Language is how we make sense of the world: it gives form to abstract concepts and influences our perception of everything we encounter. So it isn’t surprising that the language we use to describe neurodevelopmental conditions like autism and ADHD guides how people understand themselves and others, as well as how support is offered – or withheld. Confusing or imprecise language leads to misunderstanding of what neurodivergence is – and isn’t.
The word neurodiversity is a good example. Increasingly, we hear “neurodiverse” used to describe individuals, as in “that child is neurodiverse”. But this isn’t an individual diagnosis – it is a…
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