So many people in the world are neurodivergent, and that includes your peers, friends, coworkers, and teachers. But what does that even mean?
Neurodiversity is, “the idea that people experience and interact with the world around them in many different ways,” Harvard Health Publishing said. Examples of Neurodiverse disorders are autism, dyspraxia, dyslexia, Tourette Syndrome, Down Syndrome, and ADHD.
“I would say that neurodiversity is like you have lots of expectations of people but they don’t meet those expectations and you are confused why,” freshman Marie Powell explains. “I struggle with procrastination, physical touch and anxiety. For example, I have a chiropractor appointment this afternoon and because it’s my first time I am having an anxiety flare-up despite my medication.”
More than 50 million people in the US are Neurodivergent.
Australian Sociologist, Judy Singer, introduced the term “Neurodivergent” in the 1990s. She created this term to describe the spectrum of neurological diversity, and to help the social movements of minorities in the neurological diversity.
The term “Neurodiversity” itself is an inclusive, and non-judgmental approach that groups individuals with many different disorders that affect many different individuals. Some terms that are not appropriate are “Special” and “Sped.”
Neurodivergent people have different struggles than someone Neurotypical. Common differences are being overwhelmed by loud noises, trouble with disorganization, difficulty with social interactions, difficulty with focusing or staying still, sensitivity with touch or smell, and heightened anxiety.
Neurodiverse people sometimes feel like other people don’t understand them.
“My husband said, ‘we’ve been married now for 27 years and I still can’t get you to put your purse in one place when you come in the door,’” sophomore English teacher Carissa Argueta said.
There are ways people can adapt to help people with Neurodivergence. One way the school could adapt is setting up programs for teachers to help their students with their challenges.
“In the building I really think we need professional development in the summer where we remind the teachers of Neurodiverce students and the problems they have,” Argueta said.
This will help them understand and adjust their standards as needed.
Everyone needs to be more flexible, and have a more open mindset. While it may take longer for them to start does not mean they are not smart or hardworking. Many times, their minds have the answer they are just lost in the mass that they need more time to find the words to put on the paper than some.
“They need to be a little bit more flexible. People who are neurodivergent aren’t stupid, we might just need a little bit more time to do things,” Powell explained. “Most of my friends in the Gifted and Talented course and now the honors classes are on some sort of spectrum.”
Lastly they need a quiet room where they can recuperate when they are overwhelmed.
“I wish they had a place you could go if you don’t want to eat in front of people or don’t want to be around people in general,” Powell said.
While others may think of all the problems they have, they may not realize that there are benefits to it as well.
“[My experience] makes me more empathetic,” Powell said.
Neurodiverse people also experience the world in a different way, so they have creative solutions to problems neurotypical people may not see. An example of this is Temple Grandin who invented the cow shoot and Ingvar Kamprad, founder of IKEA who has ADHD, and Dyslexia.
Many people don’t understand that Neurodivergent people don’t need to be fixed. They deal with the problems they have in unique ways and they excel. They deal with these problems, and will deal with them their whole life. They belong in this life, and we need to help them cope like we would with any other person. We need to treat them as an equal, and not someone lesser.
“We are perfect and you can quote me on that,” Argueta said.
They are perfect the way they are, and we need to realize that.
