What is Neuro-diversity?

Linda Andron-Ostrow, Executive Director

You know I used to hang out in ice cream parlors and parks. Last Sunday, Zoey and I had an opportunity to participate in a Google Hangout. For those of you who don’t know, this is virtual way to be on video chat with several people… it’s a new world!

And part of this new world is Neuro-diversity, a growing movement asking us to see autism as part of a continuum of human functioning and to work towards constructing a niche for everyone to live their life fully. Towanda Threadgood puts it beautifully when she says, “The concept of neuro-diversity gives validation to people who have not previously been validated. It shows people with diverse neurologies that it’s OK to be themselves”.

While holding this belief strongly, the neuro-diversity movement recognizes autism as a disability and encourages treatment for those aspects of it that make a persons life difficult. The word neuro-typical has been the new “normal”, but the Institute for the Study of the Neurologically Typical suggests that neuro-typical syndrome is a neurobiological disorder characterized by preoccupation with social concerns, delusions of superiority, and up session with conformity.  They claim neuro-diversity may be every bit is crucial for the human race is biodiversity is for life in general.

I think that Dr. Christine Nicolaides, pediatrician and parent reminds us to be careful about the labels will use, in particular the monikers of high and low functioning. She goes on to urge that, “communicating a strength-based approach to autism may not only afford a autistic patients to respect and dignity they deserve, but they also help family members better understand and support their loved ones”. Read more here.

So as the school year begins my wish is that you will find and nourish the strengths of all your children and family members, be careful of labels that they work against a growth mindset, think about the niche that your child may be best suited for and that may make the best contribution to our society.