Mini-Definitions - Neurodiversity, Neurodivergent, Neurotypical, Intersectionality.

Neurodiversity

Neurodiversity is a term that is used to describe the vast range of differences in brain function, ways of thinking and behavioural traits found in the human population.

Strengths include: Practical skills, visual thinkers, perceptive observation skills.

The Neurodiversity Movement

The ‘neurodiversity movement’ was spearheaded by Judy Singer and Harvey Blume in the 1990s to promote the rights of autistic people.

Neurodivergent

Neurodivergent is a term used to describe a person whose brain – including their way of thinking and processing information – works in a different way to the majority of the population.

However, there is some debate about the acceptability of this term, as some people find the association with being ‘divergent’ a negative one.

Other phrases to refer to this concept include ‘neurominority’ and ‘neurodifferent’.

Neurotypical

Neurotypical is a term used to describe a person whose brain – including their way of thinking and processing information – works in a way that is in line with a majority of the population.

Other less common phrases to refer to this concept include ‘neuromajority’.

Acquired Neurodiversity

Acquired neurodiversity is a term that refers to changes in someone’s brain function after an injury, an illness or a health condition.

Co-Occurance

When thinking about neurodiversity, cooccurrence is a term that describes when someone may experience more than one neurotype.

For example, someone may be autistic and dyslexic.

Lots of neurotypes can commonly cooccur.

Intersectionality

Intersectionality refers to the interconnection of social categorisations such as race, class, and gender as they apply to a given individual or group, which is regarded as creating overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination and disadvantage.

In terms of neurodiversity, we know that gender, ethnicity and age can impact whether the individual has had an assessment, support and confidence to discuss their neurodifferences.