Neurodiversity
Neurodiversity is a concept that atypical neurological wiring is a normal human difference that is to be tolerated and respected as any other human difference. The concept of neurodiversity was created by autistic individuals who believe that autism is not a disorder but a part of who they are and that curing them would be the same as killing them and replacing them with different people.
Response to Prejudice
The term neurodiversity is usually used as a statement against prejudice and bigotry towards autism. This could include any of the following:
- Intolerant attitudes toward autistic behavior that may be perceived as odd or unusual.
- Intolerance toward difficulties autistic people often have.
- Discrimination against people for being autistic or because of autistic traits or behaviors.
- Lack of accommodations for difficulties associated with autism.
- Attitude that autistics are inferior to Neurotypical people; or that there is something wrong with being autistic; or that autism is a disease that needs to be cured.
- Institutions designed without consideration of autistics (for example: schools with heavy demand on social skills that may be hard for autistics).
- Barriers to participation in society due to difficulties associated with autism that could have been accommodated (for example, a technically competent autistic person may lose a job because of social awkwardness or may never get past the interview stage).
- Lack of protection for autistics in equal employment opportunity legislation.
Who are the proponents?
Most supporters of neurodiversity are anti-cure autistics who are engaged in civil rights advocacy. Many parents of autistic children also support neurodiversity and the view that autism is a unique way of being, rather than a disease to be cured. Such parents value their children's individuality and want to allow their children to develop naturally.
History of the term
The first citation of the term "neurodiversity" is generally held to have occured in an essay by Judy Singer:
Judy Singer, "'Why can't you be normal for once in your life?'" in Disability Discourse, Mairian Corker ed., Open University Press, February 1, 1999)
where it is used to describe a post modernist critique and addition to the social cleavages of class, gender, race and so on.
However, Judy Singer actually first used this term in her Honours Thesis, written in 1996-7 and presented in 1998.
Singer, J (1998) "Odd People In: The Birth of Community Amongst People on the “Autistic Spectrum”: A personal exploration of a New Social Movement based on Neurological Diversity" Faculty of Humanities and Social Science University of Technology, Sydney, 1998.
Judy Singer wrote: For me, the significance of the “Autistic Spectrum” lies in its call for and anticipation of a “Politics of Neurodiversity”. The “Neurologically Different” represent a new addition to the familiar political categories of class / gender / race and will augment the insights of the Social Model of Disability. The rise of Neurodiversity takes postmodern fragmentation one step further. Just as the postmodern era sees every once too solid belief melt into air, even our most taken-for granted assumptions: that we all more or less see, feel, touch, hear, smell, and sort information, in more or less the same way, (unless visibly disabled) are being dissolved. (pp 12-13)
Judy Singer believes she coined the term, as she had done extensive literature and internet searches, and had not come up with the term anywhere. Nor was it mentioned in any of the Autistic egroups ANI, InLv, Autinet that she was a member of.
Since the idea was meant to bring together the insights of socio-biology/evolutionary psychology and sociology/ disability studies in a positive synthesis, it's unlikely that anyone else would have thought of it since sociologists and disability activists abhor sociobiology. Judy Singer talked about the politics and sociology of neurodiversity on the InLv forum for Autistics at the time, and it may have spread from there. Judy Singer knows that Jane Meyerding asked her for (and she gave) permission to use the term on her website [1].
Judy Singer feels incredibly gratified that the idea has spread and that so many diverse neurological minorities, and not just autistics, are now using the term to empower themselves and explore their heritage. For instance:
A print citation is given for the Coventry Evening Telegraph (U.K.) (Jan. 14th 2004 )with reference to the Coventry and Warwickshire Neurodiversity Group who define the term thus:
"Neurodiversity is a word that has been around since autistic people started putting sites on the internet. It has since been expanded to include not just people who are known as "autistics and cousins", but to express the idea that a diversity of ways of human thinking is a good thing, and dyslexic, autistic, ADHD, dyspraxic and tourettes people to name but a few all have some element in common not being neurotypical in the way our brains work."
http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/7138/rights/neurodiversity.htm
Whilst the term most appears to have originated within the online autistic community, its usage has spread outside to a more general meaning sometimes hotly disputed between its proponents as to whether it is inclusive of people with conditions like Cerebral Palsy, Parkinsons Disease, Multiple Sclerosis etc. Whilst others prefer to confine it to the invisible conditions such as those outlined by the Developmental Adult Neurodiversity Association in the UK
Certainly the term has been eagerly sought amongst top level domain name registrations, with neurodiversity.com and neurodiversity.info being examples, and there is no doubt that the term has seen a boost with the New York Times article by Amy Harmon
Amy Harmon, "The Disability Movement Turns to Brains," The New York Times, May 9, 2004
See Also
Topics related to neurodiversity
Topics in autism in general
External links
In general/ resources
- WrongPlanet.net A community site for those with Asperger's and Autism
- AS-IF Information, resource links, and links to discussion groups
- Jypsy's "Oops, Wrong Planet" site Autism information, advocacy, and a large collection of resource links
- Autism Assembly A coalition of members of the autistic community who seek acceptance for those on the autistic spectrum, who aim to educate about autism, and who are not seeking a cure for autism
- University Students with Autism and Asperger's Syndrome Helpful information and advice for autistic students
Personal (activist) websites
- Autistic Advocacy - Frank Klein's autistic pride articles, with links to discussion groups
- No Autistics Allowed: Explorations in Discrimination Against Autistics - Michelle Dawson
- Jane Meyerding
- Our Names are Autism, Too - Janet Norman-Bain
- Jim Sinclair's Web Site
- Less Frustration -- the thing we all strive for
- Autism and hyperlexia: one autistic person's perspective
- Valerie Paradiz Promotes understanding and acceptance of the autistic community
Activism
- Autistics.org - Resources by and for persons on the autistic spectrum
- AspiesForFreedom Encyclopedia - Wiki encyclopedia written by an autistic perspective.
