#Dyslexia
#Dyspraxia/DCD
#Dyscalculia
#AD(H)D
#ASD/Autism
#Tourette's Syndrome
If you have a combination of these or other related conditions then you are what I refer to as neurodiverse. This is my 'label' of choice, partly because I think it has fewer negative connotations but mainly because I feel it more accurately describes our actual differences.
Why use a different label?
I believe I am neurologically 'diverse,' or 'different,' because I don't interpret things the way neuro-'typical' people seem to. The way I see it is that my senses perceive and interpret the world around me differently to other people, so as a result I gather information, retain facts, retrieve memories and react emotionally, differently to the majority of my peers. In basic terms, this means I need different stimulations to learn (to gather, retain and recall information). This makes learning in the traditional way very hard for me. I have been 'dis'advantaged by not having my differences and difficulties recognised and accounted for but am I really 'dis'abled?
Don't 'Dis' My Ability!
If you have one of these or a similar 'hidden' impairment or learning difficulty, it is up to you to decide which terms you feel happiest about using. Whether you seek acceptance for your differences or try to hide them is up to you. At some point or another, you will probably want to discuss how your differences affect you with someone. The following should help you achieve that whether you think you have a neurodiverse difference, a difficulty, a disability or all of the above. I'm not going to try to persuade you either way, how you view it remains your choice.
Problem is, if you think it's a 'difference' and want to feel positive about it then I'd like you to take a step back and take a look at the language commonly used to describe these 'differences'.
In my view what you believe about yourself is your choice but how you come across to other people is very much down to the language you and they use.
What's 'Wrong' With The Language
This is what used to happen when I took exactly what had been said to me over the years and repeated it back to people as a way of describing how my neurodiversity affected me.
The Facts About My Differences
'I have diagnosed dyslexia, dyspraxia/DCD with overlapping ADHD and ASD traits. I also have Irlen Syndrome and a few other related conditions. This means I have neurological disorders and deficits that need to be taken into account if I am expected to achieve the same as other 'normal' people my age.
Schools now put difficult children like me in 'special' education classes where teachers are trained to teach those of us who are more challenging to teach than 'normal' children. This way our different way of learning doesn't disadvantage the 'normal' kids.
Plus, we learn better when our conditions are accounted for and the normal kids don't judge us for needing special treatment for what they, and their parents normally interpret as naughty behaviour.
When our deficits, disorders and syndromes are accounted for, whether we are 'normal' or disabled, we all get an equal chance to flourish.'
(I have added quotation marks to the word normal because when people use it they obviously feel uncomfortable saying it and often use the quotation gesture when they say the word.)
So, How Did That Feel?
It's factually correct from a medical and educational perspective but did it make you feel like you were being forced to admit to problems? To an inability to learn and, to a potential, for 'difficult' or disruptive behaviour?
Did it make you feel guilty for the impact you'd have on the 'normal' children? Or did it just make you feel a little uncomfortable about your potential to fit in anywhere?
I always tried to sound positive and I tried to be totally honest about what I had, but when I used the words that I had heard used to describe the condition to me and others like me I never felt positive by the end of it.
the Problem is that You Can't Change The Facts
I don't have a problem with the diagnostic labels, they have helped me gain much needed information and support so there's no reason to change them but, one thing I would like to change is the actual language I use to describe me!
So here goes...
Same Thing - Different Words
I am neurodiverse, this means I have neurological differences that need to be taken into account if I am expected to achieve the same skills as neuro-'typical' people my age.
Schools now put children with differences like mine in 'Different Learning Needs' classes where teachers are trained to teach those of us who learn in different ways to neuro-typical children. This way our different way of learning doesn't affect the neuro-typical kids.
Plus we learn better when our differences are accounted for and the neuro-typical kids don't judge us for needing different treatment for what they, and their parents typically interpret as naughty behaviour.
When our differences are accounted for, whether we are neuro-typical or neuro-diverse, we all get an equal chance to flourish.
Did That Feel Less Negative?
Now, it's one thing for me to talk about myself in this way and as an intellectual adult with a good mastery of English I can express myself in this eloquent way. Problem is that most of the people with these diagnosed conditions don't have my ability to express themselves and that is because they are children. This means they are not developed enough to differentiate between loaded and neutral language.
Think about it, this kind of language is discussed around them all the time by people they regard as experts; by their parents, by their teachers, by their close family and by medical practitioners.
Let me tell you, from where I stand (and that's usually a very unstable base), it's horrible hearing other people use this kind of language as a way of predicting, justifying or excusing your behaviour or poor performance.
We don't want people making excuses for us and blaming our 'disorders'. We just want to be able to achieve our full potential in life without our differences holding us back. Whenever you hear people discussing these differences in future, just pay attention to the kind of language that's being used and challenge it if it's unnecessarily negative.
The Experiment - Part One
Question 1
How do you think you would feel if you were a young child constantly being subjected to this kind of language about you?
Question 2
Would it help you understand your differences?
Question 3
Would it allow you to view the world as your oyster, full of possibilities and expectations and encourage you to achieve your full potential?
The Experiment - Part Two
Question 4
How do you think you would feel if you were a young child constantly being subjected to this kind of language about you?
Question 5
Did saying it this way make a difference to how you or a child might perceive their differences and their opportunities in life?
Question 6
Will you give 'changing the language' a go just in case it makes a difference?
How Did Changing The Language Work For Me?
After I changed the words I used to describe my differences I found it was much easier to be positive about myself on the whole. That in itself has had a huge impact on my self-esteem. I can talk about all the cool coping strategies I've developed and feel proud of who I am.
Yes I am neurodiverse, yes my differences can disable me from managing things that neuro-typical people seem to find easy and people challenge my positivity all the time. However, then there are many things about me that are unique, exceptional and quite frankly magnificent too and I'd rather spend my time discussing them!
This has shown me that if we want to change perspectives we have to start with the language!
Are You Up For The Challenge?
Self-esteem
Self-confidence
Self-acceptance
Understanding from others
If there is even the slightest chance that 'changing the language' can change the way you see yourself, your potential and allows you to feel able to discuss your differences (strengths and weaknesses) in a positive way with others, then surely it's worth a try.
If you are up for the challenge then please do come back and let us know what differences you've seen.
Don't ever let anyone 'dis' your ability and assume you have 'no' ability
All 'Dis'abled people have 'abilities' and it's up to us to discover them, foster them and empower them so that everyone with a difference can succeed in life!