Self Education & Advocacy - Why is it important?

Educating oneself on what it means to be neurodivergent beyond deficit models equips the individual with the information necessary to succeed in a neurotypical world. This entails centering your unique strengths and passions, expressing your support needs clearly to others by insisting on equal opportunities and rights, making choices similar to everyone else, seeking assistance when necessary, posing questions, and learning new skills. In order to bring about greater acceptance and awareness of neurodivergent conditions, self education and advocacy is key.

Neurodivergence at a Glance

Did you know that...

It is estimated that 15%-20% of the population is neurodivergent.
Functioning labels such as low and high functioning are harmful, because they oversimplify the complex nature of neurodivergent conditions and misrepresent a person's capabilities and support needs.
Non-verbal is a misnomer as it literally means no words and implies an autistic person's inability to communicate. These individuals *can* communicate, they just communicate in non-speaking ways - sign language, Augmentative and Alternative Communication devices (AAC), etc.
Women tend to receive diagnoses later in life as current diagnostic tools favor the male phenotype.
Autistic people often excel at pattern recognition, spotting irregularities, and focusing on complex and repetitive tasks performed over a long period of time.
ADHD individuals are often highly creative and problem solve using innovative solutions.
Both autistic and ADHD people have the gift of hyperfocus when working on a task they particularly enjoy or are interested in.
Embracing neurodiversity in the workplace leads to competitive advantages in productivity, innovation, culture, and talent retention.

Why is there such a negative perception of neurodivergent conditions?

Misunderstanding and Ignorance: Many people lack understanding and awareness of neurodivergent conditions, leading to misconceptions and stereotypes. This ignorance can perpetuate negative attitudes and discrimination.
Stigma and Stereotypes: Society often stigmatizes differences and perceives neurodivergent traits as abnormalities or deficits rather than recognizing them as natural variations in human cognition and behavior. Stereotypes portraying neurodivergent individuals as incompetent, unpredictable, or dangerous further contribute to negative perceptions.
Social Norms and Expectations: Neurotypical standards of behavior dominate social norms and expectations, marginalizing those who deviate from these norms. Neurodivergent individuals may struggle to fit into conventional social settings, leading to ostracism and discrimination. This is a common experience for neurodivergent youth, especially in educational settings.
Lack of Representation: Neurodivergent voices and perspectives are often underrepresented or misrepresented in media, literature, and other cultural narratives. This lack of representation perpetuates stereotypes and reinforces negative perceptions.
Systemic Barriers: Structural barriers such as limited access to accommodations, education, employment opportunities, and healthcare services further marginalize neurodivergent individuals, exacerbating social inequalities and discrimination.

Image Courtesy: Goally

Latest Research

Autistic Self-Advocacy and the Neurodiversity Movement: Implications for Autism Early Intervention Research and Practice

"There is a pressing need for increased reflection and articulation around how intervention practices align with a neurodiversity framework and greater emphasis within intervention programmes on natural developmental processes, coping strategies, autonomy, and well-being..."

https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.635690

What do you wish others knew about your neurodivergent experience?

-- Ashleeta D., Editor (autism spectrum)

“In-person communication is overwhelming and masking ASD [Autism Spectrum Disorder] is exhausting. I like clear, to-the-point communication which often gets mistaken as rudeness, which is also why I like written communication. Plus, I can always go back and reference it.”

-- Anonymous Reddit User

Just because it looks like I’m not trying or being lazy doesn’t mean anything, I could literally be trying my hardest and it’d look like I didn’t care.

-- Shreya, ADHD

To not tease us or embarrass us if we are doing something different, weird or excessive to get around doing things in life. I get teased about how many post it's I use and how many reminders I set up to get simple things done on time.

-- Anonymous autistic adult

“Some people were sympathetic towards me when we found out our child is autistic. I told them we are not sad about it, we are celebrating because being autistic is awesome and now we know how to better meet her needs. The issues she will face in life as an autistic will be a result of other people not accepting her for who she is, it would not be because she is any less capable than anyone else. I know because like her, I am also autistic but I didn’t learn that until I was 37yo!”