We all have different brains, with different strengths and weaknesses. Some people share similarities in the way their brains process information. People who share these similarities can be described as sharing a ‘neurotype’. People with the most common neurotype are sometimes referred to as “neurotypical,” and those who have neurological differences from the average are sometimes referred to as “neurodivergent.” Neurodivergence encompasses a range of differences, including Autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Dyslexia, and Tourette’s, to name a few. Read more about Autism.
Since neurodivergent people live in a world that has been largely designed to suit the needs and comfort of neurotypical people, neurodivergent people are at increased risk of experiencing stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health difficulties. For example, some neurodivergent people have sensory sensitivities (e.g., to noises or smells), making normal classroom settings difficult to learn in, and shopping at busy supermarkets exhausting.