What is a Neurodiversity Affirming Framework?
When we talk about a Neurodiversity Affirming Framework, we’re describing a way of thinking and supporting people that celebrates the different ways our brains work.
Understanding Neurodiversity
Neurodiversity is the idea that there are many different ways that brains can function, and each variation is a natural and valuable part of human diversity. Just like people have different skin colors, or like different kinds of music, people’s brains also work in a variety of ways. Some people’s brains, like those with ADHD, autism, or dyslexia, work in ways that are less common, but not less important or valuable.
The ‘Affirming’ Part
To affirm something means to say “yes” to it, to agree with it positively. So when we affirm neurodiversity, we are saying “yes” to these brain differences. We’re not trying to fix them or make them go away. We’re accepting and valuing them just as they are.
Key Elements of the Framework
- Acceptance: Recognizing that everyone’s brain is unique and that’s okay – there’s no need to try and make everyone think or learn in the same way.
- Strengths-Based: Instead of just seeing the difficulties someone might have, we look for and celebrate their strengths and talents.
- Choice and Voice: Everyone has the right to make choices about their own life and to be heard when they speak about what they need and want.
- Challenging the ‘Normal’: Understanding that there isn’t just one ‘normal’ way to be. Different isn’t less, it’s just different.
- Personal Growth: Everyone grows and learns in their own way and time, and that personal journey should be supported and respected.
Why This Framework Matters
This way of thinking is especially important for people who often feel like they are on the outside looking in because their brains work differently. For women, who are often underdiagnosed or misunderstood when it comes to conditions like ADHD, this framework can be empowering. It allows them to see their differences not as flaws, but as aspects of themselves to be understood and embraced.
A Neurodiversity Affirming Framework is all about embracing the variety of human brains. It’s a positive and inclusive way of supporting each other that recognizes the unique value in how each of us thinks and interacts with the world. It’s a commitment to understanding, not changing, the diverse tapestry of the human mind.
A Neurodiversity Affirming Framework is a compassionate and inclusive approach that embraces the diverse ways our brains function. It’s a shift from viewing neurological differences as deficits to recognizing them as natural variations of the human experience.
More about the Framework of Neurodiversity Affirming
The framework is founded on several key principles that collectively support and empower neurodivergent individuals:
- Embracing All Identities (Intersectionality): Recognizing that every aspect of a person’s identity, including race, gender, and culture, interplays uniquely with their neurodivergence.
- Championing Personal Choice (Respecting Autonomy): Upholding the right of individuals to make their own decisions, respecting their autonomy over their lives and bodies.
- Believing in Capability (Presuming Competence): Shifting the focus from limitations to the potential, acknowledging that every individual has the ability to understand, learn, and communicate.
- Validating Every Way of Functioning: Understanding that variations in mental processing are not flaws, but part of the rich diversity of the human brain.
- Questioning the ‘Normal’ (Rejecting Neuronormativity): Challenging the societal norms that define one way of thinking or behaving as the standard, and advocating for the acceptance of diverse neurological makeups.
- Tailoring Expectations (Reframing Expectations): Adapting our expectations to embrace the unique developmental paths, communication styles, and learning methods of neurodivergent individuals.
- Encouraging Self-Representation (Promoting Self-Advocacy): Empowering individuals to speak up for their needs and rights, reinforcing the importance of self-advocacy.
- Honoring Personal Experiences (Prioritizing Lived Experience): Valuing the lived experiences of neurodivergent individuals as vital sources of insight and understanding.
- Fostering a Positive Self-View (Nurturing Positive Self-Identity): Encouraging individuals to embrace their neurodivergence with pride and positivity.
- Creating Accommodating Environments (Adapting Systems & Environments): Advocating for changes in societal systems and environments to be more accommodating and inclusive.
- Respecting Diverse Communication (Honoring All Forms Of Communication): Valuing all forms of communication, acknowledging that expression goes beyond spoken language.
Why This Framework Matters
This framework is particularly significant in shifting the narrative around neurodivergence. Instead of perceiving neurological differences as problems to be solved, it encourages a perspective of understanding, acceptance, and celebration. By embracing these principles, we foster a more inclusive and supportive society where the uniqueness of every individual is recognized and valued.
Conclusion
The Neurodiversity Affirming Framework is more than a set of guidelines; it’s a transformative way of thinking and interacting. It aims to build communities and environments where neurodiversity is not just accepted but appreciated as a natural and valuable aspect of human diversity. This approach not only empowers neurodivergent individuals but also enriches our collective human experience.
This info is heavily drawn upon these sources. Thanks to them
https://www.verywellmind.com/what-does-it-mean-for-a-therapist-to-be-neurodiversity-affirming-6829954
https://medium.com/@livedexperienceeducator/neurodiversity-affirming-practice-core-principles-f2c6d70661af
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