What is Neurodiversity? And why it's important for academia to know about it
Channel: UTL EduMedia ETH Zürich
Date: 2022-12-12

Neurodiversity – with this term we mean that not all our brains work alike. The term originates from the autism-rights movement in the 1990s and includes everyone – both neurodivergent and neurotypical people (Harmon, 2004). The concept focuses on the fact that there are many ways of thinking and learning. It helps reduce stigma about those differences while highlighting the strengths of the neurodiverse individuals instead of their challenges – something our societies and education systems often fail to do (Kapp 2020: 2-5). 

But what are the strenghts and potentials for academia? People who perceive things differently are crucial for progress. When 99 neurologically similar people cannot solve a problem, it often is the one who is slightly different who holds the answer. That is why seeking out neurodiverse talents in academia pays off!