Playing With Words: What “Information” Really Tells Us
Today I’m playing with the word in words.
Adding “in-” in front of a word often seems to mean not. This is evident in examples like invisible (not visible) or incomplete (not complete). But language, like life, is full of exceptions and rule-breakers. Take different and indifferent: they don’t just mean “different” and “not different.”
Indifferent actually means not caring or showing no interest, which isn’t the same as being the same. It’s about emotional disconnection or detachment.
Back to information. Information is not the negation of formation—it’s a formed piece of meaning. A fact or idea that’s taken shape, ready to be shared, understood, and used. And with that in mind, let’s use information to reframe how we think about neurodiversity.
Indifferent—or Just Different?
People with autism are often mislabelled as indifferent.
Even worse, the once-popular puzzle piece symbol for autism suggests there is something missing—an incomplete puzzle. Sadly, this symbol is still in use.
But what if what looks like indifference is actually a difference in processing?
What if it’s not a lack of interest, but a different way of showing it?
Can we truly remain indifferent—disconnected or detached—from that truth once we’re armed with better information?
What if we replaced that narrative with positive symbolism—symbols that advocate, assist, accommodate, and amplify acceptance of neurodiversity?
Introducing Interoception
The piece of information I want to share today is about interoception. It’s not a common word—appearing in only 0.2 occurrences per million words in modern written English—but it’s a vital concept, especially when parenting a neurodivergent child.
Interoception is your internal body awareness. It’s part of the somatic sensory system—the senses that relate to what’s going on inside your body, rather than outside. Interoception tells you:
- When you’re hungry or thirsty
- If you’re too hot or too cold
- If you’re in pain or need the toilet
- How tired, nauseous, or tense you feel
It’s the quiet feedback loop that connects your brain to your body, helping you regulate, respond, and self-care.
Why Interoception Matters
When interoception is underdeveloped or processed differently—as is often the case for many neurodivergent individuals—it can create very real challenges:
- Emotional regulation
- Managing discomfort or pain
- Feeling safe and settled in your own body
- Reaching learning potential
Understanding James’s interoception helps me understand his behaviour. It also allows me to reflect on my own interoceptive awareness. To support him, I need to tune into myself, too. This week I forgot to eat, didn’t sleep well, became overwhelmed and this fatigue followed me into the following days. I had less energy for him. So today I chose to stay at home, rest, recuperate and write. We’re learning together—co-regulating in tandem, decoding the signals our bodies send us in different ways.
Everything Is Information
Let’s return to the word everything. Everything = every thing. Each sound, sight, feeling, action—every sensory input is a piece of information.
So:
Every thing in the world is information.
If behaviour is a response to that information, then we must begin with understanding. Our behaviour is shaped by how we sense, interpret, and process the world. When we recognise that some behaviours stem from interoceptive or sensory differences, we can begin to rewrite the way we respond.
These behaviours may not signal defiance.
They may not signal disinterest.
They may simply be different responses to different internal information.
That understanding can change the way we teach, parent, and include.
When the Rules Don’t Fit
Learning is hard. And sometimes, the rules we rely on—social, educational, inherited, parenting, medical, textbook rules—don’t fit every child.
This is where we need a shift in thinking. Especially around our expectations of behaviour, communication, and connection. If we can look at autism and neurodivergence through a new lens—one shaped by compassionate information, not outdated assumptions—we may finally begin to:
- Learn
- Include
- Accept
Instead of:
- Diagnose
- Pathologise
- Exclude
Invisible Differences
Autism can sometimes be an invisible disability.
Not because it’s not real, but because it doesn’t always show in the ways people expect. It can be invisible in the classroom, in the workplace, or even at home. Often, stigma, misunderstanding, or the quiet pressure to “mask” what’s not considered “typical” means autism stays hidden and repressed. And this invisibility is made worse by a lack of information or negative attitudes. When we don’t understand something, we often overlook it—or worse, judge it. But language and knowledge can change that.
From Information to Transformation
This post is an example of how language, meaning, and understanding evolve over time. Some ideas are inherited and taken for granted. That’s how many of us learned. But that’s not how everyone can—or should—be expected to learn. We can use better information to build greater understanding.
Because “in-” isn’t always a negation. And neither is autism.
And information, like inclusion, is a celebration of something shaped, meaningful, and ready both to inform and to form.
While “invisible” or “incomplete” are negations, words like inspire, inform, inclusion, or incarnate don’t negate. Instead, they add depth, presence, or action. Both “inform” and “include” are generative acts. They don’t take away—they build, connect, shape. To inform is to give form. Autism isn’t a negation or absence—it’s not the lack of something but a different presence. This post suggests a new perspective. It aims to create a different approach. The shift is from deficit-based thinking to give form to value, diversity, and identity.
My hope is that by better understanding interoception, I can continue reshaping my own behaviour. I want to meet my son where he is. I aim to break down barriers, both personal and societal. To help James not just survive, but thrive, as we navigate this journey—together.
And on that note, it’s time for bed! 🙂
I am James' mum 