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April 17, 2025

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Notes on Neurodivergence

Types of Neurodivergence

“Neurodivergence” is an umbrella term that encompasses a wide range of neurological differences. While it’s not a clinical diagnosis, it is widely used in psychological, educational, and advocacy communities to describe individuals whose brain functions differ from what is considered “neurotypical.” Here’s a breakdown of the main types of neurodivergence that are commonly recognized or discussed, each with distinct characteristics:

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Dyslexia
Dyscalculia
Dysgraphia
Dyspraxia (Developmental Coordination Disorder)
Tourette Syndrome and Tic Disorders
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)
Intellectual Disabilities (ID)
Bipolar Disorder (sometimes included)
Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder (debated inclusion)
Nonverbal Learning Disorder (NVLD)
Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) / Sensory Sensitivity

Characteristic Strengths Across Types

Considering those with low support needs (historically “high-functioning”), there are adaptive strengths that often come with it, especially when leveraged in the right context. Many of these strengths are situational and shine in the right environments (e.g., creative fields, analytical roles, high-focus tasks). Below is a general overview of shared and individual strengths across types:

Common Strengths Across Multiple Neurodivergent Types (Low Support Needs)

Hyperfocus & Deep Interest
- Seen in: Autism, ADHD, OCD
- Strength in: Research, programming, art, writing, design, or any field requiring deep expertise.
- Why it helps: Ability to dive deep into subjects, develop mastery, and sustain attention on tasks of interest far beyond average limits
Pattern Recognition & Systems Thinking
- Seen in: Autism, Dyslexia, OCD
- Strength in: Data science, software engineering, logistics, finance, and music.
- Why it helps: Ability to see hidden structures, connections, or inconsistencies others might miss.
Creative & Lateral Thinking
- Seen in: ADHD, Dyslexia, Bipolar Disorder
- Strength in: Marketing, entrepreneurship, design, storytelling, innovation.
- Why it helps: Thinking “outside the box,” generating novel ideas, and finding unexpected solutions.
High Empathy or Emotional Sensitivity
- Seen in: Autism (particularly in those with deep emotional insight), HSPs, Bipolar Disorder
- Strength in: Counseling, social work, healthcare, teaching, animal care.
- Why it helps: Heightened emotional attunement or sensitivity to environments and people can lead to deep connection and intuition.
Strong Visual or Spatial Thinking
- Seen in: Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, ADHD
- Strength in: Architecture, engineering, design, navigation, visual arts.
- Why it helps: Visual learners may conceptualize systems or ideas holistically and intuitively.
High Energy & Spontaneity
- Seen in: ADHD, Bipolar Disorder (hypomanic phases), Tourette’s (impulsivity channeled well)
- Strength in: Emergency services, hospitality, performing arts, sales.
- Why it helps: Ability to think and act quickly under pressure; thrives in dynamic environments.
Detail-Oriented & Perfectionistic
- Seen in: Autism, OCD, Dysgraphia
- Strength in: Editing, accounting, coding, legal review, quality control.
- Why it helps: Precision and consistency, particularly in complex or repetitive tasks.
Resilience & Adaptability
- Seen in: Across many types due to lived experience of navigating a neurotypical world
- Strength in: Leadership, advocacy, entrepreneurship.
- Why it helps: Problem-solving through necessity, managing internal systems, and navigating barriers builds a high degree of grit and creative coping.

