Bringing it Forward
Embracing our Neurodiversity
What Does the Research Say?
Misconceptions of Neurodiversity
The idea of neurodiversity does not acknowledge disabilities among neurodivergent people.
The field neurodiversity does not aim to ignore that individuals have impairments, however, those in the field also do not assume that a neurodivergent person has a disability or problem.
The field of neurodiversity rejects therapies and medical interventions.
Those working in the field of neurodiversity do so with the goal of spreading understanding and acceptance of the uniqueness and differences among individuals. Another goal is to highlight the ways in which these differences may be supportive and beneficial to society. Within and amongst these goals, acceptance and support include accommodations to support neurodivergent individuals in methods that are best for the individual which may include medications and therapies.
Neurodiversity is only inclusive of autism.
Neurodiversity refers to a range of differences among individuals regarding brain function, learning preferences, and traits. They are inclusive of, but not limited to, giftedness, ADHD, depression, anxiety, autism, and so on.
Being neurodivergent is a piece of cake and a walk in the park.
Those in the field of neurodiversity focus upon the positive aspects and strengths of neurodivergent individuals. This does not mean that the difficulties and challenges are not recognized, identified, and acknowledged. The aim is to bring the strengths forward to drive positive self-esteem, agency, and to support individuals to use their strengths, while leveraging their weaknesses, to reach their potential and use these strengths to better the community.
Definitions
Neurodiversity
"The range of differences in individual brain function and behavioral traits, regarded as part of normal variation in the human population" (Oxford Languages)
What does it mean?
This means that each and every human lies on a continuum of cognitive, behavioral, social, and emotional traits or characteristics.
Strength-based Approach
is defined as curricular and instructional approaches that are differentiated to align with students’ cognitive styles, learning
preferences, and profiles of intelligences.
(Baum et al., 2017)
What does it mean?
That teaching and learning strategies are applied with the aim of developing strengths at the forefront while supporting difficulties in the background.
Talent-Focused
"...involves on-going identification and recognition of a student’s advanced abilities as well as budding interests, along with explicit options for exploring and expressing those abilities and interests within and beyond the curriculum. Talent focus is used as an overarching term that includes 'talent development'"(Baum et al., 2017).
What does it mean?
It means that we spend time identifying the talents of others and ourselves and provide opportunities to explore and develop these talents.
Twice-Exceptional (2e)
Twice-exceptional individuals demonstrate exceptional levels of capacity, competence, commitment, or creativity in one or more domains coupled with one or more learning difficulties.
What does it mean?
It means that a person may possess gifted traits as well as learning difficulties. It also means that the gifted traits may stand out or the difficulties may stand out or both. It may also be discovered that either the gifted traits or difficulties hide the other or both may be hidden.