Like the biodiversity observed in nature, the concept of neurodiversity is defined as the diversity of human brains and minds.1. It is the recognition of infinite variation in neurocognitive functioning within our species.
Posted at 5:00 p.m.
The concept of neurodiversity has been around for many years. It was in 1998 that the word was created by Judy Singer and widely used in the English-speaking world. Since 2015, the concept has also been popularized in the French-speaking community. If the term is more and more evoked in Quebec, its definition, its paradigm and its movement are still little understood.
In simple words, neurodiversity is a concept that compares to biodiversity. Biodiversity is assessed by considering the diversity of ecosystems, species and genes. In this sense, the brain is comparable to an ecosystem: a healthy and balanced network, extremely complex and infinitely diversified. Neurodiversity is a biological reality. This infinite diversity comes from a combination of innate and acquired factors that interact with each other and with the environment to form the individuality of each human being.
Every human being is part of neurodiversity, whether neurotypical or neuroatypical. By definition, this concept is inclusive and brings people together. Every human being is whole and complex. Each human has a unique energy and spirit that evolves every moment.
Neurodiversity isn’t just about autism. It concerns, among other things, all cognitive differences such as ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, dysphasia, giftedness, hypersensitivity, intellectual disability, etc.
The neurodiversity paradigm is a specific approach according to which the dynamics of neurodiversity act like any other diversity, that is to say as a source of creative potential favorable to the development of humanity. The neurodiversity movement promotes social justice that promotes civil rights, equality, respect, and full social inclusion. This is how the movement wants to transform the way we look at behavioral differences. Thus, we would no longer speak of illnesses, disorders, shortcomings, medical handicaps or imbalances in relation to the norm, but of natural divergent functionings.
This claim is very controversial, there are commercial and pecuniary interests. However, the fundamental essence of this movement is a cry to enable respect, dignity, integrity, consideration, autonomy, self-determination, self-esteem, etc. Thus, activists raise awareness and inform so that pejorative pathological names such as diseases or disorders are eliminated from the vocabulary. They aspire to have these neurological conditions declared as biological characteristics representing various natural forms of the human species as well as cultural, ethnic, sexual, etc. diversity.
In this sense, we can draw a parallel with homosexuality, which was considered a mental illness barely 45 years ago! Treatments of all kinds were then used to cure those “afflicted” by this “disease”. Today, although many challenges and prejudices still exist, it would be totally absurd and very frowned upon to speak of a disease or disorder for homosexuality, when an entire LGBTQ+ community has consolidated over the years.
Yet that is what is being done with cognitive diversity even today, in 2022. Neurodiversity represents diversity rather than disability and impairment. The movement does not deny the pitfalls and multiple challenges that a neurodivergent person can face. However, rather than wanting to correct, cure or normalize the person, this movement wants to provide support to the person while respecting their mode of operation, with genuine listening, by adapting the environment. A human being may need support, more or less important, for a short or long period of his life.
The brain of neurodivergent people is “wired” in a divergent way from the norm, which leads to a completely different perception of the environment with strengths and challenges.
This wiring also leads to behaviors, reactions, ways of learning, feelings so far from the norm that it is difficult for some people to understand. Behaviors, reactions and emotional intensity that stand out from the norm and sometimes seem incomprehensible and frighten the majority are not necessarily a sign of an unchanging disorder or brain dysfunction.2.
To understand the meaning of behaviors or suffering, it is imperative to consider the human being in a complex and dynamic system and to conceive of behaviors as being a “normal” physiological reaction and not as a consequent reaction to a disorder against which we have to fight.
Thus, thanks to the concept of neurodiversity, activists want to give convincing clarification to what some people perceive as numerous crises of “nonsense”, confinement, a “delay” in language, episodes “self-mutilation”, “restricted” interests, “mannerism”, “stereotypies”, “self-stimulation”, opposition, procrastination, intense reactivity, withdrawal, etc.3.
Autism, like any other neurological divergence, is an integral part of human diversity and contributes to making our society more accomplished, deeper, more whole.
* Co-signers: Mitsiko Miller, coach certified, president of Family in Harmony, atypical and mother of atypical children; Cindy Boiteaucreator of the Neuro Gym Tonik neurosensorial pedagogy; Valerie Labbepediatrician; Chloe Finielsemotional and relational support; Joel Monzeeneuroscientist; Stephane BlackburnCEGEP teacher and autistic, gifted, ADHD; SaBine Gémiseducator specializing in art-positive expression; Johanne Leducmother of two autistic teenagers; Caroline Barrelspeaker and co-founder of Un pas vers toi; Fanie Lebrunneurodivergent; Nadine Randollprimary school teacher; Helene Chartrandmother of a gifted and dyslexic teenager, coach specialized life for mothers of teenagers (ADD/H, DYS) and for young adults; Melanie Gervaisfounder of the organization Enfant mode d’emploi; Claire Strideconsultant and expert in cognitive diversity
3. Neurodiversity – Autism: Reconsidering Human Natureby Mélanie Ouimet, Enlightened Parents