Neurodiversity

Much of the art of finding fun comes begins with the realization that it is a lot easier to change the game than it is to try to change the people who are playing.  In other words, because it’s all for fun in the first place, finding fun has nothing to do with questioning how sane we are or how well-adapted or physically, emotionally or cognitively gifted – but rather everything to do with how successful the game is in leading us to sharing something fun.

Naturally, as usual, we’re talking about something far more profound than you’d normally think of when you think of fun and games. We’re talking about deep fun and the daily game. About the fun of being alive.

Today’s word for the day is “neurodiversity.” It comes to us from Dr. Thomas Armstrong, whom we have already cited for his profound contribution to our understanding of playfulness. The book’s title: Neurodiversity: Discovering the Extraordinary Gifts of Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, and Other Brain Differences.

In it, Dr. Armstrong presents a remarkable proposal – an alternate perspective for us viewing mental health.

You can read more about it in his article Your Brain is a Rain Forest, where he suggests that “Instead of pretending that hidden away in a vault somewhere is a perfectly ‘normal; brain, to which all other brains must be compared (e.g., the rose psychiatrist’s brain), we need to admit that there is no standard brain, just as there is no standard flower, or standard cultural or racial group, and that, in fact, diversity among brains is just as wonderfully enriching as biodiversity and the diversity among cultures and races.”

The principle tenets of neurodiversity are:

1. The human brain works more like an ecosystem than a machine
2. Human beings and human brains exist along continuums of competence
3. Human competence is defined by the values of the culture to which you belong
4. Whether you are regarded as disabled or gifted depends largely upon when and where you live
5. Success in life is based upon adapting one’s brain to the needs of the surrounding environment
6. Success in life depends upon modifying your surrounding environment to fit the needs of your unique brain
7. Niche construction includes career and lifestyle choices and assistive technologies tailored to the needs of a neurodiverse individual
8. Positive niche construction directly modifies the brain, which in turn enhances its ability to adapt to the environment

Read it. The article, at least. It could very well restore your faith – in your own unique being, in your family and friends, in the pursuit of fun.

Tagged as: acceptance, autism, happiness, niche