Where does Neurodiversity stem from?
Where does Neurodiversity stem from?
The concept and coinage of the term “neurodiversity” has been attributed to Judy Singer, a sociologist, who has been credited with creating the term in her 1998 honors thesis (a requirement for her bachelor’s degree at the University of Technology Sydney). Nonetheless, she was one of many working on theorizing the concept. Her work was influenced by Autistic activists and allies and earlier articles by journalist Harvey Blume, who attributed his work to the online community called Independent Living on the Autistic Spectrum (InLv). This community was hosted in the mid-1990s by Martijn Dekker, a computer programmer. He joined the Neurodiversity movement at its beginning, in 1996, before the term existed, and created this space for Autistic individuals.
This concept has even earlier origins that were not publicly known until recently. Archival records show the earliest discussions of “neurological diversity” were by a member of the InLv, Tony Langdon, in conversation with Phil Schwarz before Singer joined the forum. Neurodiversity, essentially, was a collective effort by these online Autistic activist communities. I would also like to note that part of this collective development includes Kassiane Asasumasu’s (Autism activist) coining of “neurodivergent” and “neurodivergence” as the opposite of neurotypical around 2000.
There is now some controversy with Singer due to accusations of her making transphobic statements on social media, which has not been received well by the community. Studies show that Autistic people are more likely to be trans or gender non-conforming than the general population. Autistic gender-diverse individuals are some of the most marginalized. As it is, the neurodivergent community, along with BIPOC neurodivergents, are already marginalized.
The Development of the Neurodiversity Paradigm
The neurodiversity movement is a social justice movement rooted in the framework of the neurodiversity paradigm. The neurodiversity paradigm stems from the social model of disability, which contrasts with the dominant medical model of disability. The medical model views disabilities, including Autistic and ADHD minds, as inherent flaws that need to be treated or cured and only views deficits. This perspective often leads to interventions like behavioral therapies, social skills, supplements, or treatments aimed at altering neurodivergent traits and characteristics. Unfortunately, these approaches can harm neurodivergent individuals by promoting the idea that their natural behaviors are unacceptable and training them to repress their behaviors instead of looking at underlying needs, truly accepting and understanding how they process, and working with their minds, not against them. This often leads to long-term psychological damage.
In contrast, the social disability model declares that people are disabled not by their conditions but by societal barriers—such as physical inaccessibility, ableism, discrimination, and stigma—that limit their full participation. Neurodiversity aligns with this model, advocating for accommodations, improved societal attitudes, and reduced stigma rather than attempting to "cure" neurological differences. This perspective often promotes identity-first language (e.g., "autistic person") as a way to honor neurodivergence as an intrinsic part of identity —though individual language preferences should always be respected — rather than person-first language that the medical model of disability promotes, such as “person with autism,” or “person who has autism.” Being neurodivergent is part of who we are and how we experience, view, and process everything. It cannot be separated.
Ultimately, the medical model focuses on "fixing" disabilities, while the social model emphasizes removing barriers to inclusion and equality. Embracing neurodiversity requires shifting societal perceptions, addressing accessibility issues, and recognizing the valuable contributions of neurodivergent individuals. In doing so, society can foster justice, equity, and a deeper appreciation for human diversity.
References:
Botha, M., Chapman, R., Giwa Onaiwu, M., Kapp, S. K., Stannard Ashley, A., & Walker, N. (2024). The neurodiversity concept was developed collectively: An overdue correction on the origins of neurodiversity theory. Autism, 28(6), 1591-1594. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613241237871
Luterman, S., & Sosin, K. (2024, April 23). Who coined the term ‘neurodiversity?’ It wasn’t Judy Singer, some autistic academics say. The 19th News (Letter).
-Written by Cecilia Hernandez, MFT, Coach, Founder
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