Have you ever noticed how some people love lists while others thrive in chaos; some people think in pictures and others in words; some love routine and others crave change? Or how one friend remembers every face they’ve ever met, while another remembers every song lyric? That’s neurodiversity in action — the beautiful reality that our brains don’t all work the same way.
Understanding Neurodiversity
Emerged in the 1990’s, the neurodiversity movement embraces all neurological differences — such as those with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, or other cognitive differences. Neurodiversity is the idea that differences in how people think, learn, and process the world are a natural part of being human. Instead of viewing these variations as problems to fix, the neurodiversity perspective encourages us to understand, respect, and support them. From this point of view, there’s nothing that needs to be cured — only differences to be acknowledged and valued.
Think about this:
- The friend who can’t sit still in meetings might have ADHD — and also the ability to think creatively and jump between ideas faster than anyone else.
- The colleague who notices tiny details others miss might be autistic — and their precision keeps the team’s work flawless.
- The classmate who struggles with spelling might have dyslexia — but can visualize complex concepts in ways others can’t.
None of these ways of thinking are “wrong.” They’re just different operating systems — each with its own strengths and challenges. If every brain worked exactly the same way, we’d live in a very predictable (and probably very boring) world.
Useful Terms – Not Labels
Within this framework, we often hear the terms neurotypical and neurodivergent. Neurotypical generally describes people whose thinking and behavior align with what society expects as “typical,” while neurodivergent refers to people whose brains work differently. These terms aren’t labels, aren’t about ranking anyone; they simply help us talk about the many ways people learn, communicate, and experience the world.
For instance, someone neurotypical might prefer routine and predictable structure, while someone neurodivergent may shine in creativity, pattern recognition, or deep-focus tasks but find sensory overload challenging.
Understanding these terms helps us build environments—in school, at work, and at home—that respect different needs and strengths. Knowing the difference isn’t just helpful; it’s a step toward opening doors for learning, working, connecting, and letting every kind of mind thrive.
A Closing Tip✨
When you meet someone who thinks or acts differently than you expect, pause before assuming. You might just be meeting another kind of brilliance.