Neurodiversity and Neurodivergence
The term neurodiversity was introduced by autistic advocates who challenged the traditionally deficit-focused view of autism. Diagnostic frameworks have often defined autism in terms of what is “abnormal” when compared to a loosely defined and often abstract idea of “normal.”
A neurodiversity-informed perspective offers a different lens. It recognises autism as a natural variation in human neurology, one that includes strengths, differences, and meaningful ways of experiencing and engaging with the world. It also acknowledges that autistic people can experience genuine challenges, particularly where environments, expectations, or support do not align with their preferences or needs. Alongside this, it recognises the rich cultures and communities that many autistic people are part of, as well as the significant contributions autistic individuals have made, and continue to make, to society, innovation, and human understanding.
Autism is often described in different ways, including as a disability. From a neurodiversity-informed perspective, disability is understood as something that can be shaped by context. This recognises that barriers often arise not simply from a person’s neurology, but from environments, systems, and expectations that do not accommodate difference.
Neurodiversity recognises that all people have different brains and nervous systems. Within this, autistic people are considered neurodivergent, while those whose neurology aligns more closely with societal norms are often described as neurotypical. These terms can be useful, but the idea of what is “typical” is far less fixed than it may seem.
A Neurodiversity-Affirming Perspective on Autism
Autism encompasses a wide range of people and ways of being. Autistic people are part of everyday life, they may be your family members, friends, colleagues, or people you learn alongside. They may also be people who have shaped your life through advances in technology, medicine, science, and philosophy, as well as well-known figures across public life.
While there has been a growing shift towards understanding autism as difference, knowledge and practice in the UK remain variable, and much existing training and literature is still outdated. Encouragingly, more recent thinking, shaped by autistic advocates and researchers, is beginning to offer a more accurate and respectful understanding.
At the centre of my work is the recognition that autistic people share distinct ways of experiencing and relating to the world. While every autistic person is unique, there are commonalities that can differ significantly from non-autistic ways of being, and these differences are often misunderstood.
This has been described as the Double Empathy Problem, the idea that difficulties in interaction are not located solely within autistic people, but arise from a mutual gap in understanding between autistic and non-autistic people. Research increasingly shows that autistic people often understand one another more intuitively, highlighting the importance of perspective, context, and shared experience.
A Note About Terminology
As reflected in the preferences of many autistic advocates and academics, and in my own practice, I generally use identity-first language, unless an individual expresses a different preference.
This means using terms such as “autistic person” or “neurodivergent person,” rather than person-first language like “person with autism.” While person-first language is often preferred in other contexts, many autistic people feel that it separates them from a fundamental part of who they are. Autism is not something that can be removed or set aside, it shapes how we think, experience, and engage with the world.
For similar reasons, I tend not to use the term Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), as it reflects a more deficit-based understanding. Some people prefer Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC), which can feel more neutral. In my work, I most often use autism, autism spectrum, or neurodivergent, as these align more closely with a neurodiversity-affirming perspective.