by Nancy Kearnan, Registered Counsellor

What is Neurodiversity? 

If you are Autistic, have ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), dyslexia (a reading disorder) or dyscalculia (a disorder around the understanding of math and numbers), you are what is described as having neurodiversity or being neurodivergent.

That simply means that your brain is not “typical” it is different (divergent). You may have heard these terms bandied about on social media.

The reason these terms became popular is that people who are members of this category and, more recently, the medical community and members of the public are recognizing that just because a brain is not “typical” does not mean it is “wrong” or “faulty”. 

While challenges such as emotional dysregulation and concentration issues are common and well known, neurodivergent brains also have unique strengths.

People with autism, for example, often are very observant and can be very creative and innovative. People with ADHD, for example, often are very quick witted (in fact many comedians such as Jim Carrey, Howie Mandel, and Trevor Noah have ADHD). There are many other examples of strengths as well.  

So, while there may be challenges dealing with your or your loved one’s neurodiversity, there is a lot of research out there and those of us here at Penney Murphy and Associates can help you navigate the challenges and recognize and celebrate the strengths!