Neurodivergence is not Autism. Good Read!
- therapistkristina
- May 4
- 2 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
Neurodivergence is not Autism.
Autism is Neurodivergence.
Based on some collective definitions of “neurodivergence” circulating today, autism is neurodivergent. Concurrently, based on Judy Singer’s definition of neurodivergence that she coined and defined in their sociology thesis in the late 1990’s, autism is neurodivergent.
However: NEURODIVERGENT OR NEURODIVERGENCE IS NOT AUTISM.
Additionally, neurodivergence is not dyslexia,
neurodivergence is not ADHD, neurodivergence is
not Auditory Processing disorder, neurodivergence is not Cerebral Palsy, etc….
Though the reverse is true: Dyslexia is neurodivergence, ADHD is neurodivergence, and so on…..
WHY IS THIS DISTINCTION IMPORTANT?
✨One: Spaces/places online and in-person use the title “Neurodivergent” or “Neurodivergence” as a call to organize or to gather around similar life experiences. This is useful at first glance.
EXAMPLE: Most of my autistic clients and clients with other neurodiversity that are lesser acknowledged, show up to “neurodivergent” spaces and find they are truly ADHD and ADD spaces-places or AuDHD spaces-places, and they do not feel included nor reciprocally understood or connected.
This is a hard blow to some people who already feel like it is hard to feel understood by and connect to other humans, and hoped to get that.
Are “neurodivergence”/“neurodivergent” spaces-places safe enough for people with severe Auditory Processing Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, Dyslexia, Demand Avoidance, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Autism to feel fulfilled with the social space, connected, and included…..? What I hear from my clients and what I see, the answer is NO.
✨Two: The mental health field is a leader in starting and maintaining trends such as the circulation and usage of terms and concepts like “neurodivergence”. Responsibility and critical thinking as a mental health professional in our collective practices that circulate is prudent.
✨Three: Umbrella terms in their essence hide intergroup diversity and can promote a loss in understanding for the distinctions within the group. This is the case with neurodivergence and neurodivergent.
There is almost always a shadow side to homogenizing groups.
What is the solution?
🔹 I encourage you to put your suggestions in the comments below. This is not an individual problem and therefore there it’s not an individual who can solve it. It’s collective.
🔹 Be educated about ALL neurodiverse. Know how to make spaces-places welcoming and safe to ALL neurodiverse. Do this BEFORE finding the location, designing the purpose, describing the group, figuring out the details like naming the group. This includes your therapy practices/ business.
🔹 There are still benefits from organizing with specificity-a Cerebral Palsy Group, an Auditory Processing Group, a Dyscalcula Group, etc….
Thank you for reading! See next, BLOG post on AuDHD
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