Understanding Neurodiversity and Neurodivergence

Neurodiversity and neurodivergence are terms that are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct meanings. Neurodiversity is a term coined by Australian sociologist Judy Singer in 1998 to recognize that each person's brain develops in a unique way. It is a recognition that not all brains think or feel the same way, and that these differences are natural variations of the human genome. A group of people is neurodiverse, an individual is not.

Neurodivergence, on the other hand, is a term used to refer to someone whose neurological development and state are atypical, generally considered abnormal or extreme. The neurodiversity movement emerged during the 1990s, with the goal of increasing the acceptance and inclusion of all people and, at the same time, embracing differences. It is an approach to learning and disability that holds that various neurological conditions are the result of normal variations in the human genome. The label is used by neurodivergent people and the neurodiversity community to refer to anyone who does not have a neurological condition, such as autism, ADHD and dyslexia.

The exact number of people who are neurodivergent is unknown, but looking at the prevalence of neurodiversity-related conditions may indicate how common they may be. If the modern workplace adopts the concept of neurodiversity, it could alleviate some of the stigma and stress that affect these workers. Medical experts and people with neurodiverse characteristics don't always agree on what neurodiversity means. However, it is important to note that those who have these characteristics also have certain strengths. The Brain Charity just launched neurodiversity training to teach companies the benefits of neurodiversity in the workplace.

An organization that supposedly serves the needs of neurominority children should have a more neurodiverse board. Another important point for those who oppose neurodiversity is that differences in racial or sexual orientation do not functionally incapacitate a person, while neurological differences do. If you want to diversify your social media feed with neurodivergent voices and advocates, some of the main options to follow are Neurodivergent Activist, Nurturing Neurodiversity, Paige Layle and The Chronic Couple. Of all the terminological errors that people make when writing and talking about neurodiversity, the misuse of neurodiversity to refer to neurodivergent is by far the most common. Therefore, a family, the faculty or student of a school, the population of a city, or the cast of characters in a television program would be neurodiverse if some members had different neurocognitive styles than other members, for example, if some members were neurotypical and others were autistic. In conclusion, it is important to understand the difference between neurodiversity and neurodivergence. Neurodiversity is a recognition that not all brains think or feel the same way, while neurodivergence refers to someone whose neurological development and state are atypical.

The modern workplace should adopt this concept in order to alleviate some of the stigma and stress that affect these workers.

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