Diagnosis And Treatment Series

A series of stories on the journey toward diagnosis and treatment

What is Neurodiversity?

When I refer to diagnosis in relation to neurodiversity, I refer to identifying one’s neurotype, not necessarily diagnosing a disorder or illness of the brain.

The concept of neurodiversity usually refers to perceived variations seen in cognitive, affectual, and sensory functioning differing from the majority of the general population or ‘predominant neurotype’, more usually known as the ‘neurotypical’ population.” — H. B. Rosqvist

There are two primary models of neurodiversity, but its meaning will differ slightly for each individual who identifies as being neurodivergent, based on how they perceive themselves and what framework works best for them.

The ecological model, previously described by Harvey Blume (1998), reframes neurocognitive diversity as a normal and healthy manifestation of biodiversity.

The neurodiversity paradigm focuses on depathologizing and instead politicizing neurodivergence. To pathologize neurodiversity is to diagnose a normal variation as disordered, based on the assumption that it ‘should’ cause disease.

Judy Singer characterizes neurodiversity as a political term, an analytical lens for examining social issues such as inequity and discrimination, and a civil rights movement for the neurological minorities (Singer, 2020).

“Neurodiversity is a political and civil rights movement for the neurological minorities.”

— Judy Singer

Rather than focusing only on the ecological and evolutionary advantages of bio- and neurodiversity, this perspective encourages us to delve deep into the social constructs that have led to the othering of differences. Neurodiversity seeks to call out and challenge social institutions which perpetuate the oppression of people whose neurocomplexities are outside of the majority.

What is Treatment?

“Treat distress, not difference.” — Joel Salinas

When I refer to treatment, I mean anything that addresses the challenges that we, as neurodivergent individuals, face in our daily lives due to the fact that our mainstream society caters to the neurotypical majority.

Much of our being disabled stems from inaccessibility and lack of accommodation in our culture. We have been taught to believe that those outside the majority are “less” than, as opposed to simply different.

Discovering my neurodiversity, or being “diagnosed” as it were, has allowed me to become better aware of who I am. This knowledge has enabled me to accept myself and my differently-wired brain, with all it’s faults and gifts, which have become an important part of my identity.

Diagnosis & Self-Discovery

Treatment and Supports

Recommended Reading

Important reads to learn about and better understand the social and political neurodiversity movement.

Judy Singer on Neurodiversity

Neurodiversity Studies: A New Critical Paradigm

This was an amazing (albeit expensive) book edited by Hanna Bertilsdotter Rosqvist, Nick Chown, and Anna Stenning.

Chapter Seven of this book is available for free. Understanding empathy through a study of autistic life writing: On the importance of neurodivergent morality, by Anna Stenning.

Neuroqueer: An Introduction

Originally posted on www.neurocosmopolitanism.com on 2 May 2015 by my autistic writer Nick Walker, whose website is no longer available.

Neurodiversity: The Birth of an Idea

*The eBook format of Judy Singer’s book is currently FREE with a Kindle Unlimited subscription (no affiliation)

You’re Using the Word Neurodiversity Wrong

Jesse Meadows’ blog post on Neurodiversity

Read More

About the Author

References

Armstrong, T. (2015). The Myth of the Normal Brain: Embracing Neurodiversity. AMA Journal of Ethics,17(4), 348–352. https://journalofethics.ama-assn.org/article/myth-normal-brain-embracing-neurodiversity/2015-04

Blume H. (1998). Neurodiversity. The Atlantic. http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1998/09/neurodiversity/305909

Chapman, R. (2021). Neurodiversity and the Social Ecology of Mental Functions. Perspectives on Psychological Science. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691620959833

pathologize. (n.d.) McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. (2002). Retrieved August 23 2021 from https://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/pathologize

Rosqvist H.B., Chown N., Stenning A. (eds.). (2020). Neurodiversity Studies: A New Critical Paradigm [Internet]. Routledge. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK568483

Singer, J. (1998). Odd People In: The Birth of Community Amongst People on the “Autistic Spectrum”: a personal exploration of a New Social Movement based on Neurological Diversity. [Honours thesis]. University of Technology.

Singer, J. (2020). What is Neurodiversity?. [Blog post]. https://neurodiversity2.blogspot.com/p/what.html