- Neuroaffirming is the concept that all neurologies are worthy and valid.
- Being neuroaffirming matters because it means neurodivergent individuals are not being expected to try and change to pass as a socially constructed gold standard.
- Everyone wins when we embrace being neuroaffirming.
Neuroaffirming is the concept that all neurologies are worthy and valid.
The term neuroaffirming is related to the concept of neurodiversity and is in direct contrast to the pathologisation of neurologies that are not seen to be the norm or neuromajority such as being autistic, being an ADHDer or being dyslexic. To be neuroaffirming means that you see all neurologies as being equally valid and worthy.
Being neuroaffirming matters because it means neurodivergent indvidiuals are not expected to try and change to pass as a socially constructed gold standard.
Being neuroaffirming matters because nothing is really going to change for neurodivergent individuals until all neurologies are seen as equal. Similar journeys are underway for gender and race and sexuality, and whilst progress is being made those that are in the minorities are the ones suffering.
Spolier alert: autism, ADHD and dyslexia and other neurodivergencies can’t be cured because they aren’t a disease or a disorder, they are part of the neurodiversity of human brains. If you are using neuroconforming strategies and see a change towards the neuromajority, all you are doing is causing that neurodivergent individual to put on a mask or camouflage their neurodivergence to make you feel more comfortable, but you are doing them untold damage.
Everyone wins when we embrace being neuroaffirming
Diversity is a strength and something that we accept without question in so many other ways, as an example we accept diversity in produce and animals. We choose different varieties of apples for different purposes or tastes but still consider them all apples. We accept that there are different breeds of dogs and that a chihuahua doesn’t need to be taught to act like a beagle. We accept the different breeds of dogs and their different sizes and temperaments and energy levels are just the way it is, and don’t label them as having deficits if they don’t meet a social constructed gold standard. And while on one hand these are trivial examples, on the other, they show that when we aren’t socially conditioned to do otherwise we accept that diversity is natural and valid and useful.
Diversity is a strength and something that we accept without question in so many other ways, as an example we accept diversity in produce and animals. We choose different varieties of apples for different purposes or tastes but still consider them all apples. We accept that there are different breeds of dogs and that a chihuahua doesn’t need to be taught to act like a beagle. We accept the different breeds of dogs and their different sizes and temperaments and energy levels are just the way it is, and don’t label them as having deficits if they don’t meet a social constructed gold standard. And while on one hand these are trivial examples, on the other, they show that when we aren’t socially conditioned to do otherwise we accept that diversity is natural and valid and useful.
In the same way different neurologies are natural and valid and useful. When the food was running out back in the cave, what type of neurology made sure that the focus was on securing food, and noticing patterns in weather or animal movement that aided the hunt? I posit it was the autistic type that saved the neuromajority from starving. What type of neurology helped everyone to work together towards a common goal and feel comraderie – let’s face it probably the neuromajority. Both neurologies are natural and valid and useful, as are many others. We diagnose people with dyslexia, when all that really is, is that the way that the neuromajority take in and produce written language is different to the way the dyslexic neurology does it. But who decided that the neuromajority way was the right way and every other way is wrong and needs to be diagnosed as the person having a deficit? Why can’t it just be seen as different like Royal Gala and a Granny Smith are different or a German Shephard and a Cavalier are different? All are natural and valid and useful.
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