What is neurodiversity?

Neurodiversity is the concept that describes the ‘variability of human cognition and the uniqueness of each human mind’. Rather than being a term to divide us into categories, neurodiversity describes us all in that the planet has a neurodiverse population— and that is something that should be embraced.

Although it has its origins in the autistic community, the neurodiversity paradigm includes other neurological variations such as ADHD, dyslexia and dyspraxia. ⁣The neurodiversity movement aims to advocate for the common interests of various neurological minorities. Those who differ from the neurological ‘norm’ may be described as ‘NeuroMinorities’ or ‘neurodivergent’ (the latter is generally used to describe an individual). The neurodiversity movement views neurological conditions as simply a difference in brain functioning rather than a disease or disorder that needs to be cured.

This way of thinking views people with these brain types to not have a pathological difference but simply having neurocognitive differences. This results in the view that neurodivergent individuals are capable fully of succeeding when appropriately accommodated for and receive appropriate support. ⁣It should be noted that this is not the same as claiming that these conditions are not disabling, simply that people with these neurological differences are not broken versions of ‘normal’ people and that people with disabilities can and should live meaningful and fulfilling lives. This being said, neurodiversity is not a synonym for 'neurological disability’. It is a term that describes the diversity of neurocognition within the human population as a whole.

 Further reading

• What is neurodiversity? Judy Singer, who coined the term ‘neurodiversity’ explains the term

• Clearing Up Some Misconceptions about Neurodiversity: Scientific American

• A Beginner’s Guide to Neurodiversity: learning disability today

• What is Neurodiversity?: Neurodivergent Rebel

• It’s time to stop excluding people with disabilities from science: Massive Sci

• Raising Awareness of Neurodiversity in the Scientific Workplace: Wellcome Sanger Institute

• Neurodiversity in the workplace: Changeboard / Catalyst Magazine

• Engineering a New Learning Environment For Neurodiversity: UConn Today

• Fighting for diversity and equality in STEM: Materials World

• Great minds think differently - supporting neurodiversity benefits scientific progress: Massive Sci

• The Autism Spectrum: Are scientists at the top end?: The GIST

• Neurodiversity in science: SRG

• Neurodiversity Rewires Conventional Thinking About Brains: Wired

• The Advantages of Dyslexia: Scientific American

• Supporting STEM students with dyslexia: Institute of Physics

• Being an Autistic Engineer: Mathematics Today

• How to be a Productive Tortoise: Neurodivergence and Asking for Academic Adjustments by Vicky Bowskill: Voices of Academia

• Speaking up: a model of self-advocacy for STEM undergraduates with ADHD and/or specific learning disabilities: International Journal of STEM Education

• ADHD in engineering: Improving education for neurodiverse college STEM students: University of Michigan ECE

 Useful websites

• Disabled Students Allowance: UK-based support for disabled students at university (which includes neurodivergent conditions and mental illness)

• Stairway to STEM: Resources for autistic students in STEM transitioning from highschool to college/university

• Lightyear Foundation: A charity working to break down barriers to getting more disabled people into STEMM

• TIGERS in STEM: UK-based inclusion group for Equity in Research in STEMM

• The Future is ND: A neurodiverse network aiming to champion and empower neurodiversity in the creative and tech industries

• Disabled in STEM: Visibility campaign for disabled people in STEM

• Neurodiversity celebration week: A campaign celebrating neurodivergent people in schools

• Quantum Leap Mentoring: A website for mentoring and supporting children with neurodivergent conditions

• Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN): A network seeking to advance the principles of the disability rights movement with regard to autism

• British Dyslexia Association: Provides a range of resources, advice and support for dyslexia

• Dyspraxia Foundation: Foundation supporting people with dyspraxia in the UK

• ADHD Foundation: A neurodiversity charity supporting those with ADHD

• Autistic UK: An organisation run by autistic people for autistic people, aiming to advance the interests of all autistic people and those with related neurodevelopmental conditions

• Genius Within: A social enterprise established to help people with neurodiversity to fulfil their potential in employment and their careers

• Exeptional Induviduals: Providing consulting, recruitment and employment support to employers and individuals with dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD and autism

• Disabled Academic Collective: A group of undergraduates, graduate students, faculty members, and independent scholars who identify as disabled, formed in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic to form a support network.

• The autistic professor: A personal blog about the consequences of being identified (diagnosed) as autistic late in life.

• Neurodiverse postgrad researchers network: a volunteer-run peer-support network that aims to help Neurodivergent postgraduate students and researchers to connect with each other, and to share resources and information that might be helpful.

• Neurodiversity Hub: A website with lots of resources and training on neurodiversity. ‘Changing the narrative about autism and neurodiversity through awareness, education and engagement.’