Neurodiversity describes the idea that people experience and interact with the world around them in many different ways; there is no one "right" way of thinking, learning, and behaving, and differences are not seen as deficits.
The word neurodiversity refers to the diversity of all people, but it is often used in the context of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), as well as other neurological or developmental conditions such as ADHD or learning disabilities. The neurodiversity movement emerged during the 1990s, aiming to increase acceptance and inclusion of all people while embracing neurological differences.
A Little History
In 2018, Neurodiversity Celebration Week was started by Siena Castellon when she was 16 years old. As an autistic student who also has dyslexia, dyspraxia, and ADHD, she experienced significant challenges, prejudice, and bullying throughout her education. By March 2021, over 1,400 schools and 865,000 students worldwide took part in Neurodiversity Celebration Week.
What is Neurodiversity?
Neurodiversity Celebration Week
When you open the link above, click on the Student or Parent tab to access wonderful resources, such as fact sheets, instructional strategies, and famous people with various neurodiversities. There are five neurodiversities highlighted in this resource. The most commonly known are attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism, and dyslexia. Two of the lesser known neurodiversities are:
- Dyspraxia- a motor skills issue that makes it difficult to learn new skills and adjust body movements.
- Dyscalculia- a learning issue that makes it hard to learn concepts related to numbers and do tasks such as add and subtract.