One of my doctor colleagues is an Autistic ADHDer like me. Last week the two of us did a teaching presentation for doctors about neurodiversity.
I have been open about my neurodivergence at work for months now. But this was the first time I’d stood in front of a doctor audience, and identified myself as a disabled, autistic ADHD colleague.
To say I was nervous was an understatement!
But they liked it. One of the things these doctors found most useful, was our explanation of terms like “neurodiversity” and “neurodivergent”. As one doctor put it:
“I learnt a lot. I’m afraid of saying the wrong thing sometimes.”
I know there are good intentions behind this fear. It feels awful to upset a person by saying something hurtful. Especially in a doctor-patient interaction. Once we realise ableism is hidden in many unexpected places in medicine – including our everyday words – it’s daunting.
So I’m here to say this: learning neurodiversity affirming language is totally doable.
In fact, I am here to help.
Creativity is a strength of many autistic, ADHD and other neurodivergent minds. So it’s no surprise to find artwork, research and literature from the disabled community resonating this very topic! You’ll find some of my current favourites reading onward.
This will be a series of posts.
Part 1: Neurodiverse and Neurodivergent – what’s the difference?
I recommend Neuroqueer Heresies by Nick Walker for anyone looking for a thorough explanation of neurodiversity. Cool fact: the word neurodiversity was invented by Australian sociologist Judy Singer, who realised diversity of brains is an important and valuable part of human society.
The words neurodiverse and neurodiversity always relate to a group, not an individual.
A handy comparison is to use those words in the same way as diverse/diversity.
You could say:
“I went to the Museum of Old and New Art in Hobart. What a diverse collection of artworks!”
“The diversity of sea creatures in the Great Barrier Reef is incredible.”
But you couldn’t say:
“That sea urchin is diverse”
You could say:
“At our school, teachers are flexible in the way they teach, to adjust to the neurodiversity of the student group.”
“Humans are a neurodiverse species”
But you couldn’t say
“My autistic child is neurodiverse”
Neurodivergent, and neurotypical, on the other hand, can be used for individuals.
Neuro = Brain
Divergent = Following a different direction, or pathway
Typical = conforming to the usual type
I’m neurodivergent, because my brain developed differently to the usual way. It followed the autistic ADHD pathway of development.
In fact I am multiply neurodivergent, because I have more than one brain difference. Autism + ADHD.
If you don’t have a brain difference, you are a neurotypical person. You are part of the majority, or neuromajority.
Below is a handy infographic outlining these concepts, by Glynn Masterman. You can find their illustrations in this wonderful book by Yenn Purkis and Sam Rose.
More posts about the language of neurodiversity to follow!