If you are unfamiliar with the term, Neurodiversity was a label established in the late 1990s to refer to those that think and process information differently from the majority of the population. In the key stages of development, like childhood, a neurodivergent individual’s brain would have developed in a different way for a certain reason, whether this reason is known or unknown. For example, trauma at birth, genetics, and catching infectious diseases are all things that can influence the onset of a neurodevelopment condition. According to ADHD Aware, about 15% of the UK population identify as neurodiverse. As a neurodivergent individual myself, there are as many things to celebrate about being neurodiverse as there are stereotypes to overturn. Just as the positives are unknown, the stereotypes are too far spread, and there are neurodiverse individuals out there who have no idea that they fit within this collective group, which has an extraordinary amount of unshared benefits.
Contrary to popular belief, neurodiversity is a fluid bracket that is constantly changing. It includes many different types of learning disabilities and mental health conditions. That being said, neurodiversity is NOT a mental illness within itself. It is simply a term that is used for someone who thinks and processes information in an alternative way.
Neurodiversity includes more than just ADHD and Autism and doesn’t just affect men. Learning difficulties that would classify as neurodiverse include; Autism including Asperger’s Syndrome, ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, and Dyscalculia. Those who have Tourette Syndrome would also be classed as neurodivergent. However, several mental health conditions such as Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, and Obsessive-compulsive Disorder are all neurodiverse conditions due to the way they affect the brain’s functioning.
However, the biggest myth to debunk is that just because some people think differently, it doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing. In fact, the term “neurodivergent” was created so it could identify and acknowledge that not everyone thinks in the same way, and to therefore prevent mistreatment or discrimination against those who do. Many workforces now adopt certain policies and recognise their neurodivergence in order to make suitable changes in the workplace to help everyone reach their full potential, despite how they may think.
There are many positives to being neurodivergent. Those who have dyslexia may struggle with reading, yet they may be able to absorb considerable amounts of information and have a fantastic memory compared to someone who is not dyslexic. Neurodivergent individuals also have a heightened awareness of their ability. They can more easily identify their strengths and weaknesses and work on the weaknesses and use their strengths to their advantage. The last of many examples of positives in neurodiversity is the ability to empathise. Particularly individuals that have OCD and other mental health conditions have an incredible ability to empathise with others and read their body language, being able to understand how one feels with minimal or no verbal communication.
On a final note, the whole concept of neurodiversity encourages everyone, neurodivergent or not, to start conversations about diversity in brain patterns. Simply by recognising that your neighbour may interpret something differently from you can go a long way in terms of understanding someone. Recognising neurodiversity allows everyone to question how and why we do things, and therefore acknowledge how we can be better and provide equal opportunities for everyone, neurodivergent and neurotypical.