Neurodiversity: What Does it Mean?
In my studies regarding autism I've come across certain
terms that were new to me. In his blog, Neurocosmopolitanism , Nick Walker
clearly explains the terminology associated with neural diversity. I plan to
share some of them with you in this article. For further reference, you can
follow the link I provide later to read next entire article published September
27, 2014.
Neurodiversity means
the differences of human brains and minds; especially in neurocognitive
functioning within our human species. According to Walker, it is a biological
fact, not a perspective approach belief political position or a paradigm.
The Neurodiversity
paradigm is a particular viewpoint on neurodiversity, having the following
basic principles:
1.
neural diversity is a natural and valuable form
of human differences
2.
there is no validity in thinking there is only
one” normal” or “healthy” type of brain or mind.
3.
The social dynamics involved with neural
diversity are similar to those involved with other forms of human diversity
such is ethnicity, gender or culture.
Neurodivergent ,
also referred to as ND, means having
a brain that functions in ways that differ significantly from the dominant
societal standards of “normal."
Autism and dyslexia are examples of innate forms of neurodivergence, while changes in brain functioning caused by
trauma, long-term meditation practice, or heavy usage of psychedelic drugs
exemplify forms of neurodivergence created through experience. These two terms
came from Kassianne Sibley, a multiply neurodivergent neurodiversity activist.
Neural typical,
usually abbreviated as NT, refers to
someone who falls within normal neurocognitive functioning. It can be used as
an adjective or noun. Neural typical is the opposite of neural divergent. I
like Nick Walker’s statement,
“narrow
typical is the opposite of neural deferred, not the opposite of autistic.
Autism is
only one of many forms of neural divergence, so there are many, many
people who
are neither neurotypical nor autistic.”
To read about these terms in more detail visit Nick’s
article
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