About Neurodivergent Guide

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Neurodivergence spans many different fields of study, including neurology, psychology, sociology, education, disability studies, and medicine. Each field brings its own insights, and it is important to focus on lived experience as a key source of knowledge in these conversations.

Neurodivergence is complex, shaped by culture, and felt differently by each person. I know my understanding keeps changing, so I try to learn, find resources, and create with curiosity and humility. I seek out different viewpoints, even those that challenge mine, because no single approach can explain all of human neurodiversity.

Even if I disagree with an idea, author, or research, or see things differently, I still choose to engage with that work. This helps me understand other perspectives and decide whether to include or reject new information based on my learning and experiences. At the very least, 

it helps me clarify my own views and reminds me that there is always more to learn.

I believe meaningful understanding emerges at the intersection of lived experience, empirical research, cultural context, and critical reflection. By acknowledging the limits of any single lens and remaining open to disagreement, I aim to reduce harm, increase inclusion, and support more nuanced, compassionate, and effective conversations. Approaching learning in this way also helps minimize the risk of confirmation bias and intellectual rigidity.

I am committed to dignity, autonomy, justice, and ongoing learning, recognizing that real growth means listening, unlearning, and creating and holding space for those voices that have historically been overlooked or marginalized.

Neurodivergence shapes individuals, families, and communities in profoundly varied ways. With wide variation in strengths, challenges, and support needs, what one person experiences as affirming may be harmful or insufficient for another. Strengths-based narratives alone can obscure profound disability and support needs, while deficit-focused models risk erasing agency, identity, and dignity. Holding space for both realities is essential if we are to avoid excluding the most vulnerable members of the neurodivergent community.

Effective advocacy also requires an understanding of the foundational assumptions embedded within society and how they have historically shaped educational, healthcare, and policy systems. Dismissing or ignoring particular perspectives, especially those that are uncomfortable or conflict with our views, limits our ability to anticipate harm, intervene meaningfully, and create sustainable, ethical change.