What is Neurodiversity?

The concept of neurodiversity asserts that varying neurological development is as normal as the variation we see in human hair color or personality styles. In this sense, Autism Spectrum Disorder, dyslexia, ADHD, and other “atypical” neurological conditions are natural variations on the continuum of human neurological development. Furthermore, advocates of this view of neurodiversity assert that individuals identified as neurodivergent deserve to be openly recognized as a specific and valuable population with protected rights. 1

Why is Neurodiversity important?

Genetic variation has played a critical role in the development of the human species over our history on this planet – and will continue to do so as long as our species survives. The natural genetic variation in  neurological development is no exception. In fact, such neurological diversity has contributed to the functioning and flourishing of human society. 2
Just imagine how different our world would be without the likes of Michelangelo, Mozart, Nikola Tesla, Steve Jobs, Lewis Carrol, Emily Dickenson, Albert Einstein, Bill Gates, Charles Darwin, Sir Isaac Newton, or Thomas Jefferson – all believed to have been on the Autism Spectrum. 3
​There is no question that neurodiverse people have brought many great things to human society. If those achievements were indeed facilitated by neurology, it logically follows that an attempt to “cure” future disability by eliminating our differences would be tremendously harmful to humanity.
Steve Silberman, neurodiversity advocate and best-selling author, says it best: “When 99 neurologically identical people fail to solve a problem it’s often the 1% fellow who’s different who holds the key. Yet that person may be disabled or disadvantaged most or all of the time. To neurodiversity proponents, people are disabled because they are at the edges of the bell curve; not because they are sick or broken.” 4

Why is Neurodiversity a hot topic?

​The neurodiversity movement is fueled mainly by a passionate group of autistic individuals who believe their condition is not a disease to be treated or cured, but rather a form of human specificity (like sex or race) that must be equally respected. And as such, there are many groups and organizations seeking political and societal change. 5
According to Andrew Fenton and Tim Krahn, proponents of neurodiversity strive to reconceptualize autism and related conditions in society by the following measures: acknowledging that neurodiversity does not require a cure; changing the language from the current “condition, disease, disorder, or illness”-based nomenclature and “broaden[ing] the understanding of healthy or independent living”; acknowledging new types of autonomy; and giving non-neurotypical individuals more control over their treatment, including the type, timing, and whether there should be treatment at all.

What does Gabriel Alliance think?​

We believe that all humans are unique and that we, without even realizing it, frame our lives with the personal support and accommodations we each need in order to survive.  The difference is that, for neurotypical people, our uniqueness has not been given a name like Autism, Dyslexia, ADHD, or some other “disability”.  Not in spite of our differences, but expressly because of them, we become inherent leaders, influencers, or even exceptionally skilled and gifted.
People with a “different kind of mind” are no less skilled and gifted. We-the neurotypical population— just have not yet figured out how to truly understand their uniqueness.
Forward thinking companies must embrace new ways of accepting and including the individuality of ALL people. Those which choose not to, we believe, will fade into the background because the innovation and creativity possessed by the neurodivergent community will pour into the businesses which understand that their success depends on the talents of those who think differently. 

Definitions

NEURODIVERSITY is the diversity of human brains and minds – the infinite variation in neurocognitive functioning within our species. 7
NEUROTYPICAL, often abbreviated as NT, means having a style of neurocognitive functioning that falls within the dominant societal standards of “normal.” 7
NEURODIVERSITY MOVEMENT is a social justice movement that seeks civil rights, equality, respect, and full societal inclusion for the neurodivergent. 7
A group of people is NEURODIVERSE if one or more “members of the group differ substantially from other members, in terms of their neurocognitive functioning. 7
NEURODIVERGENT, sometimes abbreviated as ND, means having a brain that functions in ways that diverge significantly from the dominant societal standards of “normal.” 7
THE NEURODIVERSITY PARADIGM is an emergent paradigm in which neurodiversity is understood to be a form of human diversity that is subject to the same social dynamics as other forms of diversity (including dynamics of power and oppression). 8
REFERENCES:
1. Jaarsma, P. & Welin, S. Health Care Anal., 2012 20: 20. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10728-011-0169-9
2. Nerenberg, J, Greater Good Magazine, Does Neurodiversity Have A Future?, Nov 21, 2016. https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/does_neurodiversity_have_a_future)
3. https://www.appliedbehavioranalysisprograms.com/historys-30-most-inspiring-people-on-the-autism-spectrum/)
4. Steve Silberman: Neurotribes. http://stevesilberman.com/book/neurotribes/
5. http://www.neuroscience.ubc.ca/CourseMat/Ortega_2009.pdf; The Cerebral Subject and the Challenge of Neurodiversity, Fancisco Ortega, 2009
6. https://hbr.org/2017/05/neurodiversity-as-a-competitive-advantage
7. http://neurocosmopolitanism.com/neurodiversity-some-basic-terms-definitions/
8. https://www.identityfirstautistic.org/the-neurodiversity-paradigm-
9. http://hrdailyadvisor.blr.com/2017/12/27/hiring-2018-neurodiversity-matters/
10. http://www.afaa-us.org/
11. http://hrdailyadvisor.blr.com/2017/12/27/hiring-2018-neurodiversity-matters/
12. http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=5858