What is neurodiversity?
Neurodivergence is the idea that everyone experiences and interacts with the world around them in many different ways and there is no “correct” way of learning, thinking or behaving. Instead, there is a wide range of ways that people perceive and respond to the world, and these differences should be embraced and encouraged. Neurodivergence is used in the context of autism, as well as dyslexia, dyscalculia and ADHD.
What is Autism, or ASD?
We use the preferred term for ASD, which is ‘autism’ and therefore loses the idea that ‘disorder’ is in the name. Research indicates that people with autism prefer the term ‘autistic person’, which is what we use in our discussions and writing about autism.
Key strengths for autistic people can be an ability to understand a high level of detail, the ability to concentrate for long periods in order to understand difficult concepts and systems. Key sensitivities are often around sensory sensitivity, i.e., to noise or touch, as well as anxiety about social situations and unfamiliar situations.
Some general indicators of autism:
- unusual speech development, or a lack of speech development
- finding friendships tricky from a young age, finding it easier to interact with adults
- anxiety around situations which involve load noise or the unexpected.
Children and adults with autism are often highly empathic about the emotions of others, have superpowers that they may not boast about, and are a loyal and reliable friend or partner. Careers in which people with autism thrive as those that allow a certain superpower to flourish: this could be attention to detail, a specific ability to understand a whole as a sum of intricate parts, or a role which ensure that ideas come to life.
What is ADHD?
ADHD is a form of neurodiversity. It is considered to be a brain-based difference.
Children with ADHD can demonstrate hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention at different times and in different measures, which means it can be tricky to work out if ADHD is what is going on; this is especially the case for girls as well as when a child is autistic and has ADHD. This is because some key traits of autism (i.e., an interest in orderliness and a lack of social motivation) can reduce the impact of key ADHD symptoms, such as losing things and talking lots.
Children and adults with ADHD will often behave in the following way:
- be very fidgety
- be physically restless or ‘mentally restless’ i.e., they have lots of quick thoughts
- talk a lot, and often very fast
- daydream a lot
- forget or often lose things
- make careless mistakes or take unnecessary risks
- have a hard time resisting temptation
Children and adults with ADHD are often empathetic, sociable and likable. People with ADHD are overrepresented in the creative and entertainment industries and are more likely to be entrepreneurial.
Why is the identification of autism and ADHD important ?
By identifying what is going on for someone in the context of ADHD and/ or autism, then people often find they stop blaming themselves or their child for what seem like defiant, difficult or oppositional behaviours, and instead put in place the right strategies and support to overcome sensitivities or specific difficulties. This can then let superpowers shine and confidence grow.
