Neurodiversity and New Year’s Resolutions
By: Project Illuminate Initiative
Tags: New Years Resolutions, Health, Education, Neuroscience, Neurodiversity

With the start of every year comes the opportunity to become a better version of who you were in the past. After a year full of tribulations, we have been able to reflect on our own goals and areas in which we hope to improve going into 2021. Every movement takes time and for 2021, we aim to focus on steadily becoming better advocates for humanity, hope, and for the neurodiverse community. Below we have listed five new year resolutions that we will focus on and with each of these goals, we hope to educate ourselves by hearing from and empowering the voices of the neurodiverse while actively working to help them overcome social barriers.

Read a Book Showcasing the Neurodiverse Narrative: For many neurotypical individuals, it can be difficult to understand how the society that surrounds them may propel harmful ideas and stigmas that place obstacles in the way of neurodiverse success. By hearing their stories and experiences that shape them, we can help others grow more open minded to what it means to be a contributing member in society. Since the term “neurodiversity” was coined in the late 1990s, society as a whole has strayed from the neurodiverse community and has assumed that their collective differences in learning and thinking inhibit their ability to contribute in their schools, communities, and workplaces. Allowing the neurotypical to understand what it means to be a neurodiverse individual can help them see that neurodiversity does not have to be the weakness that society portrays it as and “the concept that people are naturally diverse learners is important for kids with learning and thinking differences. It can reduce stigma and the feeling that something is “wrong” with them” (Griffin PhD).” Creating that bridge between neurodiverse experiences will allow society to better connect with the neurodiverse community and can help them tear down the stigmas that surround their conditions through empowerment and the ability to see past the societal shield that blocks their narratives. Listen to a Podcast That Discusses Neurodiversity: In previous articles, we listed powerful podcasts that openly discuss neurodiversity. Taking the time to listen to a 20–30 minute podcast can reveal different aspects of neurodiverse stories whether that be the difficulties they face in everyday life, the history of stigmas surrounding neurodiversity, and how to spark change in a closed minded social climate through the means of proposing and supporting legislation, or advocating on behalf of the neurodiverse community. Steven Spielberg once said, “When you listen, you learn,” and so by listening, we can open ourselves up to an abundance of stories, backgrounds, and resources that will help us further understand not only what it may be like to be neurodivergent, but what we can do to help foster a community that uplifts neurodiversity. Learn American Sign Language (ASL): For some individuals with autism, ASL is extremely beneficial as it provides support for auditory processing, as well as acts as augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). According to an article by Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism, “It’s certainly not true of all autistics, but my fine motor skills are significantly better than my oral motor skills — hand movements feel much less minute and subtle, compared to the mouth movements necessary to produce speech properly. There are so many times I have something to say and it’s easier to imagine producing it in signs than it is in speech,” detailing one individual’s experiences with learning ASL and how it benefits them. The article continues by stating that the visual input offered by ASL may be easier to process than auditory input from traditional speaking. In addition to this, ASL encourages more thorough communication to make sure understanding has been reached, which may be helpful for some autistic individuals. In the article, one of the disadvantages that was mentioned posed by individuals with autism using sign language is the lack of neurotypical individuals who understand sign language. Since this restricts the benefits of neurodivergent individuals using ASL, as well as is a communication barrier for individuals with hearing difficulties, it can be helpful for neurotypical individuals to learn it. Educate a loved one about neurodiversity: As essential as it is to educate yourself more about neurodiversity, it is also helpful to facilitate discussions between family, friends, or other loved ones. By opening up to new perspectives and ideas, each individual can walk away from the conversation gaining new insight, and possibly even a change in thought. It is important to remember that while learning new information is useful, so is sharing that information with others. In doing so, we can foster greater understanding and in turn empathy for others. Moreover, we can simply engage with the world around us in a more active manner. Remember to be aware, patient, and accepting: Perhaps the most simple resolution, and potentially the most important, revolves around the personal characteristics of an individual. Although different communication methods can be considered from the perspective of a neurodivergent individual, those who are neurotypical can also better their communication. An article by Forbes discusses situations when neurodiversity promotes awareness of various perspectives in conversations. The article further states, “An employee who is neurotypical might walk away from a heated discussion thinking everything is fine, where an employee who is neurodiverse could be left spinning over it. She says this can often be resolved by explicitly saying ‘I recognize that was hard for you, and that it felt like a difficult interaction. We are good; we can move on.’” By employing patience to allow for time for the other individual to process information, as well as understanding and accepting other forms of communication and difficulties communicating, we can work towards more efficient and beneficial conversations that help us progress.

These five resolutions are merely examples of small, actionable steps that everyone can take to further themselves and their community. By committing to these, we can begin to have more engaging conversations about neurodiversity and better consider the impact of everyday actions.