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Why is autism a neurodivergence?
Autism is best understood as a form of neurodivergence—an alternative neural wiring that shapes how individuals think, perceive, and interact with the world.
Autism falls under the neurodiversity umbrella, with some autistic individuals preferring the term "neurodivergent" to describe their unique thinking patterns without the clinical implications of a "disorder." While sometimes used interchangeably, neurodivergent specifically acknowledges alternative cognitive styles, whereas neurodiversity encompasses the full spectrum of all human minds—both neurodivergent and neurotypical.
"Neurodivergent" relates to neurodevelopmental conditions affecting brain and nervous system development, such as autism, ADHD, and dyslexia. These typically emerge in childhood and affect learning, communication, and interaction, representing natural variations in brain development. While autism is a key example, neurodivergence also includes ADHD, dyslexia, and other conditions. Mental health conditions are not typically part of neurodiversity but may co-occur with neurodivergent conditions.
Autism University is composed of two main sections: Defintions of Autism and the 5 Views of Autism. Below you will find future topics listed out in no partiular order at this time.
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Echolalia
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Scripting
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Gestalt Processing
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Neurodiversity embraces different ways of thinking and moves away from deficit-based perspectives toward celebrating cognitive diversity. The infinity symbol has become a meaningful emblem for this movement, with the rainbow version representing broader neurodivergence and the gold version specifically symbolizing autism—the gold color may have been intentionally chosen because the chemical symbol for gold is AU, connecting to the word "autism." This symbol is widely preferred over the puzzle piece, which many in the autism community dislike due to its historical associations with pathology and lack of input from autistic people themselves.
Neurodiversity
"..a world not less, but simply diverse."
Autism
The term "puzzling" is often viewed unfavorably when describing individuals, as it can carry negative connotations despite usually being well-intentioned. Autism is considered a neurodivergence because it represents unique neurological differences that affect perception, interaction, communication, sensory processing, and social interaction, creating a distinct experience of reality. This developmental difference involves both strengths (like intense focus) and challenges (such as sensory sensitivity), and while mental health issues may co-occur, autism itself stems from natural brain variation rather than being a mental health condition.