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Disability Awareness

This topic guide is an introduction to disability awareness that includes resources for research and informal learning.

What is neurodiversity?

"In the late 1990s, Judy Singer, a sociologist, who is on the autism spectrum herself, came up with a word to describe conditions like ADHD, Autism, and Dyslexia, this word was "neurodiversity". Her hope and objective was to shift the focus of discourse about ways of thinking and learning away from the usual litany of deficits, disorders, and impairments."

"Neurodiversity describes the idea that people experience and interact with the world around them in many different ways; there is no one "right" way of thinking, learning, and behaving, and differences are not viewed as deficits."

Terms & Definitions

Neu·ro·di·ver·si·ty 

is the diversity of human brains and minds – the infinite variation in neurocognitive functioning within our species.

Neu·ro·di·ver·gent 

sometimes abbreviated as ND, means having a brain that functions in ways that diverge significantly from the dominant societal standards of “normal.”

Neu·ro·typ·i·cal

often abbreviated as NT, means having a style of neurocognitive functioning that falls within the dominant societal standards of “normal”.

"People represented in this category are those with typical diagnostic labels such as: ASD, ADHD, anxiety disorders, intellectual disabilities, schizophrenia, mood disorders, and dyslexia."

Sources:

Disabled World. (2022, November 29). What is: Neurodiversity, neurodivergent, neurotypical. https://www.disabled-world.com/disability/awareness/neurodiversity/

 

Neurodiversity Network. (2022, October). https://www.neurodiversitynetwork.net/