Blog #190: The Russia-Ukraine Conflict from a Neurodiverse Perspective
- Jeffrey Snyder
- Feb 25, 2022
- 3 min read
I’m pretty sure that many of you by now already know of the situation in Eastern Europe: Russia has invaded Ukraine and already lives are being lost.
Like a lot of people, I am sad and angry of what is going on. While I have since moved away from the news and politics for the sake of my mental health, I do have a human side and right now it’s not about who wins or loses between two countries, it’s about the people that live in each side of the conflict as well as those watching from the sidelines.
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As a neurodiverse/disabled individual, I know for a fact that neurodiversity and disability is global and there are many families who are affected by what is happening on all sides. I’m also sure that there are plenty of neurodiverse/disabled families who are trapped in Kiev and have no way of getting out.
Take a moment to step into their shoes and think to yourself, “Could that be me and my family in that situation?” or “How can I explain to my neurodiverse child or loved one why we are evacuating from home when he or she doesn’t want to leave?”
This is the question that a lot of neurodiverse/disabled families are probably asking right now and what is worse of all, is that some Eastern European countries don’t have the proper resources to help neurodiverse/disabled families understand the dangers of the outside world.
Because of this, Ukranian families may have a lack of understanding of what their loved one is going through in their minds.
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Now, let’s look at the Russian perspective for a moment.
For one thing, Russia is like that bipolar relative who has a two-faced personality.
Personally, I admire the Russian People, the Russian Culture (food such as New York’s “The Russian Tea Room”, music by composers such as Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff, ballets such as “The Nutcracker”) and the Russian Winters that happen around this time of year. But I cannot stand the Russian government itself and it’s because of them that Ukraine is in this situation. The Russian people did not ask for this, they did.
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If you are a neurodiverse/disabled individual that lives in Russia and are more than likely bearing witness to the atrocities that are happening, I want you to think for a moment that what if you are in the situation that Ukrainian neurodiverse/disabled families are going through?
How would you react if you were in the shoes of innocent families that are going through hell simply because of their country that they call home? Take for a moment that you are a neurodiverse/disabled family that can only think of what is going on.
Your country is invading another country and your neurodiverse/disabled loved one doesn’t understand why we are going in there in the first place? Like Ukraine, Russia does not have the proper resources to help neurodiverse families understand their loved ones, which makes it that more difficult to process.
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Then, there is the matter of the families who have relatives in Russia and Ukraine as well as having a Russian or Ukranian heritage. I know that some of my friends and colleagues as well members of my extended family are connected to both sides and that they have families, particularly in Ukraine, who are trapped with no way out.
Yes, some of us may not live in Russia or Ukraine, but the ongoing conflict affects us on a personal level, especially if we are neurodiverse/disabled in our own way. It helps, particularly in schools, to open our doors who are bothered by the conflict in some way.
Teachers, administrators, guidance counselors and school psychologists should be open to helping those affected by the conflict whether they be student or teacher. It can also help, particularly at the high school level to have a group discussion with students.
In fact, when I was in high school, I took an elective class called “Contemporary Issues” where we were taught about and discussed current news that goes on in the world. Although some of it was difficult to discuss about some of the issues, it was important to do so in support of those in the class who had connections to whatever was happening at the time.
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I strongly believe now more than ever we need to be there for neurodiverse/disabled families that are affected by this crisis without getting into long and winded political discussions. I rarely do this for this blog/website, but I have no interest at all in political matters of any kind.
If you are going to comment about this blog, please keep it to the core truth which is about the neurodiverse/disabled families affected by the conflict.
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