Unique Strengths by Type (Low Support Needs)

Autism

Exceptional memory for facts, routines, or systems
Integrity and honesty (low tolerance for ambiguity or deception)
Logical, principled decision-making

ADHD

Fast-paced idea generation
Risk tolerance and bold action
Multitasking and adaptability to chaos

Dyslexia

Big-picture thinking and storytelling
Innovative verbal or artistic expression
Entrepreneurial mindset (common among successful dyslexic leaders)

Dyspraxia

Persistence in the face of physical challenges
Thoughtful planning (mental rehearsal)
Often strong verbal reasoning to compensate for motor struggles

OCD

Commitment to standards and structure
Reliability in rule-based or procedure-heavy environments
Thoroughness and caution

HSP / Sensory Sensitivity

Nuanced perception (of mood, tone, ambiance)
Appreciation for aesthetics or atmosphere
Care-driven leadership or caretaking

Low vs. High Support, Cultural Acceptance, and Life Experience

1. ND Individuals: Low vs. High Support Needs

Low Support Needs (“High Functioning” historically)

Often can mask or compensate for differences, especially in professional or social settings.
Still experience executive function challenges, sensory issues, or social fatigue, but may pass as neurotypical (often at great personal cost).
May not receive needed accommodations because they “seem fine.”
Experience “invisible” disability stress: internal struggles with few external signs, leading to underdiagnosis or misdiagnosis.
Can excel in careers or creative work when in supportive environments, but burnout and anxiety are common due to masking.

and anxiety are common due to masking.

High Support Needs (“Low Functioning” historically)

May require daily assistance, AAC devices (augmentative and alternative communication), structured care, or constant advocacy.
Often face greater societal stigma, exclusion from education/employment, and isolation.
Communication differences (nonverbal or atypical verbal expression) often misunderstood as lack of intelligence or agency.
May have co-occurring conditions (seizures, intellectual disability, etc.) that compound accessibility challenges.
Are often spoken about, not spoken with, in policy and media discussions.

Terminology Note

“High-functioning” and “low-functioning” are increasingly seen as reductive and pejorative.
They ignore context: someone may be verbal but overwhelmed in a sensory-heavy environment.
They focus on how comfortable neurotypical people are around the individual, not the individual’s own quality of life.
Better terms:
- “Low/High Support Needs”
- “Minimally Speaking / Non-Speaking”
- “Independent / Assisted living”, depending on context

2. Global Cultural Shifts and Attitudes Toward Neurodiversity

Western Countries (e.g., US, Canada, UK, Australia)

Leading in ND advocacy, legal protections (e.g., ADA in the US), and education reform.
Workplaces slowly adopting neuroinclusive policies, especially in tech and design.
But still deeply ableist at systemic levels—accommodations often require self-advocacy, and supports vary widely.

Nordic Countries

Strong social services and inclusive education models (e.g., Sweden, Finland).
Tend to normalize universal design principles (benefiting everyone, not just NDs).
Less stigma, but employment rates for high support needs still low.

East Asian Cultures (e.g., Japan, Korea, China)

High emphasis on conformity and academic achievement makes ND challenges more stigmatized.
Mental health awareness still in early stages, though rising.
Autism is increasingly diagnosed, but often late, and masking is heavily expected.

Global South (e.g., Africa, South Asia, Latin America)

Varies widely by region and class.
Often limited access to diagnosis or formal education accommodations.
ND often misunderstood as mental illness or spiritual disorder; stigma is high.
Advocacy is growing—grassroots ND-led movements exist in countries like India, Brazil, and South Africa.

3. Employment & Life Satisfaction for Higher-Support-Needs NDs

Employment

Extremely low employment rates for high-support-needs individuals (often <20%, sometimes <10% in competitive jobs).
Many are placed in segregated or sheltered workshops, often earning sub-minimum wage.
Supported employment models (with job coaches or structured transitions) exist but are underfunded and limited.
Key barriers:
- Lack of accessibility in hiring processes
- Communication and sensory environments
- Employer bias or lack of training

Life Satisfaction

Studies show that life satisfaction improves dramatically with:
- Supportive housing
- Meaningful daily activities
- Communication access
- Strong social connections (even just one or two)
Many high-support NDs report distress when autonomy is removed or when they are “managed” rather than included.
Families and caregivers often play a huge role in determining life quality, for better or worse.

