Changing Paradigms: The Emergence of the Autism/Neurodiversity Manifesto

Abstract

In 2016 in the Black-E arts centre in Liverpool, UK the Labour Party Autism/Neurodiversity Manifesto launched with the support of activists such as Monique Craine, and leading Members of Parliament of the UK’s Labour Party. The Manifesto draft proposes the Labour Party commit to adopting the policy document which promotes equality, inclusion, and access for people with “neurodivergent” conditions such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and dyspraxia. It states its key principles of valuing neurodiversity through social democracy to dismantle barriers to full participation of neurological minorities in society, the current situation in spheres of life such as social services and employment, and policies to address these sociopolitical problems, making its argument on the grounds of both fairness and economics.