Neurodiversity Rules! IAC 12th Annual Conference

The word itself is so young and the science on which its based is still emergent, but one thing feels clear: ‘neurodiversity’ has the rare resonance of a word that suggests new worlds of possibilities. It betokens a paradigm shift, a new perspective that changes the way we order reality.
We know better than most that devaluing people with different brains is not only cruel but impractical. We have the right to applaud any shift toward acceptance and inclusion. What we don’t have is time: before we celebrate, we need to focus on the opportunity and obligation this represents to us, the organizations best positioned to realize the promise of this powerful idea. This wonderfully simple, revolutionary word undermines dichotomies like normal/disabled and advanced/delayed by re-framing varied intelligences as natural.
We have the passion and hard-won expertise to shape a different future: the possibilities for new relevance, new partnerships, new funding, and new approaches await.