In Summary

ND with low support needs may appear “successful” externally but face invisible struggles.
ND with high support needs face visible challenges and societal exclusion but deserve equal voice and autonomy.
The world is still largely built for neurotypical norms—but neurodiversity as a cultural and political identity is growing.
The shift away from “high/low functioning” reflects a broader move toward dignity-first language that centers the individual’s experience, not others’ comfort.

Understanding Across Types

A lot of ND people resonate with the feeling of being in-between worlds—not quite NT, not always at home with other NDs either, especially those whose support needs look very different. For instance, the autism spectrum isn’t a line from “more autistic” to “less autistic,” but a web of traits that manifest differently across people. Yet culturally, we’re still learning how to embrace that complexity. A neurodivergent person who’s been navigating this landscape independently may want to map it more fully—how it connects, who’s being centered or left out, and how we relate to each other across differences.

It may be just as difficult for different types of neurodiversity to understand and relate to each other as it is for them to relate to neurotypicals, but for different reasons. There often isn’t deep common knowledge of all these other varieties, whereas the neurotypical “rule book” (which neurodiverse people didn’t get a copy of) is nevertheless widely demonstrated throughout society at large.

Breaking it down from the perspective of a person with ASD and low support needs could look like this.

1. Understanding Other ND Types: Common Ground & Boundaries

It’s natural to find it difficult to relate to other types of ND—especially those with high support needs—because:

Their internal experience and external presentation may be totally different.
Communication style, sensory needs, or cognitive differences may make connection feel unclear or distant.
The systems built around them (e.g., caregiving, education, housing) often exclude low-support NDs, too—so the spaces don’t overlap much.

But there are also threads of shared experience:

Being misunderstood or undervalued.
Struggling to conform to NT expectations and rhythms.
Trying to advocate for respect, autonomy, and access in a system that often doesn’t want to listen.

2. Current Advocacy Landscape

Key Movements & Voices

Neurodiversity Paradigm: Founded on the idea that neurological difference is not a deficit but a natural variation. This includes autism, ADHD, dyslexia, etc., and challenges the medical/pathology framing (like “disorder”).
Disability Justice: Goes further—centering intersectionality, interdependence, and collective liberation. Originated from BIPOC, queer, and disabled activists (e.g., Sins Invalid).
Self-Advocacy Groups:
- ASAN (Autistic Self Advocacy Network): Led by autistic people, emphasizes “nothing about us without us.”
- Neuroclastic: ND-led writing platform exploring diverse experiences of neurodivergence.
- Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network (AWN): Focused on gender and neurodivergence intersections.

Tensions Within the Movement

Some low-support NDs (especially verbal adults) have been accused of “speaking over” those with high support needs.
Some caregivers/parents of high-support NDs reject the neurodiversity paradigm, saying it doesn’t reflect their child’s needs or realities.
The “profound autism” label (recently pushed in research) has sparked concern, as it may create artificial divides within the spectrum.

3. Building Relatability Without Erasing Difference

It’s okay not to feel immediate connection with other NDs—it’s not about forced solidarity, but mutual understanding and curiosity. Some ways to navigate that:

Listen to lived experiences, especially from NDs with high support needs who use AAC, or communicate differently.
Understand interdependence as valid and powerful—not something “less than” independence.
Recognize that ND doesn’t mean “same,” it means different from NT in a way that challenges how society is built.

4. Employment & Self-Advocacy

Employment struggles and self-advocacy efforts are core parts of the ND experience—and they’re shared by many low-support individuals who still struggle to keep jobs, avoid burnout, or navigate unspoken social norms. Some ND-specific career/advocacy resources:

Neurodiversity in the Workplace (NITW): A hiring program supporting ND folks in tech and science fields.
Disability:IN: Offers mentorship and connections between disabled professionals and inclusive employers.
“Disclosure coaching” and job accommodation strategies tailored to your sensory/social needs (happy to help you develop these if you’d like).