Neurodiversity Can Explain Differences in How People Experience Everyday Life

Abstract

Neurodiversity means that all people’s brains process information differently from each other. In other words, people think and learn in a variety of ways. Being neurodivergent means that the way a person’s brain processes information might be quite distinctive, or even rare—and in some cases this difference might have a name, like ADHD, autism, or dyslexia. About one person in every five is neurodivergent: maybe you are neurodivergent yourself! In this article, we discuss the ways that neurodiversity can affect how people experience day-to-day life. We explain some of the research that has explored how neurodivergent people process information. We also share some on-going research that focuses on making places like schools and hospitals more comfortable for neurodivergent people. When we all understand what neurodiversity is, it is easier for everyone to be themselves, no matter how they think, feel and learn.