Dr Nick Walker coined the term in 2008, and we encourage you to read his short introduction to the term at the link below. Dr Walker says: “I originally conceived of neuroqueer as a verb: neuroqueering as the practice of queering (subverting, defying, disrupting, liberating oneself from) neuronormativity and heteronormativity simultaneously… This definition is, again, not an authoritative “last word” on the subject, because that would be a silly thing to attempt. Rather, I hope this will be taken as a “first word” – a broad “working definition” from which further theory, practice, and play will proceed." NQC takes perhaps a broader approach to ‘neuroqueering’ which asks the questions: What do cisheteronormativity and neuronormativity work in service of? And, Why do we neuroqueer? To us - it is clear that cisheteronormativity, neuronormativity, and all axes of social oppression (racism, sexism, misogynoir, classism, ableism, etc) work in service of the larger structures that oppress us all: White Supremacy, Colonialism, and Capitalism. White Supremacy is the ideology. The overarching, deeply held belief system that drives systemic oppression. Capitalism is the mechanism. The structure that embeds and nourishes that systemic oppression. Colonialism is the distribution method. The means by which the ideology and mechanism (and therefore, systemic oppression) are spread throughout the world. So, if we neuroqueer to 'subvert, defy, disrupt, liberate ourselves from neuronormativity and cisheteronormativity simultaneously', then we should seek to 'subvert, defy, disrupt, liberate ourselves from' White Supremacy, Colonialism and Capitalism. So - at NQC - we define neuroqueer in the following way: To Queer: To subvert, defy, disrupt, liberate oneself (and one’s community) from Capitalism, Colonialism and White Supremacy through making, acting, being and doing… Neuro: And also through thinking, perceiving, and processing.