Introduction
A friend sent me links to a set of 4 essays on neurodiversity from the Mad in Americawebsite. I have put the links at the end. The authors are John Cromby (Professor of Psychology) and Lucy Johnstone (Clinical Psychologist) and the essays were written in July and August 2024.
The essays are a thorough and thoughtful survey of the complexities, cautions and unintended consequences arising from the growth in interest in neurodiversity. They are:
- Part 1: Neurodiversity–What Exactly Does It Mean?
- Part 2: Are We All Neurodivergent Nowadays?
- Part 3: Neuro-Authenticity, Neuro-Identities, and the Neuro-Industry
- Part 4: Neurodiversity: New Paradigm, or Trojan Horse?
Reflection
The last paragraph of the first essay articulates a sentiment that I share:
Perhaps we need a better, less contradictory way of acknowledging and accepting our human struggles and skills, similarities and differences. And perhaps we need to think more deeply about why it is so hard to do this. Meanwhile, it seems that much of this confusion could be avoided if we dropped the ‘neuro’ prefix. We are all diverse. We want to live in a society that
accepts all of us. Let us celebrate diversity, while being appropriately cautious about neurodiversity as a way of achieving this.
Conclusion
The topic of neurodiversity is important to all of us. The term was developed by an Australian sociologist Judy Singer in 1997. She proposed it as a catalyst, as an “umbrella term”, in aid of a political movement for human rights. Now, 28 years later, it’s time to reflect, take stock and think about whether the term has arrived at its ‘best before date’.
Do, please, read the essays.
Part 1: Neurodiversity–What Exactly Does It Mean?
https://www.madinamerica.com/2024/07/part-1-neurodiversity/
Part 2: Are We All Neurodivergent Nowadays?
https://www.madinamerica.com/2024/07/part-2-are-we-all-neurodivergent-nowadays/
Part 3: Neuro-Authenticity, Neuro-Identities, and the Neuro-Industry
https://www.madinamerica.com/2024/07/part-3-neuro-authenticity-neuro-identities-and-the-neuro-industry/
Part 4: Neurodiversity: New Paradigm, or Trojan Horse?
https://www.madinamerica.com/2024/08/part-4-neurodiversity-new-paradigm-or-trojan-horse/