Neurodiversity is grossly misunderstood.

The definition and scope of neurodivergence is misunderstood.
Neurodivergent is an IDENTITY, not a medical or clinical term.
Neurodivergent is a socio-political term, not a diagnosis.
Nobody will ever be diagnosed as neurodivergent.
Neurodivergent is an identity used by anyone who diverges from neuronormativity, or society's idea of what is "normal", "ideal", or "superior".

Neurodivergence includes, but is 100% NOT limited to ADHD, autism, dyslexia.
Neurodivergence is not only about cognitive differences or disabilities.
Neurodivergence is not only about brain differences.
Neuro means nervous system, not brain.

The scope includes mental health conditions (notice I did NOT say disorder-a word rejected by the neurodivergent community), nervous system differences, functioning style differences, information processing differences, learning differences, communication differences and so much MORE.

Organizations need to understand what neurodiversity and neurodivergent mean AND they need to reduce the barriers to disclosure (ie. stigma, bias, discrimination).

Organizations should NOT require diagnosis for access, support, and sensory needs to be recognized and accommodated, when possible.

By the way, diagnosis and disclosure intersect with privilege and many neurodivergent people will never have, want, or be able to access diagnosis.

Let's keep this conversation going! What are your thoughts?

These concepts and more are featured in my keynotes and trainings on neurodiversity and wrote about all of this in my recent book "Creating Cultures of Neuroinclusion: A Framework for Peopling and Supporting Neurodiverse Talent".