Neurodivergence is "a biological truism that refers to the limitless variability
of human nervous systems on the planet, in which no two can ever be exactly
alike due to the influence of environmental factors"
- Sociologist Judy Singer
While neurodiversity was originally coined by Singer to refer specifically to
people who are autistic (as is she), the term has broadened in years since.
Neurodivergence now refers to consistent ways in which brains work differently
for a group of people than they do for the majority of others. For example, autism,
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and others are considered to be
neurodivergent.
How does neurodiversity show up for each person?
Excellent question. I like to conceptualize neurodiversity as comprised of three separate parts. For background, this idea came to me as I was recalling paging through my grandmothers encyclopedias when I was younger. I really like the one about whales (because whales are awesome) and the one on human anatomy that contained the transparencies where you could overlay different parts from the skeleton to muscles to circulatory system to skin/clothes.
When I conceptualize neurodiversity, I think of it like those transparencies. The skeleton is a metaphor for the diagnostic criteria as outlined in the DSM. You then overlay this with the musculature system, which includes the things that the person experiences that may or may not be a part of the DSM criteria. Finally, the overlay with the skin/clothes represents the mask or the concept of self that one presents to the neuro-majority.
The diagnostic criteria
Features of their neurodiversity
The person (mask) that is presented to the world