Many of us will know of conditions such as Autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Dyslexia or Dyspraxia and some of us may recognise conditions such as Dyscalculia and Tourette Syndrome.
What might be less well known is that research tells us, as many as 20% of the population are likely to be neurodivergent to some degree.
Neuro differences are the result of healthy changes in the human genome that cause the brain to function, learn and process information in a different way to those who may be considered neurotypical. These variations are the same as variations in size, shape, skin colour and personality and are regarded as a category on a par with ethnicity, gender or disability.
The social model of disability says that a person is “disabled” when the environment doesn’t accommodate their needs; in other words, people are disabled by barriers in society, not by their impairment or difference.
This is in stark contrast to the medical model of disability which views a person’s impairment, not what the person needs.
This is important because the term neurodiversity embraces the concept that neuro differences are a natural element of human diversity and do not require fixing to become neurotypical. It was only the last generation where left-handed students were forced to write with their right hands, it’s unthinkable now.
Something to think about in the context of todays workplace, where we all need adaptations to the environment to thrive, regardless of any differences we have.
Reference:
Strunz, Ruth M. (2025). Neurodiversity-Affirming Psychotherapy: Clinical Pathways to Autistic Mental Health
