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Autism Spectrum Disorder and Neurodiversity

Welcome to the guide on Autism Spectrum Disorder and Neurodiversity

 

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According to the National Institute of Mental Health:

Autism spectrum disorder is a neurological and developmental disorder that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn, and behave. Although autism can be diagnosed at any age, it is described as a “developmental disorder” because symptoms generally appear in the first two years of life.

Neurodiversity is a term that was coined by sociologist Judy Singer in 1998. Neurodivergent is derived from the term neurodiversity and has increasingly been used by individuals with ASD and other mental illnesses or disorders to destigmatize and empower. According to the Cleveland Clinic:

Neurodivergent is a nonmedical term that describes people whose brains develop or work differently for some reason. This means the person has different strengths and struggles from people whose brains develop or work more typically. While some people who are neurodivergent have medical conditions, it also happens to people where a medical condition or diagnosis hasn’t been identified.