Some examples of “neurodiversity” may include:

Autism

Autism is a natural variation in how a person's brain is "wired," affecting how they perceive the world, process information, and interact with others. Autistic individuals may: 

• Communicate and socialize differently than what modern society has determined to be “the norm”.

• Have strong, focused interests (sometimes called "special interests") that bring joy and deep knowledge.

• Often prefer predictable routines and might get distressed by unexpected changes.

• Experience sensory input (sights, sounds, textures) more intensely or less intensely than others. 

ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects a person's executive functioning skills (the brain's "management system").  People who experience the world through ADHD may:

• Experience difficulty sustaining “on-demand” attention based on someone else’s priorities.

• Have an abundance of energy or a need to move their bodies to engage their brains.

• Demonstrate an abundance of creativity, the ability to "hyperfocus" on high-interest tasks, and innovative problem-solving skills. 

Dyslexia

Dyslexia is a common learning difference that primarily impacts some areas of reading development and related language skills. It's a different way the brain processes language, not a measure of intelligence. A person who learns through dyslexia may: 

• Experience challenges with reading print and spelling.

• Display strengths in areas like creative thinking, problem-solving, and visual or spatial reasoning. 

• Demonstrate discrepancies in different areas of reading development. For example, may excel in comprehension and vocabulary with the accommodation of audiotext, but may struggle significantly to decode words in print.

Dysgraphia

Dysgraphia is a learning difference that makes the physical and/or mental process of writing challenging. It affects motor planning and the ability to organize thoughts on paper. Individuals with dysgraphia may: 

• Struggle with handwriting, finding it tiring or difficult to make letters clearly.

• Have trouble organizing their written ideas, even if they can express them well verbally.

• Be very bright and articulate, but their writing does not reflect their intelligence. 

Dyscalculia

Dyscalculia is a learning difference that makes some math-related tasks difficult. Similar to how dyslexia affects language, dyscalculia affects a person's "number sense." A person with dyscalculia may: 

• Struggle to understand numbers, remember basic math facts, or solve multi-step problems.

• Have difficulty with tasks like counting money, telling time, or estimating distances.

• Do their best work as mathematicians when they can “see” and “touch” their math, or in concrete areas of math like graphing meaningful data.

2E (Twice Exceptional)

Twice exceptional, or 2e, is a term for individuals who are identified as both “gifted” (often determined by cognitive testing) and have a neurodivergent profile (such as autism, ADHD, or a learning difference like dyslexia). 

• Their high intellectual abilities often mask their challenges, or their challenges mask their giftedness, making them sometimes misunderstood.

• They may show exceptional creativity or problem-solving skills, while simultaneously struggling with organization, social interactions, or specific academic tasks.

• 2e learners need support that nurtures their exceptional talents and accommodates their learning differences. 

These examples are not exhaustive and are not reflective of every individual experience.

Language is one way to describe and attempt to understand the identities and lived experiences of other people.

AND

Language also has its limitations. We are each called to be mindful of the ways that language can oversimplify, stereotype, or label another person’s identity or lived experience.