Neurodiversity

Neurodiversity describes the natural variation in how our brains process information, learn, and helps us to engage with people and our environments. Examples include autism, ADHD, dyscalculia, Tourette’s, and dyslexia. Many people are unaware of neurodiversity and too often it is conflated with disability, leading to misunderstanding, stigma, and frequent misdiagnosis.

Knowledge is critical for people of color communities because we are often misdiagnosed or overlooked for neurodivergent conditions because of bias and/or cultural misunderstanding. Our behavior is sometimes seen as stereotypical, bad, or simply a language issue instead of autism, ADHD, or other neurodivergent possibilities. This leads to delayed services or inappropriate help that can worsen our outcomes in school, health care, and work.

The term neurodiverse recognizes the range of diversity among us, and in so doing can reduce harm and open paths to individuals, friends, and family members seeking guidance and support. This page is intended to foster greater understanding about neurodiversity. We clarify what neurodiversity means, address common misconceptions, and provide practical information. It also serves as a connection point for community members, linking you to reliable local and national resources, peer supports, and professional services so individuals and families can access the guidance and tools they need. Like other parts of this website—it is a living page. This means you can check back every now and again to refresh your knowledge and for updates to news and information.

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