at various colleges. 

Kenyans Living with Autism 

In 2016, after years of struggling in silence with her identity, Karen decided to start a Facebook page to speak out about the challenges she was facing and connect with others like herself. She named the page Kenyans Living with Autism; it was to be a space run by autistic people for autistic people. What began as a means of self-advocacy and self-acceptance, blossomed into a strong and supportive network of thousands of autistic adults and parents of children with autism. 

Karen also found the course of her dreams when she was able to enrol in the Autism Tech Training Programme run by iLab Africa at Strathmore University; a true blessing as she got to experience being in a classroom surrounded by and learning with other autistic students. She was also lucky enough to find workplaces that consider neurodivergence within their employment policies and create the right conditions for their neurodivergent employees to thrive. In her case, working at the Organisation for Persons with Disabilities, she is provided with a clear work structure and a quiet environment where she can work alone, and take breaks whenever needed. 

Experiences like Karen’s should not be anomalies, but should be available to the average autistic Kenyan. To ensure this, Karen encourages neurotypical people to acknowledge the existence of autistic people, prioritise their needs, most especially those of non-verbal autistic persons, and work with autistic-led organisations to effect real and long-lasting change. 

After all, if one truly embraces human rights, then they understand that disability is at the focal point of it all. 

#PaukwaPeople 

#DisabilityNotInability