Diversity is not something we can "create", it is simply here are it has always been.
It relates to varieties we hold, such as age, ethnicity, gender, race, sexual orientation, physical abilities and qualities, socioeconomic background, and much more. We also differ in the ways we perceive the world, how we learn, communicate, in what we believe – all of this (and again, much more!) could fluctuate through our life too!
Today I’d like to focus on neurodiversity. It refers to variations in the brain’s function, so that people experience and interact with the world around them in many ways. The term "neurodiveristy" refers to all the people, but as in many traits, there will be a "norm" and in this case: "neurological minorities".
Neurodivergent, neuroatypical, or neurospicy (for more relaxed folks) person refers to someone whose brain processes information in a way that is not typical of most individuals.
Variations in the brain's function and behavioural traits, regarded as part of normal variation in the human population, can include Attention-Deficit/Hyper-Activity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Dyspraxia, Synaesthesia, Tourrete’s Syndrome (TS) or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). It often runs in families, and occurs in all genders, races, cultures, socio-economic groups, and intelligence scales.
Note the list is not exhaustive, and is changing, as well as the language around evolves too.
None of the above is a disease or sickness, we are also seeing people moving away from the term disorder/s (although correct from the medical perspective), as they see the word as negative and reductive.
Two neuroatypical people will not be alike. Two people with ASD, for example, may experience the world very differently and have different strengths and challenges. Ah, and some people may be multi-gifted, I for example live with ADHD, ASD, and Synaesthesia.
At times, neuroatypical people have concerns about how they will find their way in a new place and whether they will be well received and accepted for their differences. Insecurity in these aspects accompanies us all our lives, so many neuroatypical people mask their otherness to fit into the typical environment and standard expectations. Unfortunately, this has its consequences. Masking is a very demandingand depleting strategy that sucks an enormous amount of energy and emotion out of a person. Such a person then must be on the alert all the time to adopt the expected pattern of behavior, giving up all spontaneity and their natural reactions, in otherwords, concealing their very self. Pretending to be someone else for the sake offitting in with the established "normality" comes at the expense of our well-being.
Luckily, neurodiversity is being used more and more commonly to nurture the idea that these differences are a valuable variation. Being able to see the world in adifferent way could be a powerful and unique strength for neurodivergent people, and it is worth to harness this to boost innovation and creativity.
Want to know more? Join us at 12.00 on the second day of Women In Tech Summit, where with my great co-panelists we’ll dive in the world of neuroinclusion and innovation!
Ela Bonda, Head of DEI & Productivity NatWest Group Poland
