Neurodivergent

Neurodivergent describes a person whose brain works in ways that differ from what most people see as typical. The word for most other people is neurotypical. It's often used for autistic people, and many people with dyslexia and other conditions have joined the movement behind it. No source gives a fixed list of who counts. Like other words in autism and neurodiversity language, it describes who a person is, and it isn't a diagnosis or another word for autism.

The word grew out of a movement that autistic self-advocates began. The National Autistic Society says Kassiane Asasumasu coined it in 2000. The movement asks for respect. It holds that a brain that works this way is no less worthy than a typical one. People in the movement disagree on some big ideas, and views on therapy differ, too. Some writers reject therapy that tries to make people seem more typical, while two behavior analysts say people with very high support needs gain a lot from behavior analysis.

You may hear the word from other parents, teachers or your child's doctors. On its own, it doesn't tell you what your child needs. A child still needs an evaluation to get an autism diagnosis or a diagnosis of another condition. Support and acceptance can go together, too. One view in the movement still backs teaching daily skills that help a person do well.

• How goals are chosen: Ask your Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) how goals are chosen and whether your child's own wishes shape them.
• Skills that help: Ask which daily skills the plan teaches and how each one helps your child.
• Checking for autism: If you're unsure whether your child is autistic, ask your pediatrician about an evaluation.