Neurodiversity is a concept that has been gaining traction in recent years, as it seeks to challenge the traditional view of neurological conditions as a disability. Neurodiversity is an approach to learning and disability that maintains that various neurological conditions are the result of normal variations in the human genome. Neurodiverse refers to a group in which some members are neurodivergent. Once considered a problem or anomaly, scientists now understand that neurodivergence can have many benefits.
It's not a disability but a difference in how the brain works. John Elder Robison, an American author and advocate for people with autism, was one of the first to challenge the traditional view of neurodivergence. He believed that variations of neurotypical did not automatically mean a disability, but rather a difference. We must respect the fact that, in general, they learn things in a different order from that of normal children and stop following their progress following neurotypical developmental deadlines. Judy Singer, an Australian sociologist, coined the term neurodiversity to promote equality and inclusion of neurological minorities. Thinking in terms of neurodiversity means challenging the assumption that pretend play is necessary just because that's what neurotypical children do.
Neurodiversity is the idea that it's normal and acceptable for people to have brains that work differently from one another. While this is primarily a social justice movement, research and education on neurodiversity are increasingly important in the way doctors view and address certain disabilities and neurological conditions. The word neurodiversity refers to the diversity of all people, but it is often used in the context of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), as well as other neurological or developmental conditions, such as ADHD or learning disabilities. Neurodiversity, neurodivergence, or neurovariance refers to variations in the human brain and cognition, for example, in sociability, learning, attention, mood, and other mental functions. Neurodiversity advocate John Elder Robison argues that disabilities and the strengths conferred by neurological differences can be inseparable from each other.
However, providing equal opportunities does not mean ignoring the differences and difficulties that a wheelchair user may experience. The idea of neurodiversity also seeks to frame these differences as differences that are not inherently bad or a problem; instead, it treats them in a more neutral way and also highlights the many different ways in which neurodivergence can be beneficial. Now, more people are using the language of neurodiversity to talk about accepting and supporting autistic differences. While there is a lot of overlap with the social model, the neurodiversity approach is primarily a call to include and respect people whose brains function in an atypical way, regardless of their level of disability (I will focus here on autism, but neurodiversity encompasses “all types of minds”). Respecting neurodiversity means not insisting on eye contact, when autistic people have stated (time and again) that eye contact is so hard, so overwhelming and so stressful that it destroys their ability to pay attention. Neurodivergence now refers to any structured and consistent way in which the brain works differently for a group of people than for most others.
Respecting neurodiversity means questioning assumptions about what intelligence is and how to measure it. The concept of neurodiversity has been gaining traction as it seeks to challenge traditional views on disability. It promotes equality and inclusion for those with neurological conditions by recognizing them as different methods of learning and processing information rather than diseases or anomalies. Neurodiversity also highlights how these differences can be beneficial by providing equal opportunities without ignoring any difficulties or disabilities associated with them. By understanding neurodiversity we can better appreciate how our brains work differently from one another and create an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive.
