For decades, human intelligence and cognitive development have been measured through a rigid statistical lens. In clinical and educational settings, the Gaussian bell curve has dictated who is considered “normal,” who is “deficient,” and who is “gifted.” However, as explored in my research essay, Beyond the Curve: The Neurobiology and Psychology of Giftedness in the 21st Century, this binary approach to human minds is proving to be outdated. To truly understand the human brain, modern healthcare and advocacy must look past statistical models and embrace the profound reality of neurodiversity.
Tag Archives: neurodiversity
Artists with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities – by Diane Storman
Seeing Differently in San Diego and Beyond
Author’s Note: This article intentionally intersperses person-first language with identity-first terms such as “autistic” and “neurodivergent” to reflect and respect the wide range of individual preferences regarding descriptive language.
For many artists with autism, art is not just a creative outlet; it is a forum for conveying experiences and perspectives that are often not expressed in words. Autistic artists use visual expression to communicate their experiences and challenge ideas about disability and creativity.
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Neurodiversity: An Organizational Asset – by Maureen Dunne, Cathy Schwallie Farmer
Introduction
IntroductionWe make the case here that neurodivergent thinkers should be an important part of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) policies because every organization stands to benefit from the inclusion of different cognitive perspectives in creating the organization’s culture.
This argument can be made from several different angles. For example, it can be made from the standpoint of a single organization, competing with other organizations in a commercial or industrial pursuit. It can also be made from the standpoint of the larger society, which stands to benefit from more innovative and equitable organizations.
Wouldn’t we all prefer to live in a world that values individuals for the skills and talents each of us uniquely possesses? Wouldn’t we all prefer to live in a world where seeming misfit pieces of the puzzle find a suitable home in the tapestry of the larger machine that is a 21st century economy?
Continue reading Neurodiversity: An Organizational Asset – by Maureen Dunne, Cathy Schwallie Farmer