Book Preview: What is Neuro-Diversity & What does it mean to BE NeuroDivergent?

Neurodiversity is essential because it gives us a new, more balanced, human way of understanding our differences (more compassionately as part of an intrinsically diverse human spectrum).

Last week week I shared the first preview of my new book on NeuroDiversity in the wider world (title coming soon). Today I am sharing another excerpt from the first draft of that same book.

I would like to thank my subscribers and supporters for making this blog, and this book (which I hope to get out in the next year or two) possible.

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What is Neuro-Diversity

NeuroDiversity, or neurological and cognitive diversity, is a concept first introduced in the mid-1990s by members of the Independent Living on the Autistic Spectrum, or InLv, online forum (maintained by Martijn Dekker). It's a celebration of the natural and broad spectrum of differences within our human brains and nervous systems, which leads to various experiences and interactions with the world around us.

For example, differences in cognitive, sensory, emotional, and other internal world experiences can differ significantly from person to person. These differences can manifest in differences such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and many others (such as forms of acquired NeuroDiversity and more heavily stigmatized conditions) that are too often left out of conversations in NeuroDiversity spaces. More on those in a moment.

Neurodiversity is essential because it gives us a new, more balanced, human way of understanding our differences (more compassionately as part of an intrinsically diverse human spectrum of experiences).

NeuroDiversity recognizes and celebrates these differences as natural variations of the human experience that should be supported (instead of blaming NeuroDivergent People for struggling to fit themselves into systems that frequently ignore us and our needs).

Neurodiversity is a powerful force that challenges our society's prevailing view that neurological diversity is inherently bad and must be eradicated. It rejects the idea that there is "one correct way of experiencing and engaging with the world" and that variances in the human mind and nervous systems are automatically problems to be solved. Instead, it celebrates these differences as natural variations of human brain and neurological diversity.

Neurodiversity is also powerful because it asks neurotypically average people to examine their biases toward NeuroDivergent People when we show up and interact with the world differently than our peers do (which can cause us to be judged unfairly and inaccurately by those around us who expect us to act and engage in a neuro-normative way or in a way that aligns with the 'typical' or 'average' expectations of society).

What each person needs to be the best version of themselves can vary significantly from person to person. Neurodiversity is all about understanding, humanizing, empowering, and accepting the differences between human brains.

By embracing NeuroDiversity and Neuro-Inclusion, we are committed to creating inclusive environments that support and empower individuals of all brain types. This commitment promotes equal opportunities for everyone's participation, support, and well-being (including neuro-average people).

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What does it mean to BE NeuroDivergent?

Because Neurodivergent people's differences originate within a person's brain and nervous system, they are often invisible. These differences can impact how we process information, interpret and engage with our inner and outer worlds, and interact and communicate with others.

Acquired NeuroDivergence

Many forms of NeuroDivergence are life-long, and many people are born NeuroDivergent, but there are also types of NeuroDivergence that can be acquired through circumstances or events in life.

Human brains are incredibly complex and remarkably adaptable. They can also be fragile. Our brains can be altered based on experiences that occur in our lives (such as trauma, abuse, and injuries).

People who manage to grow up in circumstances where they are nurtured, experiencing minimal trauma, develop very different brains from those of us who grew up (or are currently stuck) in broken homes or abusive and traumatic situations.

Even as adults, a person's brain can be forever (or temporarily) altered, causing one's perception of their emotions, the world around them, and communication or other abilities to change (for example, PTSD, cPTSD, TBI, anxiety, depression are all conditions that can majorly alter the way a person experiences life long or short term).

Paid subscribers have access to the rest of the story. Thanks to every one of you for supporting my work.

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I hope this helps,
- Lyric