NeuroDiversity, the Medical Model, the Social Model, & Is NeuroDivergence a Disability?

From my next book: The answer to whether NeuroDivergence is a disability or not depends heavily on each individual's experiences, differences, and perspectives.

A core teaching of The NeuroDiversity Model is:

There is no single "normal" or "correct" way of thinking or being human, and human brain and neurological diversity are a natural part of human diversity and evolution, which should be nurtured and respected. This model advocates for acceptance, inclusivity, and accommodation of NeuroDivergent People in society (especially in public spaces, educational, and workplace settings).

The NeuroDiversity Model stands in stark contrast to the Medical Model.

Modern psychology (led by the Medical Model) has a way of blaming us when we struggle (without examining the systemic circumstances and environmental obstacles that traumatize us and cause our pain).

The Medical Model tends to pathologize NeuroDivergence rather than celebrate it, often by encouraging the use of therapy, medications, or other interventions to "correct" behaviors (so a NeuroDivergent Person can assimilate more smoothly into an existing system that won't flex to meet them where they are).

While the Medical Model often blames NeuroDivergent (and all) People for their struggles against systemic barriers, the NeuroDiversity Model reframes our differences as natural and requiring respect and accommodation. It challenges the stigma that labels NeuroDivergent People as 'broken' and in need of interventions to 'fix' our perceived deficits.

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Depending on the differences, being NeuroDivergent can make a person's life more complex.

A NeuroDivergent Person may require (or benefit from) medical treatments and interventions to improve their quality of life. This is still true within a NeuroDiversity based framework.

While the Medical Model puts most (or all) blame and responsibility on NeuroDivergent People to fit in, the NeuroDiversity Model asks us to first look at environmental obstacles hindering NeuroDivergent success and change and modify the environment before asking NeuroDivergent People to change and mold themselves to the environment (and asks us to imagine what an ideal world for all Brains could look like).

The NeuroDiversity Model is the antithesis of the heavily medicalized behaviorist model of NeuroDivergent Assimilation, which preaches that "changing a person's behavior is easier than destigmatizing that behavior in society."

In contrast to the Medical Model, the Social Model of Disability (in simple terms) suggests that disabilities arise from how society is organized. This CAN be true for some, but not all, disabilities and forms of NeuroDivergence.

NeuroDivergence is a vast spectrum, and some brain and neurological differences will strain a person's life regardless of how perfectly society is structured. Therefore, the Social Model is not a stand-alone tool for describing all NeuroDivergent People.

The Social Model works for NeuroDivergent People, whose differences would not be as disabling if society were more inclusively structured, accommodating, and better aligned with their needs. Still, there are also NeuroDivergent People who don't feel represented within (or helped by) this model.

While redesigning society's systems could entirely support some differences, we should exercise caution not to erase those whose differences will always require additional support to thrive (regardless of how we structure the world around us) in our conversations around NeuroDiversity and Neuro-Inclusion.

The NeuroDiversity Model is a comprehensive framework that addresses the limitations of both the Medical and Social Models. Through NeuroDiversity, we strive to find a more realistic and nuanced middle ground that respects all humans' vast and varied experiences, especially those in the Neuro-Minority.

Now, on to another question that I'm asked frequently:

Is NeuroDivergence a disability?

Before we dive into the question, I want to make one statement:

There's NOTHING WRONG with having a disability.

I have multiple disabilities in addition to being NeuroDivergent. I also have forms of NeuroDivergence that I consider to be disabilities, as well as some that I don't, personally, feel are disabling (to me).

Now that we've got that out of the way, back to the question of whether or not NeuroDivergence is a disability.

Is NeuroDivergence a Disability?

In legal contexts, many forms of NeuroDivergence (especially those named in medical literature) are recognized as disabilities under programs like the Americans with Disabilities Act (U.S.A.) and various similar laws in other countries, which ensure protections against discrimination and mandate reasonable accommodations in schools, workplaces, and other public spaces. However, not every form of NeuroDivergence enjoys these protections.

Whether NeuroDivergence is considered a "disability" depends on numerous factors, including the individual perspective of the NeuroDivergent Person you ask, as well as their type of NeuroDivergence.

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I hope this helps,
- Lyric