Neurodiversity is the concept that it's normal and acceptable for people to have brains that work differently from one another. It is a social category similar to differences in ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, or capacity. ADHD, autism, dyspraxia, and dyslexia are all neurodiverse conditions that fall within the “neurodiversity” spectrum. The neurodiversity movement has its roots in autism, but it has grown to encompass a broad understanding of neurological differences.
These include conditions such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, dyspraxia, hyperlexia, and schizophrenia. The concept of neurodiversity is criticized for being biased towards people with a high functioning autism spectrum or towards people with milder forms of the condition. However, since there are no medical criteria or definitions of what it means to be neurodivergent, other conditions may also be included in this term. The exact number of neurodivergent people is unknown, but looking at the prevalence of neurodiversity-related conditions may indicate how common they may be.
Advocates of neurodiversity suggest that too much attention is paid to the deficiencies that accompany conditions such as ADHD. Neurodiversity is an approach to learning and disability that maintains that various neurological conditions are the result of normal variations in the human genome. People who identify themselves as neurodivergent typically have one or more of the conditions or disorders listed below. In the late 1990s, Judy Singer, a sociologist who is also on the autism spectrum, came up with a word to describe conditions such as ADHD, autism and dyslexia.
This word was neurodiversity. Neurodivergent conditions include ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, personality disorders, and bipolar disorder. With more awareness and information about neurodiversity, people with neurodivergent diseases are often better prepared to advocate for themselves and thrive both inside and outside of work. Similarly, autism spectrum disorder is a condition that can take on many different forms, many of which occur in people who don't have ASD.
Acquired neurological conditions, such as traumatic brain injuries, strokes, and Alzheimer's disease, can also cause neurodivergence. We also recognize that any neurocognitive profile that is not “neurotypical” could be included as a minority group, which could include intellectual disabilities, mental health conditions, acquired brain injuries, or more. If a neurodiverse person decides not to identify themselves (or isn't aware of their condition), employers may not diagnose or detect them. Creating an inclusive work culture is vital for those who take proactively informed stance about the increased number of neurodiverse conditions. It is important to recognize that both brain function and behavioral traits are simply indicators of the diversity of the human population.
