Neurodiversity: difference or disorder?
Experts see autism as a set of disorders that can make it hard for us to talk to other people or get on well with them. But we autistic people often feel the problem is not inside our brains. Our brains can work very well. But we may see or think or feel things differently and other people may not realise this. We can get on well with people – and our pets – who understand this.
Is there a cure for autism?
Doctors often see autism as an illness. They think they can diagnose it, measure it and cure it in the same way as other illnesses.
But it is not an illness. You may see, feel, hear and think differently from other people, but being different does not mean being ill or bad or wrong.
Sometimes autistic people do see themselves as having illnesses at the same time, such as epilepsy or depression or anxiety. These can be treated to some extent. But they are not autism (although they may also be seen as forms of neurodivergence).
Being autistic can be disabling in a society that does not understand and it is recognised as a disability under the law. When autism comes with other forms of difficulty it is more likely to be disabling or difficult to live without support. But this does not mean we can’t be happy when we have the support and understanding we need.
What is neurodiversity?
Neurodiversity means all the different ways in which people’s brains work – autistic or not. We don’t know about all the differences that exist, but we know that some people have ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, Hearing Voices, Bipolar and Tourettes, or a combination of these. These are most commonly discussed forms of being ‘neurodivergent’ (as in, differing to what is assumed to be average), but I suspect that we will come to recognise many other conditions under this term. These conditions are long-lasting and affect the various ways we learn, pay attention, get on with other people, fulfill social expectations and cope with good or bad moods. It can also include different ways of communicating with other people and with animals – for example, you don’t need words to show a dog that you feel cheerful or upset. Some aspects of divergence can be treated, such as difficulties that people have concentrating when they are an ADHDer. But many people with these conditions say they are part of who they are, whether they are taking medication or not. That is okay. It is possible to take medication for one of these conditions and still struggle in a world that needs to learn more about those who are different and to value those who look after us. That is okay, too. We know how important these people are.