Pushing The Diversity Conversation Forward

During the calendar year, April has come to signify Autism Awareness Month, however, in recent years there has been an evolution, where the community has taken on much more responsibility. Rather than being a month that can be seen as docile or paternalistic where awareness is the prime directive, this is a month about acceptance and recognition. ?With the ubiquity of social media and the ability to control the narrative, society is beginning to see the range of perspectives and experiences that are defining the modern point of view that is the autism community. However, I would venture to go one step further to state that the autism community is firmly ensconced in the larger tent which is neurodiversity.

Neurodiversity was a term originally conceived by Australian sociologist Judy Singer in the mid-1990s. Much like the social and political awakening that was in full bloom happening across the larger disability community at the time, the idea of Neurodiversity highlighted an appreciation of human variability and saw that “Neurodiversity refers to the virtually infinite neuro-cognitive variability within Earth’s human population. It points to the fact that every human has a unique nervous system with a unique combination of abilities and needs.” This reframing offered a new perspective allowing to shift mainstream perceptions and replace negative stereotypes while finding a more balanced valuation of their gifts and needs offering a pathway toward social inclusion.

In a month that highlights this diversity and accentuates both the power and needs of this community, it is also important to recognize a trend that has been on the rise, the interplay between the business community around hiring practices for those on the autism spectrum. Technology companies such as Microsoft, SAP, Dell, and many others have made hiring and retention of those on the spectrum a top priority. Perhaps this is a response to studies showing many on the autism spectrum have a higher aptitude for STEM-type careers, and developing a comprehensive human capital strategy is a natural extension for long-term growth. Or possibly because it’s just the right thing to do. Regardless, there is a tectonic shift happening in a multitude of ways impacting those in the autistic community and the larger neurodiverse populace. Business leadership must not only be aware of the benefits but the needs of this community to create a psychologically safe work environment. As more of the world’s population begins to embrace its neurodiversity, this will continue to be a topic that requires a deeper dive. But this also leaves us with another line of enquiry, the role of autism and neurodiversity in reshaping the larger Diversity conversation.

The issue of Diversity has been polarizing over the past year. We are seeing various political bodies from Congress and individual States weighing in on the issue. However, what baffles me is that these bodies fail to truly understand the comprehensive nature of the topic. So much has been placed on race and gender, and institutions miss the mark in recognizing the robust nature of the Diversity conversation. If there is something that Autism and Neurodiversity can teach us, it’s the significance of human variability to personhood. Embracing difference with all its strengths and flaws allows us a broader path to illustrate a new narrative and concede that normal may just be overrated.