Social Justice and Affirmative Approaches to Neurodiversity

Neurodiversity includes a wide range of neurological and cognitive variations, such as autism, ADHD, intellectual disability (ID), dyslexia, dyscalculia, and Tourette syndrome. Core principles of a neuroaffirmative approach, informed by disability justice, emphasize the recognition and cultivation of the unique competencies, cognitive styles, and perspectives that neurodivergent individuals bring to diverse contexts. This framework advocates for the provision of individualized and flexible support systems that accommodate varying needs, while simultaneously promoting agency, autonomy, and self-determination. Rather than pathologizing difference, a neuroaffirmative perspective seeks to create environments that are responsive to neurodivergent ways of being, and that challenge normative assumptions about functioning, productivity, and value. The identification and integration of multiple perspectives is of critical importance in disciplines such as neurodiversity studies, where scientific research, sociopolitical frameworks, and individual lived experiences are intricately interwoven. The knowledge produced within this context holds the potential to shape broader societal outcomes for neurodivergent populations.A central objective of this Research Topic is to enhance the comprehension of how diverse individuals cultivate neuroaffirmative practices that can optimize health outcomes. This involves contemplating the evolution of support requirements throughout the life span and the intersection of these requirements with gender, ethnicity, and age. For instance, it is crucial to acknowledge that cultural norms can influence communication styles and the expression of emotions. This Research Topic is grounded in a disability justice approach, and aims to explore how neurodivergent experiences, such as identity formation and role taking are shaped by intersecting systems, such as the labour market, social and healthcare support—and how these dynamics unfold across the life course.Submissions focusing on neuroaffirmative approaches in relation to the following themes are encouraged:• Experiences of a fragmented support system involving different societal actors’ ability to meet the need for a neuroaffirmative and holistic support system that values the lived experience of neurodivergent people• Challenges with providing and needing different types of support across the life span• How family life and gender roles are affected by being a neurodivergent adult navigating the demands of a neurotypical world• How to counteract epistemic injustice in social service and healthcare settings, for example, the mental health consequences of misunderstandings and misperceptions experienced by neurodivergent people• Experiences of participating in the open labour market or having access to supported employment. Topic editors: Lill Hultman, Kristina Engwall, Lauren Quetsch Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/78773/social-justice-and-affirmative-approaches-to-neurodiversity