Neurodiversity - Day 1

Neurodiversity Day 1

The Vocabulary of Neurodiversity (2)

Terms for visibility and inclusion based on Nick Walker's work

The Vocabulary of Neurodiversity

Or Neuro-minorities

Spectrum of neurocognitive variations

Everyone's mind works differently.

Introduction

Dr Nick Walker is a queer autistic professor of psychology, and a transdisciplinary scholar whose work explores the intersections of neurodiversity, embodiment, queer theory, and transformative practice.

Neurodivergent: a term coined by Kassiane Asasumasu in 2000. According to Walker (2021) “to be neurodivergent is to diverge from dominant cultural standards of neurocognitive functioning”, ( p.5). While... Neurotypical "is a word that allows us to talk about members of the dominant neurological group without implicitly reinforcing that group’s privileged position by referring to them as “normal.”[…] The existence of the word neurotypical makes it possible to have conversations about topics like neurotypical privilege”, (Walker, 2013, p.5) Neuroqueer: a term originally developed by Remi Yergeau, Athena Lynn Michaels-Dillon, and Nick Walker: "as heteronormativity can be queered, so can neurotypicality: we can subvert, disrupt, and deviate from the embodied performance of being neurocognitively “normal.” That's neuroqueering", (Walker,2021, n.p.)

Neurodiversity: this term refers to the diversity among human minds, (Walker, 2021) and it was coined by Judy Singer in the late 1990s.Neurodivergence (the state of being neurodivergent) can be largely or entirely genetic and innate, or it can be largely or entirely produced by brain-altering experience, or some combination of the two. Autism and dyslexia are examples of innate forms of neurodivergence, while alterations in brain functioning caused by such things as trauma or heavy usage of psychedelic drugs are examples of forms of neurodivergence produced through experience. (Walker, 2014, n.p.)

The Vocabulary of Neurodiversity

Neurominorities is a term coined by Walker in 2012 A neurominority is a population of neurodivergent people about whom all of the following are true: 1. They all share a similar form of neurodivergence. 2. The form of neurodivergence they share is one of those forms that is largely innate and that is inseparable from who they are, constituting an intrinsic and pervasive factor in their psyches, personalities, and fundamental ways of relating to the world. 3. The form of neurodivergence they share is one to which the neurotypical majority tends to respond with some degree of prejudice, misunderstanding, discrimination, and/or oppression (generally facilitated by classifying that form of neurodivergence as a medical pathology). Examples of neurominority groups include Autistic people, dyslexic people, and people with Down Syndrome. It’s also possible to be neurodivergent without being a member of a neurominority group. Examples include people with acquired traumatic brain injuries, and people who have altered their own neurocognitive functioning through extensive use of psychedelic drugs. (Walker, 2014, n.p.) .

The Vocabulary of Neurodiversity (2)

Every person thinks, behaves, and sees the world in their own way. Everyone's mind works differently. There is no one "right" way of thinking, learning, and behaving. Neurodiversity is the concept that mind differences are natural variations – not deficits, disorders, or impairments. Neurodiversity is about recognising that everyone's mind is wired differently. The term “neurodiversity” was coined to describe these differences by sociologist Judy Singer. The neurodiversity movement emerged during the 1990s, aiming to increase acceptance and inclusion of all people while embracing neurological differences.