Does the “neurotypical” brain even exist? Or should we – as the Neurodiversity Movement demands – regard differences in brain function as a normal part of human variation? With the rise of diagnoses such as ADHD and autism, neuropsychology is facing new challenges and opportunities!
Being different does not mean being worth less
Have you ever thought about how diverse human thinking and feeling can be? Neurodiversity opens up a completely new perspective on neurological differences. What used to be considered a deviation is now increasingly recognized as a natural variation of human experience. The Australian sociologist Judy Singer coined the term in the 1990s, bringing phenomena such as autism, ADHD and dyslexia to the center of a new, appreciative view.
From deficit-oriented thinking to neuroaffirmative practice
From a scientific perspective, neurodiversity stands in clear contrast to the traditional medical view of diagnoses. While the medical approach aims to cure or adapt to norms, the neurodiversity movement demands that the environment and society adapt to the individual needs of neurodivergent people.
This is about more than just a rethink. It is a fundamental paradigm shift: away from the “curative approach” and towards a “neuroaffirmative practice”. This practice aims to create social and professional conditions that not only accept neurodivergent people, but also give them the opportunity to develop their full potential.
Overcoming barriers together
But neurodiversity has long been more than just a scientific concept – it is a movement. Activists and those affected have brought it into the public eye and are actively campaigning for more inclusion. Thanks to social media, the challenges faced by neurodivergent people are becoming more visible. They tell their stories, break down prejudices and call for social barriers to be overcome.
This is the true core of neurodiversity: it is not the individual that needs to be changed, but the world around us. Let’s work together to make this world more open, colorful and fair – for everyone.