Neurodiversity is one of those words that gets thrown around a lot, but if you ask ten different people what it actually means, you’ll probably get ten different answers. For some, it’s a clinical term. For others, it’s an identity. For others still, it’s a buzzword slapped onto corporate inclusivity posters.
So let’s slow down for a minute and unpack it properly. What does count as neurodiversity? Who gets to claim it? And why does it matter?
Neurodiversity, the Definition and the Movement
At its core, neurodiversity is the idea that brains are different, and that those differences are natural and valuable. It was coined in the late 1990s by sociologist Judy Singer, as a way to reframe conditions like autism, ADHD, and dyslexia not as deficits or disorders, but as part of the normal spectrum of human variation.
Think of it like biodiversity, but for minds. Diversity isn’t a flaw, it’s a feature.
Since then, the term has grown into a social and political movement. One that pushes back against medicalised, deficit-based models of brain difference and instead focuses on rights, access, understanding, and self-determination.
So What “Counts”?
There is no single, authoritative list, because neurodiversity is a concept (the diversity of all human brains), not a diagnostic manual. BUT within the neurodiversity movement, academics, clinicians, and lived-experience communities generally agree on a core set of neurodevelopmental differences.
These are widely considered part of the neurodivergent umbrella:
Autism
ADHD
Dyslexia
Dyspraxia / Developmental Coordination Disorder
Dyscalculia
Dysgraphia
Tourette Syndrome / Tic Disorders
Sensory Processing differences (not a standalone diagnosis in DSM-5, but recognised within ND communities)
Intellectual / learning disabilities (in UK terminology, learning disabilities meaning cognitive impairment)
Some people also include OCD, bipolar disorder, and PTSD under the wider neurodivergent umbrella, especially when those experiences involve long-term differences in how someone thinks, feels, and processes the world.
It’s not about ticking boxes. It’s about understanding that our brains interact with the world in different ways, and that some of us are more supported by systems than others.
Neurodiverse or Neurodivergent?
Quick note. Neurodiversity refers to the group, the fact that different brain types exist. Neurodivergent is a word used to describe individuals whose brains diverge from what’s considered “typical.”
So, someone might say “I’m neurodivergent,” or “I’m part of the neurodiverse community.” Both are valid, just used slightly differently.
Labels Can Be Messy, But Still Useful
Some people avoid the term neurodivergent because they don’t feel “diagnosed enough,” or they’re worried about being seen as jumping on a trend. Others have multiple diagnoses but still struggle to feel legitimate because their experience doesn’t match what people expect.
The truth is, neurodivergence isn’t always obvious, and diagnosis is often expensive, inaccessible, or biased. Just because you don’t have a paper trail doesn’t mean your experience isn’t real.
Labels shouldn’t be a gate. They should be a bridge — to understanding, to support, to community. If using the term neurodivergent helps you make sense of your life, your patterns, your needs, then it’s yours to use.
Why This Matters
Understanding neurodiversity isn’t just about semantics. It’s about shifting the conversation away from “fixing” people and towards creating a world where all brains are supported.
That means rethinking education, employment, healthcare, and social norms. It means validating the struggles and celebrating the strengths. It means asking better questions. What do you need? What helps? What harms? And how can we make space for you to show up without shrinking?
At Practical Wisdom we don’t gatekeep neurodivergence. We don’t make assumptions. We believe in working with the individual in front of us, not their paperwork. Whether you’re diagnosed, self-identified, exploring, or just trying to understand your brain a bit better, you’re welcome here.
This isn’t about fitting you into a box. It’s about helping you understand that there was never anything wrong with you for not fitting the mould.
Your brain counts. Your needs count. And yes, you’re allowed to take up space in this conversation.