Back in May, Elon Musk revealed that he had Asperger’s Syndrome during his iconic SNL appearance. In a few words, he was able to bring renewed attention and awareness to the term “neurodiversity.” Neurodiversity refers to the idea that certain developmental differences, like autism, ADHD and Dyslexia, are normal variations in brain structure. The term was created by Judy Singer, an autistic sociologist, during the 1990s. It is meant to emphasize that these conditions are merely differences, not deficits. That they should be accepted and accommodated, not ‘cured’ or ‘treated.'
Many autistic, ADHD, and dyslexic people are brilliant because their uniquely wired brains make them capable of tasks (especially in the technology and creative sector) that other “neurotypical” people cannot manage or develop. According to WebMD, people with ADHD have high levels of spontaneity, courage, and empathy, and can hyper-focus on certain tasks. Those with dyslexia can perceive certain kinds of visual information and nonverbal communication better than people that are not dyslexic. People on the autistic spectrum are capable of paying attention to and retaining complex details. Most geniuses exhibit some autistic traits, like obsessive focus and attention to detail. For instance, Bill Gates has Asperger's Syndrome (which is on the autism spectrum) revealed by avoiding eye contact, sometimes rocking back and forth in meetings, and a monotone speech pattern, but his genius shows through in the creation of Microsoft. Others speculated to have ADHD/Aspergers include Bobby Fischer (the chess champion), Emily Dickenson (classical poet), Jerry Seinfeld (comedian), Benjamin Franklin (inventor), Charles Darwin (pioneered the science of evolution), and Abraham Lincoln (US president). Some of the most prolific creators such as Albert Einstein, Pablo Picasso, Richard Branson, Steven Spielberg, Robin Williams, and Tom Cruise, to name a few, also have Dyslexia.
Dyslexia, ADHD, and similar conditions such as dysgraphia (poor penmanship) make it very difficult for young students to show their potential and prowess in traditional school scoring and standardized tests. Students might try to do math problems in their head to avoid having the extreme cognitive load of having to write down recognizable letters and numbers in a math problem, or write them illegibly. This can make it more difficult for them to succeed in traditional education systems with the heavy amount of reading and rote responses required in schools and universities.
On top of the challenges of school, the challenges of college can make it tougher for neurodiverse people to get hired after graduation. Despite the exceptional talents that neurodiverse people bring to the table, traditional hiring practices make it difficult for highly qualified autistic and ADHD people to receive the job positions they deserve. The typical job interview is designed for the neurotypical person, requiring immense focus, eye contact, and traditional social skills. Employers who misinterpret the behaviors of neurodivergent people miss out on key employees. For this reason, a large portion of educated, autistic adults remain unemployed, while dyslexic individuals might end up in roles way below what they could offer due to the amount of reading required in certain careers. Neurodiverse people could be (and are!) huge assets to companies, if only more would hire them.
Some companies are taking steps to accommodate neurological differences in a modified work environment to allow neurodivergent people to demonstrate their skills. Microsoft, for instance, created a hiring program for neurodiverse individuals. SAP (Systems, Applications & Products in Data Processing), a multinational German software company, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), and Ford are also working to reform their hiring practices in order to access neurodiverse talent. Dell, Deloitte, JPMorgan, and IBM are in the early stages of reforming their HR processes.
The term neurodiversity, however, is not perfect. According to Judy Singer, it is not a science term or a diagnosis, it is -- or will be -- a movement. Parents of children with severe autism worry that the normalization of their condition will make it more difficult for them to get the care they need. Efforts to identify neurodiverse children early so they can get the help and accommodations they need is crucial to be able for them to showcase their talents and thrive in a very standardized-test-inclined world. For instance, in California, Governor Gavin Newsom (who struggled with dyslexia as a child) has championed a number of initiatives for the State of California Department of Education to identify and help those with special education needs.
No matter what name the movement for neurodivergent people comes under, it is gaining momentum in helping to prevent shame for those born with diverse brains. Advocates, allies, and neurodiverse people are ready for a change in society’s thinking, comparable to the women’s and LGBTQ+ rights movements that will make neurodiversity as important as racial, gender, and other forms of diversity. More awareness, such as Elon Musk’s statement, will help catalyze this movement.
Sources:
https://dyslexia.yale.edu/story/gavin-newsom/
Judy Singer’s “What is Neurodiversity”: https://neurodiversity2.blogspot.com/p/what.html
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