Fact or Myth
In this section read the statement and guess whether it is a fact or a myth. Then flip the card to reveal the answer.
Neurodiversity only refers to autism
Myth
There are more conditions than just autism that affect humans. Neurodiversity is a broad term that includes a variety of conditions, such as ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, and Tourette's syndrome.
Neurodiverse people are all the same.
Myth
Each person with a neurodiverse condition has their own unique abilities, strengths, and challenges. Some may be able to thrive without much assistance, and other inviduals might require more, so it's not fair to call every neurodiverse individual the same.
The term "neurodiversity" was coined in the 1990s by Australian sociologist Judy Singer
Fact
Judy Singer wanted to establish a term to help people realize that everyone's brain is unique in its development.
ADHD and ADD are different diagnoses.
Myth
ADD is an outdated term for ADHD. The confusion stems from the fact that some people with ADHD do not exhibit hyperactive behaviors. However, the diagnosis remains the same.
Neurodiversity is something to be fixed.
Controversial
This is a controversial statement. Many symptoms of neurodivergent conditions tend to be treated such as attention-enhancing medication for ADHD or Autism, but us knowing so little about their origins prevents us from finding a cure. It's also an ethically complicated statement because we are proposing changing something fundamental about a person. As we've discussed before, someone's neurological differences causes a person to perceive the world differently, which can be a strenght in some environments and a challenge in others. The idea mainly boils to down to whether we should alter a person so that they can better fit into our society, or adapt our society to better accommodate their natural variation?
People should always say "autistic person" instead of "autistic".
Controversial
This statement refers to a debate around the preferred language used to refer to neurodiverse populations—identity-first vs. person-first. Different individuals, groups, and communities may prefer one over the other based on their personal experiences and the meanings they attach to the terms. If you find yourself referring to someone who is neurodivergent, it's best to ask them which language they prefer, as a small but meaningful way to demonstrate respect and understanding.