EDI Series #6 - Embracing diversity and inclusion for all minds

15 September 2023

by Dr Hirra Pervez Butt
School of Business

Inclusivity is a welcoming path with practical steps and policies in place where everyone gets a fair shot at opportunities and resources. This includes those who've felt left out or overlooked due to physical or intellectual differences or because they belong to minority communities. When we talk about differences, it's easy to picture the visible ones - age, race, gender, but human beings hold a treasure trove of hidden diversity at less observable layers. There are differences in the ways our brains tick, the unique patterns of our thoughts, the way we feel and react to external stimuli, the way we sense light and sounds – that's our very own hidden biodiversity, often referred to as neurodiversity.

The term “neurodiversity,” which in essence means diversity in the way our brains work, was proposed in 1998 by an Australian sociologist Judy Singer in her honours thesis. Fast forward to today, this concept has become a beacon of understanding for those whose cognitive, emotional, and sensory functions dance to a unique rhythm, different from the norm we often encounter. Though initially for individuals with Autism-Spectrum Disorders (ASD), the neurodiversity paradigm today also includes Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyspraxia, Dyscalculia, and Tourette Syndrome.

Is this diversity large enough to be considered important? According to estimates, around 15% to 20% of the population worldwide are neurodiverse and bring their own vivid shades to the canvas of our collective human experience. The neurodiversity movement for its founder, Judy Singer, was a movement of identity politics. She calls it "the last great one of the 20th century”. More recently, Judy has been advocating for the term “NeuroRealism,” which simply means to be realistic about the needs of neurodivergent individuals and meeting them as they are, in their unadorned authenticity, rather than providing a fix or a cure before they can be met. The goal of this movement, therefore, is to provide support that respects individual diversity and self-expression rather than one that aims for normative or clinical conformity.

Inclusivity not only means identifying a group and preventing their exclusion but also making active efforts to include it. So what can be done to contribute to NeuroRealism, and who needs to be doing it? For the diversity in the rhythms of our minds to truly resonate, we need to reimagine the way we approach every corner of our existence. Education, work, healthcare, social connections – all these facets need a touch of adaptation to embrace neurodivergence realistically. Some examples of this adaptation may include providing learning opportunities that cater to the information-processing abilities and needs of neurodiverse students. In terms of work, adapting recruiting and retention practices that allow neurodiverse individuals to showcase their unique capabilities and thrive at work. Beyond processes, the physical space of work itself can be redesigned to be mindful of the sensory needs of neurodivergent employees. In terms of healthcare, it could mean creating mental health services to identify the neurodivergent individuals and medical professionals working with them to identify their differences, not mandating a cure or a treatment on the neurodivergent but also not denying it to those seeking it. In our social lives and connections, it may look like advocating for and creating supportive frameworks like inclusive services, communication aids, and assistive technologies that allow for the independent living of these individuals.

When considering the architects of this paradigm shift, two key groups come to the fore: the neurotypicals responsible for creating space and the neurodivergent responsible for claiming that space. Inclusivity thrives on this dynamic partnership; it takes two to make it work. The world we inhabit is shaped by presumed neurotypicals, but its transformation requires more than its efforts alone. The vital ingredient is the active involvement of the neurodivergent community. They hold the keys to advancing the understanding of their differences, embracing their strengths, enlightening those seeking insight into neurodiversity, and guiding others like them on this journey of discovery - in other words, being an active participant in the inclusivity movement.

So, where to begin an apparently enormous shift in the way we see our differences and embrace diversity and inclusion for all minds? The very first step is to acknowledge it. The problem is not that there are neurodivergents and neurotypicals. The issue lies in perceiving neurodivergence as problematic. We not only need to approach it as a subject of study but as a lens through which humanity can be understood. The starting point then would be overcoming the taboo and stigma associated with being different, beginning with the language in which we talk about this difference. It may also require overcoming the perfectionism trap in all forms - wanting to be perfect, wanting others to be perfect, and thinking others want us to be perfect. No one is perfect, neurotypical or neurodivergent, and we are all different in different ways. Neurodiversity is a kaleidoscope of human variation and should be viewed as such by both categories of actors. The NeuroRealism movement is an invitation to redefine our relationship with differences, to imagine a world where different minds intertwine like brushstrokes on a canvas. The collaboration between the neurotypicals and the neurodivergent will create a world where the rhythm of diversity creates a symphony of human connection, echoing the melody of inclusivity.

Let us all play our part, as neurotypicals and neurodivergents, to embrace diversity and inclusion for all minds, realistically.