Neurodiversity & Autism

Understanding autism includes an understanding of the term neurodiversity. Neurodiversity explains the differences between individual brains. In transitioning to thinking about autism in the paradigm of neurodiversity, acknowledging differences in the brain of the human population negates the stigma that exists for people with autism. These differences have been expressed as the following statement: “If you have met one person with autism, you have only met one person with autism.” The science of neurodiversity changes this phrase to “If you have met one person, you have only met one person.”

Conventionally, we look at autism as a disability that needs fixing to bring people with autism to what is considered “normal.” The shift to a neurodiverse paradigm recognizes that differences are normal for each person, autistic or not. The DSM-V describes autism as a developmental disorder with deficits. The movement toward neurodiversity turns the paradigm to accentuate the strengths of individuals rather than the deficits (Pellicano & den Houting, 2022).

Autism comes with its difficulties but can also bring advantages – particularly regarding attention to detail, organization, and simply bringing a unique perspective to the table. We have a long way to go, but perceptions are changing, and society is coming to realize what autistic people have to offer if given the opportunity to thrive (Harper, 2016).

Video: Human Neurodiversity Should Be Celebrated, Not Treated as a Disorder (3:16)