What does it mean to be neurodiverse?

Teenage girl making funny face sitting criss cross apple sauce

To be neurodiverse is to process the world around you in your own unique way. There are many terms that fall under this umbrella of neurodiversity: Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, and the list goes on.

Does it mean you have a disability? Well, this is a tricky question. the short answer is no and yes. I have Dyslexia and ADHD, most days I see these as my superpowers and then there are days when the fatigue sets in and I just can't..... This is because being neurodivergent means we think differently and process sights, sound, touch in our own way. All of these can affect our nervous system to the point of overstimulation or exhaustion. Some of us mask the characteristics that make us neurodiverse "to fit in" and some of us let our differences shine. It's not a disability when we learn how to use our "superpowers" and it is an unseen disability when we are navigating a world that was not made for the outside of the box thinkers, the world changers, the inventors, the neurodiverse.

To be neurodiverse is to think outside the box. It's to problem solve in one's own unique way. Taking hold of those neurodiverse superpowers may mean becoming a thought leader, a creator, artist, inventor. To be neurodiverse is to have unlimited possibilities. We may need to work a little harder in the areas we struggle in, we may need to learn strategies and coping tools to help navigate a neurotypical world but always remember you are unique and the possibilities are unlimited.

Written by Marisol Matos School psychologist & Cofounder of The Lyberty Studio