The classification of neurodivergence (e.g. The idea that there is one “normal” or “healthy” type of brain or mind or one “right” style of neurocognitive functioning, is no more valid than the idea that there is one “normal” or “right” gender, race or culture. Neurotypical individuals might focus on creating social relationships and social structures so the group could coordinate as a team when hunting.Īn Autistic individual might see how the hunter’s chances of success could be improved by better weapons and create sharper knife.Īn individual with ADHD, would be the hunter first in the front of the tribe testing out the new weapon.Neurodiversity is an essential form of human diversity. The more diverse their skills and knowledge, the greater potential for development. Imagine our cave dwelling ancestors and think of the different skills that would be needed in order to progress their culture and knowledge. In order for a society to thrive, it is important to have a variety of people with a variety of skills in 1998 Harvey Blume wrote that “Neurodiversity may be every bit as crucial for the human race as biodiversity is for life in general” (Harvey Blume, 1998) Sometimes our skills match the situation and we excel sometimes our skillset is contrary to the situation and we can feel overwhelmed. People find themselves in hundreds of different situations, and there are hundreds of different ways we can view and respond to a situation. How I* like to understand and explain neurodiversity?

Whilst it is true that trying to fit into a predominantly neurotypical world can be a challenge and can lead many neurodiverse people to thinking they are defective or impaired by understanding their differences and the impact of their environment, neurodiverse individuals can be happy and succeed. The key to understanding neurodiversity is to think of difference rather than disability. Neurodiverse individuals are those who think and act differently. The world is predominately neurotypical, which means the majority of the human population think and act in similar ways to one another.

The term was first used by Judy Singer, an autistic individual, in 1988 and the concept of neurodiversity has increased and it now used to described groups of individuals who’s brains and behaviours do not follow the neurotypical pattern.

Neurodiversity in it’s most straight forward interpretation means there is an infinite variety of how the human brain works. Neurodiversity describes the idea that people experience and interact with the world around them in many different ways there is no one “right” way of thinking, learning, and behaving, and differences are not viewed as deficits.

Judy singer autism