A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll: Dissability is Not a Dirty Word

Amaara Samji

6/14/2025

Finding out I had autism came with grief from growing up feeling like I was failing at being normal. While normal seems to mean "what is or isn't okay" to be, it really refers to the only one "okay" way to be. I wonder if everyone is walking around and wondering if they are being a human correctly. I think so.

“I spend every moment of my life, when I am outside our family home, second-guessing everything that I do. I study people's faces to make sure that they are accepting what I am saying, that they are never confused or offended. I make myself smaller. I shrink away, eyes downcast and hand outstretched. For a crumb of sympathy.”

―Elle McNicoll, A Kind of Spark

Autism is a underdevelopment disorder. Everyone has brains that are different rather than one normal brain (neurotypical) and a bunch of disordered brains. The social model of disability is a framework that believes disabilities are not caused by an issue with the individual but a challenge with their environment and the attitudes of those around them. For Example if a building only has stairs, a person's disability is caused by the lack of stairs and not the individual inability to climb them. If their was a functional elevator the person would not experience a lack of ability to reach higher floors.

Disability is not a bad word. Everyone (including neurotypicals) has strengths and weaknesses. Society is organized around a neurotypicals strengths and weaknesses. Either way, it is not bad to have limits to your capacity and it's not special either. It's dare I say, normal. The term disability expresses that these limits interfere with a person's everyday life and has nothing to do with that person's worth.

In the book A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll, I saw my experiences directly reflected on the page. This book artistically draws a link between the witch trials and able-ism. The Scotland witch trials took place in the 16th centuries. Ordinary women who stood out for breaking social norms or being dislike by those around them were persecuted and killed (in very gruesome ways). There was a general fear of women's power and the fear of being a witch kept women and those around them in their place. The main character Addie connects this with the way people who are different are judged and bullied. Sometimes even taken away.

"If they don't see it's wrong, if they don't say it's wrong, it can happen again. It could happen to you; it could happen to me."

-Elle McNicoll, A Kind of Spark

“It’s not my brain that makes me break down. It’s the pretending. The hiding. The way the world isn’t built for us.”

-Elle McNicoll, A Kind of Spark

Fun Fact: The term wizard was created in the mid 16th century to describe a male witch. Their were not any wizard trials nor are wizards seen as evil.

Cover of A Kind of Spark

Addie and Keedie from TV series

While the book offers an honest window into the lives of Autistic children and teen Addie and Keedie, the truth can be difficult. Addie and Keedie are often misunderstood or bullied by the adults around them. Babysitters or teachers that are supposed to be supportive safe spaces were condescending and believed autism could be cured through discipline. This is what pushes Addie to make changes by reconciling the past.

Now let's talk about the TV show. I shall not compare them because I love them both but the TV show was easier to swallow. The TV show elaborates on various topics that were not deeply covered in the short book. I loved all the actors and the unashamed ways they are themselves. I hope to be like Addie one day.