- Autism Network International A self-help and advocacy organization
- Autism National Committee Promotes the right to self-determination
- CIBRA--Children Injured by Restraints and Aversives An advocacy group of parents and others seeking to end physical abuse of autistics
- Autistic People against Neuroleptic Abuse An advocacy group that warns against dangerous and unnecessary medications
- The Kingdom of Laurentius Rex A site promoting positive action
Neurodiversity
- NeurodiversityPromoting the concept of neurodiversity
- Aspies.co.uk site about AS - I don't believe aspies should be "cured" or forced to be "normal"
- Celebrate Autism Today "Autism is a difference, not a disease."
- Word Spy on Neurodiversity The Word Spy discusses the emerging concept of neurodiversity
- Curing Neuro-Bigotry "Autism is not a 'tragedy.' It is diversity."
- Sideways Minds Advocating acceptance of neurological differences
- Neurodiversity.com Promoting the concept of neurodiversity
- Neurodiversity Now Essays and a link to a livejournal discussion
Autistic culture
- Aspergian Pride Celebrating the accomplishments of autistic people
- Aspergia Promoting the development of an Aspergian cultural identity
- Aspergian Island Unofficial discussion board of Aspergia
- SpectrumHaven Information and chat for all people on the autistic spectrum
- Institute for the Study of the Neurologically Typical A parody of autism research
- Reflections by elmindreda Writings discussing the autistic experience
Graphics and humor
- Oddizm Humor, pictures, and civil rights information and links
- Proudly Autistic by CafePress Autistic pride T-shirts, etc.
- Horse manure cures autism parody of alleged autism "treatments" written by a parent of an autistic person and another autistic person (contains foul language)
Other
- A Place for All An essay about pride and the freedom to be oneself
- Nancy Mandell: Becoming Real Describing the joys of being an Aspie
- Raventones on Autism "It's not the color of our skin, it's the shape of our minds"
- Perspective on Autism in Adults An essay on pride and self-acceptance
- Self Affirmation Pledge Lianne Holliday Willey's advice on cultivating a positive outlook
- Autistics Need Acceptance, Not Cure An article critical of "autism awareness"
- Ray's Autism Page A parent discusses harmful myths and stereotypes
- Priyatelka's Autism Page A mother discusses prejudice
- The Asperger's Express An autistic child is a "person, not a problem to be fixed."
- Can Autistics be Autism Experts? An essay about "expert" opinions
- On Our Own Terms: Emerging Autistic Culture An article on the history of autistic culture
- Don't Mourn for Us Advice to parents of newly diagnosed children
- Why Disability Rights Are Not Enough An article discussing employment discrimination
- Genius May Be an Abnormality Temple Grandin discusses the importance of education
- Why Label? An essay on autistic identity and challenging prejudice
- You Want to Take Away My Window An essay on intolerance
- Celebrating Autistic Parents On the strengths and joys of the autistic family
- Is Asperger's Syndrome/HFA Necessarily a Disability? Professor Simon Baron-Cohen describes autism as a different cognitive style
- The Discovery of Aspie Tony Attwood and Carol Gray discuss positive traits
- The Gifted Visual Spatial Learner An article about the educational needs of visual spatial learners
- Autism and Computing A site that contains articles discussing the advantages of certain autistic traits in computer-related careers and how computers benefit the autistic population
- Ventura33's Neurodiversity Page A discussion of autistic civil rights and a writing challenge on a Star Trek fanfic site
- My Little Rainman An autistic child's mother describes her pride and joy
- Passing for Neurotypical What it's like for Aspergian families "in hiding"
- DANDA (Developmental Adult Neuro-Diversity Association) A group seeking to improve the lives of people with neuro-diverse conditions, such as Asperger's Syndrome, High Functioning Autism, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, ADHD, and Tourette's
- Autism: Current Issues 26 by Mike Connor Commentary on issues related to autism research, including an article entitled "Asperger Syndrome: Making a Pathology out of a Difference"
Aspergian Pride's Cure for Ignorance Campaign seeks to raise the visibility of pride and advocacy sites in searches for autism-related terms by distributing a list of links. A copy in html format can be obtained by visiting the Cure for Ignorance page on the Aspergian Pride site.