What is Neurodiversity?
Not all brains are the same, neurodiversity is the name.
Neurodiversity accounts for the infinitude of human cognition and sensory experiences.
Neurodiversity is a part of the human condition and it all starts with nature.
Let us not forget biodiversity - the range of plants, animals, organisms, etc. that exist on this beautiful planet - does not end with us. We too are just as diverse as the flowers and birds that span the earth.
When we talk about diversity the conversation tends to focus on race, class, religion, sexuality, and gender. It is imperative we include distinctions in sensory and cognitive (mental energy used for brain processes such as language, reading, and socializing) experiences, often referred to as neurodivergent, neuroatypical, or more recently - neurodistinct.
Who is neurodistinct?
Any being who experiences developmental and acquired sensory, cognitive, and psychosocial distinctions.
Let's break this down a bit further.
Developmental refers to any experience that was present from birth or a young age, while acquired refers to any experience that was a result of something or came after an incident (injury, older age, etc.).
Sensory distinctions refer to the spectrum of sensitivities in vision, hearing, touch, taste, smell, pain, mechanoreception (balance), temperature, and interception (bodily feelings like hunger and needing to use the bathroom). These sensory distinctions often disable the neurodistinct being due to a typical environment (an office, school, or home setting) not accommodating such sensitivities to things like bright lights, buzzing sounds, perfumes, etc.
Cognitive distinctions refer to any processes conducted by the brain which include how information is received, understood, learned, stored, and communicated. Brain processes also include the ways in which people behave, feel, and think - which impacts their ability to socialize with others and understand their needs. This is where psychosocial distinctions come in.
Psychosocial refers to the interaction of a person's psychology (their personality, mood, brain processing, etc.) and social environment. As we learned earlier cognitive distinctions impact neurodistinct people's ability to interact, advocate, relate, and socialize with others.
So who is neurodistinct exactly? You may be more knowledgeable of the following labels of neurodistinction:
Autism
ADHD
Borderline
Dyslexia
Dyspraxia
PTSD
Sensory Processing Disorder
Dysgraphia
Dyscalculia
OCD
Tic Disorders
Schizophrenia
Down Syndrome
Epilepsy
Synthesia
Bipolar
Auditory Processing Disorder
Depression
Anxiety
Migraine
Parkinsons
TBI
Stuttering