Neurodiversity refers to variation in the brain regarding sociability, learning, attention, mood, and other mental functions. It applies to a wide range of neurological variation, known as neurovariations, including autism, Asperger's, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, dysgraphia, Tourette syndrome, and others. In this program, we'll discuss the origins of the term and its intricacies. We'll also talk about the current neurodiversity movement, what it aims to do, and how to approach neurodiversity in the workplace.

Neurodiversity is a relatively new idea in the sociological and medical fields. Because of this, there's a lot of misconception and a lack of clarity surrounding the movement. In this course, we'll walk through some of the core ideas, as well as the criticisms, of neurodiversity. We'll discuss the social versus medical models of disability, as well as some of the misconceptions surrounding the neurodiversity movement.

People with neurovariations may spend a lot of time trying to adjust to their work environment by managing their social behavior or finding ways to block out distractions. Over time, this extra effort can take a toll on their work performance, as well as their physical and mental health. Expecting neurodiverse people to work under difficult circumstances sets up an unfair situation, where their neurotypical coworkers might ignore their needs or preferences. Adopting the ideas of neurodiversity at work helps immensely, reducing the stigma and stress that affects neurodiverse workers. Let's talk about what this looks like.