{"id":21823,"date":"2023-03-15T16:26:00","date_gmt":"2023-03-15T16:26:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/reciteme.com\/us\/?p=21823"},"modified":"2025-04-28T11:55:21","modified_gmt":"2025-04-28T10:55:21","slug":"an-introduction-to-neurodiversity-and-online-barriers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/reciteme.com\/us\/news\/an-introduction-to-neurodiversity-and-online-barriers\/","title":{"rendered":"The Language of Neurodiversity"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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March 13th-19th marks Neurodiversity Celebration Week which is dedicated to helping people and organizations around the world to better understand, value, and celebrate the talents of neurodiverse minds.<\/strong><\/p>

The topic of neurodiversity has been growing exponentially in recent years. For good reason. More people than ever before are aware of neurological differences and are taking steps to get diagnosed, educate others, or be more informed. This has led to a much deeper understanding and a collective desire to embrace our differences and the language we use while doing that is a key consideration.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Why is it Important that we Use the Right Language?<\/h2>

In the last couple of decades, the language used to describe disability has become more positive and less discriminatory. However, there is still a persistent trend towards describing people by their disability or belittling them because of it. Using inclusive language acknowledges diversity and conveys respect. It is sensitive to differences and promotes equitable opportunities.\u00a0<\/p>

Many organizations shy away from having conversations about disability and disability language because they can be awkward, and it\u2019s normal for people to be wary of offending their friends and colleagues. However, it\u2019s good practice to familiarise yourself with the correct terms and have open and respectful conversations about disability-related issues to increase inclusion. Whether it be in the workplace, in the classroom, or in the home, intentionally choosing our words is an impactful step we can take toward creating an inclusive world.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Key Terms to Know: Neurodiverse, Neurodivergent, and Neurotypical<\/h2>

There are several variations of key terms to be aware of, and misusing any of them is easy if you\u2019re not familiar with the basics. Let\u2019s take a look at the most common descriptors, their meaning, and some examples of correct and incorrect usage.\u00a0<\/p>

Neurodiverse<\/h3>

Neurodiversity refers to collective variations in the human brain and cognition in the way we deal with sociability, learning, attention, and other mental functions. It is a biological state of being, not an approach, belief, or political position. It is as unchangeable as the color of our skin or the size of our feet.\u00a0<\/p>

Individuals are often mistakenly described as \u2018Neurodiverse.\u2019 However, this is not the correct term because neurodiversity is not a trait any individual possesses. In the same way, you wouldn\u2019t describe one particular person as \u2018diverse,\u2019 you shouldn\u2019t describe someone as neurodiverse. It is a group trait, not an individual one.<\/p>

Examples<\/b><\/p>

Correct – At Recite Me, we are a neurodiverse team<\/p>

Incorrect – His neurodiversity means he processes information in a different way<\/p>

Neurodivergent<\/h3>

The correct descriptor for an individual is \u2018Neurodivergent,\u2019 which simply means a person whose neurology (mind) differs from dominant societal norms.<\/p>

Neurodivergent is a broad term, accounting for cognitive differences that are either innate or acquired. For example, autism and dyslexia are innate forms of neurodivergence, whereas differences caused by illness or head injury trauma can occur at any time in a person\u2019s life. It\u2019s also possible for an individual to be neurodivergent in multiple ways if they have several neurodivergent traits.\u00a0<\/p>

Examples<\/b><\/p>

Recite Me aims to be an inclusive employer, and we promise to make the necessary accommodations for employees who are autistic, dyslexic, or otherwise neurodivergent.<\/p>

Everyone in the head injury rehabilitation class is neurodivergent.<\/p>

Neurotypical<\/h3>

Neurotypical is the opposite of neurodivergent. A neurotypical brain is one that does not display characteristics of developmental differences or atypical patterns of thought or behavior. What neurotypical doesn\u2019t doesn\u2019t <\/span>mean is \u2018normal\u2019 or \u2018not autistic.\u2019 This is a common misconception, and one of the primary factors that make becoming more inclusive of neurological differences challenging.<\/p>

Being neurotypical means merely that they share a style of cognitive functioning with the dominant societal group.<\/p>

Examples<\/b><\/p>

I\u2019m neurotypical, but am very comfortable with other people\u2019s neurodivergence.<\/p>

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Inclusive Best Practices<\/h2>

Knowing the lingo is one thing, but putting it into practice is quite another. Don’t worry, though! The main thing is you\u2019re open to having conversations about neurodiversity and embracing individual differences. And that\u2019s a great start!\u00a0 If in doubt, the best course of action is to:<\/p>