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The neurodiversity paradigm is a concept that atypical (neurodivergent) neurological wiring is a normal human difference that is to be tolerated and respected as any other human difference.
The neurodiversity paradigm was developed the autism rights movement and builds on the social model of disability.[1] It came from autistic advocates who believe that autism is not a disorder, but a part of who they are. They claim that curing autistic people would be the same as destroying their original personalities and replacing them with different people.
The neurodiversity paradigm is not exclusive to autism. It can be applied to other conditions like dyslexia, dyspraxia, and ADHD. It is typically not used for mental illnesses or degenerative disorders.
Research shows that neurodivergent students who believe in the neurodiversity paradigm, while having the same difficulties as students who take a deficit view, have higher self-esteem and career ambitions.[2]
Definition[]
Autistic advocate Dr. Nick Walker defines the neurodiversity paradigm like this:
"The neurodiversity paradigm is a specific perspective on neurodiversity – a perspective or approach that boils down to these fundamental principles:
1.) Neurodiversity is a natural and valuable form of human diversity.
2.) The idea that there is one “normal” or “healthy” type of brain or mind, or one “right” style of neurocognitive functioning, is a culturally constructed fiction, no more valid (and no more conducive to a healthy society or to the overall well-being of humanity) than the idea that there is one “normal” or “right” ethnicity, gender, or culture.
3.) The social dynamics that manifest in regard to neurodiversity are similar to the social dynamics that manifest in regard to other forms of human diversity (e.g., diversity of ethnicity, gender, or culture). These dynamics include the dynamics of social power inequalities, and also the dynamics by which diversity, when embraced, acts as a source of creative potential."[3]
Walker notes that it is different from neurodiversity itself (the biological variation in human brains) and the neurodiversity movement (a social movement).
Views on prejudice[]
The term neurodiversity is usually used as a statement against prejudice and bigotry towards autism and other neurological differences, which has been claimed to be the following by neurodiversity proponents:
Neurodiversity advocates consider the following to be prejudicial:
- Attempts to cure, medicate, institutionalize, or force behavioral changes in autistics and other neurodivergent people either against their will or without knowing their will.
- References to the neuroanatomical differences of neurodivergent people as "abnormalities" or "damage".
- Intolerant attitudes toward behavior like stimming that may be perceived as odd or unusual.
- Intolerance toward difficulties neurodivergent people often have.
- Discrimination against people for being neurodivergent or because of related traits or behaviors.
- Lack of accommodations for difficulties associated with neurodivergence.
- Attitude that neurodivergent people are inferior to Neurotypical people.
- Institutions designed without consideration of neurodivergent people's needs (for example: schools with heavy demand on social skills that may be hard for autistics).
- Barriers to participation in society due to difficulties associated with neurodivergence that could have been accommodated (for example, a technically competent autistic person may lose a job because of social awkwardness or may never get past the interview stage).
- Lack of protection for neurodivergent people in equal employment opportunity legislation.
In autism specifically:
- Belief that autism is a disease that needs to be cured or that there is something wrong with being autistic.
Proponents[]
Dr. Thomas Armstrong, Ph.D., a prominent critic of ADHD as a disorder, has adopted and endorsed the term neurodiversity[1].
In autism[]
Many supporters of the neurodiversity paradigm are members of the autism rights movement. These include autistic people, parents and other family members, and some researchers. They believe that autism is a unique way of being, rather than a disease to be cured. Parent advocates say they value their children's individuality and want to allow their children to develop naturally.
According to proponents, autistics may need therapies only to cure comorbid conditions, or to develop useful skills. Forcing autistics to conform to narrow social expectations, or trying get rid of autistic neurological wiring is condemned. The proponents think that if autistics face more difficulties in life, the greatest source are the society's institutions and habits, not autism itself.
The arguments for considering autism and other conditions a form of neurodiversity (as opposed to true disorders) are the following:
- It has not been demonstrated that autistic behavior, in all or most cases, has a cause that is pathological in nature.
- Autism is about as heritable as personality or IQ. Notably, it appears to be more heritable than homosexuality.
- The genetic variations (or alleles) that account for the autism genotype have not been shown to be pathogenic, and in fact, some of the gene loci identified so far are prevalent in the general population. Even if a genetic variation is a rare mutation, that in itself does not imply pathology.
- Many autistics report that they like being autistic, which is inconsistent with the way most pathologies are perceived by sufferers. Some of them have claimed that autism "is a beautiful thing."
- Many autistics report that autism confers them with a special way of looking at the world, or a special talent.
- Autism is not life-threatening in general, as the life expectancy of autistics is about the same as that of neurotypicals.
- The unexplained rapid increase in the prevalence of autism is a strong indication of the subjectivity involved in diagnosing autism as a condition.
Opposing views[]
In autism[]
Since autistic people often struggle in some areas, there are some people who think finding a cure for autism would be in the best interest of autistics. People who are interested in a cure for autism include some physicians, therapists, and parents of autistic children, who believe the unique subjectivity experienced by the autistic is not worth the associated social and functional difficulties. These people believe a cure for autism is the best way to solve the problems of autistics, and see it as unfair and inappropriate to characterize the desire to cure autism as bigotry. [2] [3] [4]
However, the existence of neurodiversity itself has not been challenged. At issue is whether autism, ADHD and so on are true disorders or better explained as neurodivergence.
Many parents of autistic children believe neurodiversity is an excuse not to treat autism and a coping mechanism for avoidance and denial. But others point out that pro-cure attitudes often stem from denial of any genetic contribution from the parents. The neurodiversity paradigm and autism acceptance (rather than denial) are generally thought to be related.
See also[]
- Minority stress
- Neurodiversity (biological fact)
- Social model of disability
- Types of minds
- Neurodivergent
- Neurotypical
- Neurodiverse (for a group of people)
- Autism
- Discrimination in general
External links[]
- Supporting Views
- Neurodiversity.com 'honoring the variety of human wiring'
- Aspies.co.uk site about AS - 'I don't believe aspies should be "cured" or forced to be "normal"'
- Celebrate Autism Today "Autism is a difference, not a disease."
- Word Spy on Neurodiversity The Word Spy discusses the emerging concept of neurodiversity
- Neurodiversity Now Essays and a link to a livejournal discussion
- Opposing Views
- GenerationRescue Website that believes autism is a misdiagnosis for mercury poisoning.
- Hating Autism Blog by a parent who believes autistic children should be treated biomedically
- ASAT The Association for Science in Autism Treatment
- FEAT Families for Early Autism Treatment, a parent run pro cure site.
- Cure Autism Now The Cure Autism Now Foundation
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- ↑ Botha, M., Chapman, R., Giwa Onaiwu, M., Kapp, S. K., Stannard Ashley, A., & Walker, N. (2024). The neurodiversity concept was developed collectively: An overdue correction on the origins of neurodiversity theory. Autism, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613241237871
- ↑ Student experiences of neurodiversity in higher education: insights from the BRAINHE project
- ↑ Neurodiversity: Some Basic Terms & Definitions