Understanding Neurodiversity: Many Ways to Think

Recently, rather than talking about diagnostic and deficit-focused labels like autism and ADHD, people are focusing more on neurodiversity- the idea that everyone's brains are different and that's one of the great features of human evolution. The challenge for neurodivergent people comes about when the neurotypical world is not set up to meet their needs. In this talk I'll discuss the different approaches to these definitions, and what it means for how and what science we do with children and young people, and the way this impacts them and their families lives

What if ability and disability aren't things people have, but things that happen when people, objects and environments come together? This talk shifts attention away from individuals and towards relationships and environments. Using examples like Augmentative and Alternative Communication devices and assistance dogs I'll show how everyday, moment-to-moment encounters between people, things and spaces can enable or disable - and why this way of thinking changes how we understand neurodivergence.