Myth Busting Neurodiversity 2024
Note to Reader - In this article Jess myth busts the term neurodiversity, sharing insights drawn from a recent community informed social media post
Topic - Neurodiversity, neurodivergence, advocacy, ND improved rights, neurodiversity celebration week
The neurodiversity movement has seen many people advocating for better education, healthcare, and employment opportunities through community connectedness and coordinated campaigns. The neurodiversity approach is one that I hold close to my own conceptualisation of my different ways of thinking, and from my advocacy perspective, neurodiversity is a positionality I recognise as being shared widely across online and in person communities alike.
The popularity of neurodiversity brings excitement and a promise of new ways of viewing neurodivergent people. However, there is also an element of caution and concern regarding how some people are choosing to apply the term and its relevancy to business and therapeutic engagement with such concepts.
In this handy list (informed by our ND communities across LinkedIn and Facebook), some of the common misconceptions regarding neurodiversity are addressed, challenging misconceptions and providing guidance on how the term is defined and how neurodiversity related concepts can be applied.
Myth Busting Neurodiversity:
❌ Neurodiversity means Autism - Right?
✔️ Neurodiversity is a celebration of all minds, and should not be attributed to any one diagnostic label
Despite the term neurodiversity being first conceptualised by autistic community members, neurodiversity is a broad umbrella term that recognises and celebrates the variety of different thinking across humanity.
❌ Neurodiversity and Neurodivergence can be used interchangeably (because they are the same thing)
✔️ Neurodiversity refers to the celebration of all brains, whereas neurodivergence refers to someone whose thinking and behaviour significantly diverge from neuro normative expectations of cognition
Grammar can be boring, but it also helps people to communicate more effectively. The trouble with the terms neurodiverse (which refers to the diverse nature of a group of people) and neurodivergent (that refers to individuals who think differently) have been used interchangeably for so long, that the actual meaning of these terms are often lost.
The continued misuse of terms, will continue to cause people confusion. As such, many neurodivergent community members are trying to re-establish the original grammatical definition of these two terms to enable more efficient communication of neurodiversity related concepts to be shared.
❌ Neurodivergence refers to certain characteristics, like social communication, executive functioning and emotional regulation
✔️ Neurodivergence is personal to an individual and although one neurodivergent person may experience the above neuro-traits, there is a vast scope of different ways neurodivergence is experienced and expressed under the umbrella of neurodiversity.
Attributing only a handful of neuro-traits as informing neurodivergence can be misleading. There are vast and varied ways people express differences of thinking and behaviour and to over generalise processing strengths and challenges, causes stereotyping of our neurodivergent communities (which must be avoided at all costs).
❌ Neurodiversity in education refers to how children and young people learn & communicate
✔️ Neurodiversity in education refers to how different people learn and communicate across the lifespan including different thinkers in college, higher education and the workplace.
Recognising the learning and support requirements of neurodivergent people does not stop at the age of eighteen. Supporting different thinkers in their learning is something that must be understood and reflected upon by further education providers, employers, service providers.
❌ Neurodiversity is about identifying and managing challenging behaviours
✔️ Neurodiversity is an approach where people are listened to, respected, supported and appropriately accommodated.
Some neurodivergent people have regulation challenges that can lead to overt behavioural expressions, but many neurodivergent people experience barriers to participation (be that community, education and work) and do not express these challenges outwardly, instead facing adverse consequences in silence.
Applying a neurodiversity approach requires people to be listened to, respected, supported and appropriately accommodated. This includes believing people who experience ongoing challenges and express them in subtle ways.
❌ Neurodiversity should be celebrated in relation to individuals who "coined" the term
✔️ Neurodiversity is a community informed term that is underpinned by a social movement that aims for improved rights for neurodivergent people. As such, the collective should be celebrated for the term and related concepts
The history of neurodiversity should not be over simplified. There are plenty of influencing considerations that inform neurodiversity concepts, including but not limited to disability rights movements, different disability groups, such as people who raise awareness for dyslexia, or the voice hearing community.
As well as the autism community who informed the first use of the word and initial concepts. Understanding the different histories that inform the concept of neurodiversity informs a deep and value based understanding of the term, that is beneficial to reflect upon when applying neurodiversity as an approach.
❌ Neurodivergence is a superpower
✔️ Neurodivergence is experienced as complex patterns of thinking and behaviour.
Applying over zealous terms such as “superpowers” can be as damaging as using derogatory terms. Neurodivergent people may have strengths but also experience personal, environmental and systemic barriers that make life very challenging. Despite some neurodivergent people not minding this term, others may find the use of "superpower" to diminish the challenges they experience.
❌ Neurodiversity is just a word that can be used for marketing how inclusive a company or service is
✔️ Neurodiversity should not be applied to businesses or therapeutic approaches without first understanding the definition and the values that underpin the term
Reflecting upon and drawing from the value system that underpins neurodiversity is incredibly important. Applying neurodiversity without a full understanding of the meaning and values that underpin the term, is refereed to as “Neurodiversity Lite” and should be avoided. Only apply neurodiversity as a concept, if you recognise the meaning and values that underpin the neurodiversity principles and these values and principles are reflected in your approach.
Neurodiversity is an Evolving Concept
As previously mentioned, neurodiversity is a new concept and there is still scope for development of the associated terms and ideas. Whilst everyone is learning and finding a common understanding, language and approach, it would be beneficial for us as a neurodivergent community to explain how we like to use the terms within our discussions. This way, even when someone’s understanding does not match our own, what we are communicating can be better understood.
This year's Neurodiversity Celebration has certainly been the most thought provoking yet in terms of considering the depth and breath of neurodiversity and what that actually means to our neurodivergent communities. It really goes to show that the concept of neurodiversity is not-perfect with ideas still evolving, and the more discussions that are had, the more new insights and considerations can be drawn and reflected upon.
What would you add to this list?
Supporting and Celebrating our Neurodivergent Community,
Jess x x
* *A really big thank you to all the community members who contributed to this list**
Neurodiversity Origins & Progressions - Community Discussion
Thursday 25th April 2024 7pm BST
Want to discuss the origins and progressions of neurodiversity in more depth? Please join us at ND Perspective in our community discussion on the origins, and progressions of neurodiversity!
Join us for an engaging online event where we will explore the origins and advancements in understanding neurodiversity. This discussion will bring together community members to share experiences, insights, and perspectives on the topic. Whether you are a neurodivergent individual, a supporter of our ND community, or simply interested in learning more, this event is for you! Mark your calendars for Thu Apr 25 2024 at 19:00 (British Summer Time) and be part of this important conversation. Let's celebrate the diversity of human minds together!