Neurodiverse individuals are more likely to suffer from mental health conditions than their neurotypical peers. For World Autism Month, Mid-Day Online spoke to neurodiversity advocates and experts who are finding creative ways to further our understanding of the community
Representative Image. Pic/iStock
There isn’t a singular ‘right’ way of thinking, behaving, and learning. “Diverse minds are just as much a part of humanity as other types of diversity, such as gender and sexuality. The concept of neurodiversity includes all of these variations — including ASD (autism spectrum disorder), ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), dyslexia, or Tourette’s syndrome — framing none of them as better or worse than the other,” explains Dr Jalpa Bhuta, consultant psychiatrist at Global Hospital. “These conditions should not be viewed as ‘deficits’.”