what is neurodiversity?

There is no one "right" way of thinking, learning, and behaving. Neurodiversity is the fact that all people experience and interact with the world around them in many different ways.

We can imagine neurodiversity like a garden with all kinds of flowers - some are tall, some are short, some bloom brightly, and others have strong roots. Just like every plant adds something special to the garden, every person's brain is unique and adds something special to the world.

Different flowers need different conditions and care to grow well. Many people need different supports and accommodations to thrive. Neurodiversity affirming practice is a way of helping and supporting people that doesn't treat differences in how people think, feel, act, or interact with others as problems that need to be fixed.

Neurodiversity means we celebrate and value all the different kinds of minds, including those who think, learn, and see the world differently. It's about understanding that these differences are not something wrong, but are actually a natural and wonderful part of human diversity. So, just like every plant in the garden is important, every person, with their unique brain, is important and valued too.